Positions: Nine (9)
Location: Kabarole, Uganda
Summary and context
The Aquaya Institute (Aquaya) is a non-profit research organization focused on water and sanitation. With support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Aquaya assists government agencies in achieving 100% coverage of safe, sustainable, and equitable drinking water supplies. The three-year (2023-2026) Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLAs) project aims to improve community resilience to handpump failure. In rural Uganda, estimates suggest that 40% of handpumps, the primary source of drinking water for over half of the population, are non-functional at any point in time. One key challenge is that many rural communities in Uganda struggle to set aside sufficient funds to pay for hand pump maintenance.
Aquaya Institute’s prior research and findings from several NGOs in Uganda indicate that VSLAs tasked with collecting water funds can significantly improve rural communities’ capacity to manage hand pump maintenance. VSLAs have strong financial management and accountability mechanisms that promote trust among members and are more effective at collecting water funds than pre-existing committees.
With support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Aquaya is currently initiating a randomized controlled trial to rigorously evaluate the impact of VSLAs on water point functionality and WASH behaviors. The trial will involve 100-200 communities in Kabarole District, Uganda. The study aims to compare maintenance expenses, water point functionality, and community behaviors such as water point upkeep and chlorinator usage between VSLA and control communities.
In September 2024, Aquaya will conduct a baseline survey of approximately 230 handpumps and the community to assess the eligible handpumps for the study in Kabarole, Uganda. The activity is set to take three weeks and will conduct information on:
- Community water profile based on the eligible criteria of the project
- Water point functionality status
- Handpump approximate distance to piped water system
- Water safety
- Information on the water point management system
Field Enumerator Primary Responsibilities
- Train with Aquaya’s Research Officer and Program Associate on the research protocol, locating water points asking survey questions, and conducting functionality and leakage tests. The training will be held the first or second week of September.
- Travel to the study areas and locate sites for data collection (water points and community) according to the study protocol.
- Collect survey responses at study locations (water points) in a mobile data collection tool, obtaining informed consent where required.
- Perform functionality tests on-site at water points. This may include making up to 15 strokes at the water point.
- Collect and accurately record data on water point functionality, community behaviors, and other key indicators in the survey.
- Throughout data collection, ensure that data collection devices are well maintained.
- Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of collected data.
- Report regularly to the field supervisor on progress and any issues encountered in the field
- Assist with other tasks related to the fieldwork that may be assigned by the Aquaya staff.
Required Skills
- Experience with field data collection using digital applications
- Experience in Qualitative surveys, including interviews and FGDs
- Working knowledge of ethics for conducting human subject research
- Attention to detail
- Excellent record keeping
- Strong communication skills in English and Rutooro
- Punctuality
- Ability to work independently and in a team
Desired Skills
- Working knowledge of using GPS apps to locate places
- Adaptability
Being a field-based activity, it is expected that the enumerator will navigate field situations and difficulties such as long walks, difficult terrain, and changing weather, among others, where field transport means may not be able to reach.
Oversight
The enumerator will report to Aquaya’s Research Officer and Program Associate for the duration of the data collection. Quality control checks will be conducted by both Aquaya’s Program Officer and Program Associate throughout the data collection to ensure high-quality work.
Compensation
The field enumerators will be paid at a competitive daily rate and a per diem for days worked.
How to apply
Send your application no later than 11:59 pm EAT August 21st, 2024. Please reach out to [email protected] if you having any issues in sending the application. No phone calls
