Summary
Date Posted: Tuesday, April 12, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Research Specialist
Background:
The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Feed the Future Orora Wihaze (Raise Animals for Self-Sufficiency) Activity[1] has the goal to develop an inclusive, profitable market to sustainably increase the availability of, access to, and consumption of animal-sourced foods (ASF) in Rwanda. A market systems development (MSD) approach is being applied to achieve this goal by transforming ASF value chains to improve access while simultaneously cultivating local demand for ASF with the result of improved consumption. Market system transformation is being done through partnerships that Orora Wihaze supports with existing ASF market actors for the implementation of innovative ideas to improve and build sustainability within the full ASF market system.

The ASF market transformation which Orora Wihaze promotes requires working from both ends of the market continuum: ensuring that production and market availability meet demand, and that demand evolves, and in turn, shapes and strengthens production and other functions along the value chain. Critical to achieving this market system synergy is an operational plan that allows for a thorough understanding of consumer and retailer perceptions and behavior related to new or modified animal-sourced food products resulting in a crafted marketing plan that minimizes disruptions and disappointments post-launch.
To this end Orora Wihaze will support operations research tied to the development and marketing of ASF products conceived to meet consumer need for acceptable and affordable products. The research will provide the companies developing and marketing their product with needed input from consumers (particularly low-income rural consumers) and retailers to make decisions regarding product features and critical details tied to its marketing.

The type of information offered from the research might include:
• potential appeal of the product related to its use, convenience and pricing advantage or value;
• product pricing;
• product packaging;
• branding and brand identification
• ease of handling and food safety concerns within the retail outlet to home.

Consultancy
To support this work Orora Wihaze requires a consultant to work with each project’s product manager, the company developing the product and the social and behavior change team to oversee the development, implementation, and reporting of the research. The consultant would work closely with an advisor from Orora Wihaze partner, The Manoff Group (TMG).
Note: This consultancy will be full time or near full time for the duration of each assignment. Orora Wihaze anticipates there will be multiple assignments, but it is unlikely that they will run consecutively. We seek an individual with the interest and flexibility to be available on an intermittent basis.

Consultancy Tasks
• Support finalization of the research by coordinating dialogue between all stakeholders including budget considerations with Orora Wihaze leadership.
• Draft research instruments, finalize with TMG assistance and oversee translation.
• Plan all logistics for the research. This includes vetting research assistants with support from the Orora Wihaze team.
• Lead training of field research assistants.
• Conduct / supervise the information collection.
• Oversea translation of the completed research forms.
• Support coding or hand analysis of the results, depending on sample size.
• Support research report writing, vetting and presentation.

Consultant Qualifications
• Education: Master’s degree, preferably in the social sciences, but will accept other areas of specialty such as food science, agriculture, nutrition.
• Experience: At least 5 years of work experience that entailed work in rural areas of Rwanda.Demonstrated qualitative research experience. Preference will be for experience with all aspects of research but will consider an experienced qualitative research assistant.Demonstrated experience coordinating a team, working with management and peers.
• Other:
• Must be Rwandan, or eligible to work in Rwanda.
• Must speak Kinyarwanda and have excellent written and spoken English.
• Willing to take initiative but invite collaboration.
• Good presentation and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to travel to rural areas and stay for the research duration.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 36

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
Please send your cover letter that specifically addresses your availability for intermittent assignments and CV to manoffgroup@manoffgroup.com  with ‘Research Specialist’ in the subject line no later than April 18, 2022. Applicants will be evaluated on a

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