Statistician, CMAM Avancé at International Rescue Committee

Background/IRC Summary:  

• The International Rescue Committee (IRC) founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we aim to deliver high-quality, client-centered, cost-effective programs – on our own and with local partners. We combine the best available research with client-driven insights. We want empowerment and lasting change to be the norm not just for the people we serve, but for all those who are caught in crisis. 

The CMAM Avancé project 

• The community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) Avancé project is a strategic, results-based portfolio that will demonstrate how to enhance cost-effectiveness while increasing access and coverage of malnutrition treatment in humanitarian contexts. The 3-year project is in Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, the DRC and Somalia with expected continued expansion to new locations in 2022 and beyond. Each country has developed a CMAM Avancé strategy to improve coverage and reach of services in each country – that can be delivered cost-effectively. 

Specifically, the project objectives are to: 

•  Increase the coverage of children admitted for malnutrition treatment every year
•  Increase geographical access to high quality, simplified and sustainable malnutrition treatment through integration of the health system with a strong community base
•  Demonstrate cost-effectiveness of malnutrition treatment that can be replicated and scaled up
•  Strengthen the resilience of health services to plan and adequately respond to peaks of malnutrition
•  Strengthen the technical expertise and leadership of health and nutrition providers across the project
• With the support of GiveWell, the CMAM Avancé project has already conducted coverage surveys at baseline in all five countries, after one year of programming in three countries, and has planned to conducted coverage surveys at the end of two years of programming in all five countries. Analyses for the baseline and end of year 1 surveys are complete, and the code and final reports available. The Statistician will play a critical role ensuring the success of the end of year two surveys. 

Specific Responsibilities:
The Statistician’s specific responsibilities include: 

• Review analysis plans for population-based coverage surveys as well as programmatic data and other data sources when relevant with the GiveWell funded CMAM Avancé Project Management Unit, 
• Support survey design in five countries as needed, particularly with respect to sample design, 
• Ensure data quality adherence through well-documented, replicable code in R and/or STATA, as well as PowerBi, 
• Implement the agreed analyses through well-documented, replicable code in R and/or STATA, specifically:
• Conduct and document data cleaning including consistency checks and recoding variables as necessary,
• Develop survey weights to account for survey design, non-response, and non-coverage, 
• Populate analytic table shells with point estimates and confidence intervals for indicators including coverage of treatment for severe acute malnutrition, prevalence of severe acute malnutrition
• Support IRC in presentation and interpretation of population-based coverage survey results, including through triangulation with other data sources, 
• Lead report writing for donor (1 page summary) and five country programs, based on already agreed template, 
• Play an active role in adaptive learning processes that leverage data from coverage surveys, as well as other sources, for programmatic insights and improvements.

Key Working Relationships: 

• Position Reports to: The CMAM Avancé Technical Lead 
• Position directly supervises: None 

Other Internal and/or external contacts: 

• Internal: Regular relationships with the CMAM Avancé team in HQ and at the country level, the nutrition team, the BUR team, the health unit and country technical counterparts.  Interacts with IRC internal departments as relevant including HR and finance as relevant.
• External: May participate in outside meetings and academic forums with donors, other non-governmental organizations and inter-agency groups as needed.

Job Qualifications: 

• Education: University degree in related field plus Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Demography, Statistics, Economics or related degree is recommended. 
• Skills: Ability to work effectively and respectfully on diverse teams and across diverse contexts. Track record of successfully leading complex analytic projects. Takes initiative, works productively while working remotely and produces results, ability to accept feedback and integrate it, strong communication skills and ability to uphold a positive work environment. Good interpersonal skills with a high level of English, both oral and written skills. Proficiency in French is an advantage. Committed to upholding diversity, equality and inclusion principles both professionally and personally. 

Essential Work Experience: 

• A minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible experience in the collection, compilation, analysis and dissemination of statistical data is required. Of these, at least one year of experience covering data on health and program coverage. Must be autonomous in STATA or R. PowerBi and CommCare experience highly preferred. 

Working Environment:

•  Standard office work environment. Remote work during high COVID-19 transmission is allowed. Must be willing to travel to IRC country offices and field sites, sometimes in very difficult conditions
•  Up to 25% travel may be required
•  Job available in these locations: Dakar or Nairobi (Not open to expats, candidates should have the right to work in the location they apply)

Language Skills:

• Fluency in English is required; Proficiency in French is an advantage