EAST, CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AFRICA HEALTH COMMUNITY (ECSA-HC)
Vacancy
for
Researcher
1.0 Background
The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) is seeking to
recruit a Researcher on a four-year global surgical systems research project: Scaling up
Safe Surgery for District and Rural Populations in Africa (SURG-Africa). The project
commenced on January 2017.
The Project is advertising for a Researcher with excellent quantitative methods skills
(essential) and qualitative methods skills (desirable), plus ambition and drive, to join a
cutting edge global health research team. The Researcher will contribute to study
design, implementation, analysis and write-up as part of a global health team.
The Researcher will be accountable to the Director General of the ECSA-HC through
the Chief Executive Officer COSECSA. The Researcher will work closely with the
Tanzania Surgical Society with support from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
(RCSI) and researchers and implementers in the partner countries. The Researcher will
be mainly based at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in the Northern Zone
of Tanzania; and will spend time and work closely with colleagues at the Secretariat of
the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), based in
Arusha.
2.0 The Project
The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) is a member of
an international consortium, implementing a new European Union Horizon 2020
program-funded global surgical research project: Scaling up Safe Surgery for District
and Rural Populations in Africa (SURG-Africa). The research programme will provide
evidence to ministries of health on how to scale up surgical systems to national level in
Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia drawing on lessons from an earlier study
(www.costafrica.eu).
The focus will be on building a national surgical information system for Tanzania and a
model of effective and sustainable surgical supervision of district hospitals. A
participatory implementation research approach will be adopted, incorporating
quantitative and qualitative research methods.
ECSA-HC will have overall responsibility for the design and delivery of the Tanzania
specific research and implementation work package, working closely with TSA and
COSECSA.
The international partners are the RCSI (project coordinator), Radboud University
Medical Centre (RUMC), Netherlands; Oxford University, UK; College of Medicine,
University of Malawi (CoM), and Surgical Society of Zambia (SSZ). RCSI will oversee
the quantitative and qualitative research; Oxford overseeing the training and
implementation of the intervention while RUMC will oversee the economic and policylevel
research.
3.0 Roles and Responsibilities of the Post
The principal responsibilities of the Researcher in Tanzania are to:-
a) Coordinate the implementation of the intervention activities
b) Contribute to the design and lead on implementation of the research activities
and
c) Coordinate intervention and research implementation in collaboration with the
partner.
The specific responsibilities of the research will be to:-
i. Contribute to the study design and quantitative and qualitative
implementation of the research.
ii. Facilitate ethics committee applications and reporting in Tanzania
iii. Contribute to data collection tool development and undertaking and
overseeing the piloting.
iv. Conduct training and in-the-field supervision of data collectors.
v. Oversee and ensure data transmission, data checking and cleaning; and
data monitoring and feedback.
vi. Undertake referral and district hospital visits where s/he will elicit support for
the project; collect data from staff, project and hospital records; and verify
data.
vii. Contribute to the analysis of quantitative data.
viii. Undertake interviews and focus group discussions, where necessary with
the support of more experienced researchers.
ix. Contribute to the design of the intervention package.
x. Coordinate communication between the consortium and local partners to
keep stakeholders up to date about progress on implementing the
intervention.
xi. Undertake field visits to support other partners in delivering the intervention.
xii. Undertake qualitative data coding and analysis.
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xiii. Undertake research coordination activities, including communicating with
and coordinating the activities of project partners in Tanzania
xiv. Undertake communication and reporting to the European Commission
including preparation of financial, management reports, and deliverables.
xv. Access relevant reports and grey literature in Tanzania.
xvi. Co-author and lead on academic papers and briefs.
xvii. Communicate with national stakeholders and coordinate stakeholder events in
Tanzania.
xviii. Represent the best interests of the ECSA-HC and SURG-Africa Project at
all times.
xix. Perform such other duties as may be required.
While the position is based at Moshi – see http://www.kcmc.ac.tz/ , the post-holder will
be expected to spend periods of time in the field (mainly in the Northern Zone) to
oversee and coordinate intervention and research activities. This will involve visits to
referral and district hospitals to set up and oversee data collection; and to meet with and
undertake interviews and focus group discussions with hospital staff.
The post-holder will be supported by and be able to consult with experts in research
study design, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and economics. S/he will
support the ECSA-HC PI in undertaking all necessary activities, including field work;
communications with the partners and the EC project and financial management and
reporting duties. S/he will contribute actively to the design and implementation of the
research studies; and to data analysis, write up and publication / dissemination of
findings.
4.0 Reporting
The post holder will report to Principal Investigators of the project in Tanzania; and will
be supported and co-supervised by the RCSI-based Research Fellow.
5.0 Education Qualifications & Experience
i. A first degree in Medicine, Medical Sciences or Social Sciences
ii. A Master’s degree in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Community Health, Public
Health or another project-relevant discipline that included quantitative research
training.
iii. Qualifications in quantitative research and or statistical packages are added
advantages
6.0 Work Experience
i. At least 3 years of work experience in biostatistics or epidemiology, or significant
research experience in a project related area.
ii. Evidence of excellent quantitative data management and analysis skills.
iii. Evidence of excellent writing, communication and presentation skills, including
excellence in MS Office (Word, Excel and Power point)
iv. Evidence of research outputs, e.g. co-authored journal articles and/or conference
abstracts and oral presentations, commensurate with previous research
experience.
v. Evidence of attention to detail and thoroughness in work practices and an ability
to meet deadlines.
vi. A capacity to work collaboratively and build relationships as part of a team
vii. Competency in statistical analysis software packages such as Stata, SPSS, SAS
and R.
viii. Research or work experience in health services delivery in sub-Saharan Africa,
ideally in Tanzania.
ix. Experience with district health management and organization.
x. Knowledge of the delivery of surgical services.
xi. Experience in the implementation of quantitative research studies.
xii. Experience in qualitative research methods.
7.0 Personal Attributes
The post-holder needs to be self-motivated, demonstrate initiative, and have proven
ability to develop her/his research skills and those of the partners.
8.0 Remuneration Package
A competitive international package will be offered to the right candidate.
9.0 Contract Appointment
This is a two-year performance based contract. The Contract is renewable upon
satisfactory performance, subject to availability of funds and mutual agreement between
the employee and the employer
10.0 Method of Application
This is an international competitive position and suitably qualified candidates are
encouraged to apply for the post by submitting the following:
i. A brief application letter justifying the suitability of the candidate for the post.
ii. A detailed CV.
iii. Certified Copies of Educational and Professional Certificates.
iv. Names, addresses and contact details (telephone, fax and e-mail) of three
referees.
All applications should be sent electronically, with supporting documents as
attachments.
10.0 Method of Application
Applications should arrive not later than 5.00 pm Wednesday 20th March 2017.
All applications must be addressed to:
The Director General
East, Central and Southern Africa-Health Community
Plot 157 Oloirien, Njiro Road
P.O. Box 1009 Arusha, Tanzania
E-mail: vacancies@ecsa.or.tz with copies to: doid@ecsa.or.tz; pgmarealle@yahoo.com,
kchilonga@yahoo.com, surgafrica@rcsi.ie,ceo@cosecsa@ecsa.or.tz
Website: www.ecsahc.org
The East, Central and Southern Africa- Health Community is an equal opportunity
employer, and female candidates are encouraged to apply.