Job Description
Background
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in collaboration with the Government of Lao PDR, is implementing an impact evaluation of the Building Resilience and Reducing Rural Poverty Program (BRRRP). This evaluation involves baseline and midline household surveys with a combined sample of 6,000 households, covering two intervention types: conditional cash transfers and poverty graduation approaches. SoCha LLC, a global monitoring, evaluation, and learning firm, is bidding to serve as the lead implementing partner for this evaluation. SoCha will be responsible for coordinating all technical and operational aspects of the evaluation, including team recruitment, field logistics, and data management.
The Research Coordinator / Data Manager will play a pivotal role in ensuring quality data collection, coordination among stakeholders, and integration of survey data into the evaluation process.
Objectives of the Assignment
The Research Coordinator / Data Manager will oversee field logistics, timeline tracking, and survey data quality management for both rounds of data collection. They will serve as the central point of coordination among field teams, the ADB technical team, and SoCha’s evaluation staff.
Scope of Work and Responsibilities
- Support the Impact Evaluation Specialist, Research Analysts, and other team members on technical tasks related to survey implementation.
- Coordinate all field-level planning and logistics for both baseline and midline survey rounds.
- Lead the organization and delivery of enumerator training sessions.
- Secure required permissions and clearances from local authorities, implementing partners, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Monitor survey implementation progress against timeline and flag delays or operational bottlenecks.
- Coordinate data flow and submission, ensuring that clean, complete primary data is shared with the impact evaluation team and ADB in a timely manner.
- Maintain communication between field teams, the ADB Lao Resident Mission, and SoCha’s technical staff.
- Assist in field supervision and back-checking activities to ensure quality assurance throughout data collection.
Qualifications and Experience
- Advanced degree (minimum Master’s) with substantial work experience in evaluation, economics, development studies, political economy, public policy, or another relevant field.
- At least 5 years’ proven experience coordinating impact evaluations and household surveys in Lao PDR.
- Demonstrated expertise using non-experimental evaluation techniques in sectors such as social protection, climate resilience, agriculture, health, or nutrition.
- Strong skills in the design and management of field surveys and data collection workflows.
- Proficiency in both Lao and English (required).
- Excellent communication skills and ability to coordinate with diverse stakeholders.
- Strong technical and analytical capacities, with experience in leveraging primary data for development research or evaluation.
Deliverables
- Fieldwork implementation plan and timeline for baseline and midline.
- Training agendas and training completion reports.
- Authorization letters, permissions, and documentation from provincial stakeholders.
- Survey fieldwork progress reports.
- Cleaned and documented survey datasets submitted to ADB and SoCha.
- Final summary report of field activities and data quality assurance efforts.
Reporting and Supervision
The Research Coordinator / Data Manager will report to the Team Leader and maintain regular communication with ADB’s Lao Resident Mission and technical focal points. The consultant will also liaise with the Survey and Data Specialist, Research Analysts, and SoCha’s home office staff.
How to Apply
To submit your application, kindly provide your CV using the form provided below.
