Data Researcher

USAID Karnali Water Activity

SCOPE OF WORK

1.     PROJECT BACKGROUND

The USAID Karnali Water Activity will create healthy, resilient, and water secure communities at the watershed level through strengthened water and sanitation governance that improves water resource management (including water for more resilient and biodiverse ecosystems), enhances sustainable access to drinking water, improves agriculture water management, and reduces the fecal pathogen burden in the environment from poorly managed non-sewered sanitation through fecal sludge management. The program team will methodically integrate WRM, watershed biodiversity conservation, and water and sanitation service delivery by mapping and strengthening the roles, connections, and capacities of key actors and stakeholders system-wide.

In 2023, the Activity facilitated the establishment of Multiple-Use Water Systems for 10 rural communities in the Karnali Province and Sudurpaschim Province. This work was accomplished with the participation of community members, engagement of engineering firms, and support of local governments. The Activity analyzed the agricultural experience of community members and drafted business plans for each community; based on community participation and ownership, the plans identify opportunities for each community to pursue more market-oriented agricultural production due to community members’ increased access to water. The aim of each plan is to provide community members with a range of options they may select on how to use the additional water on their farms to generate revenue for relevant community farmers.

Each plan provides a general range of options and is based on initial community-level assessments conducted before each community’s MUS was complete. As can be imagined, the range of opportunities identified by community members required reconfirmation after having increased access to water—which the Activity facilitated recently by engaging the community to learn how each community is using the increase in available water. 

2.     Purpose

The Activity seeks to support 6 new communities of Lower Karnali (Surkhet and Mohanyal) with MUS infrastructure in 2024. The Activity will research each new MUS community, map value chain stakeholders, and draft business plans based on each community’s agricultural capacity, experience, anticipated access to water, access to markets, and general accessibility.

3.     Tasks

The Data Researcher  will work with the Water Supply Services and Private Sector Development Specialist and the Lead Assessment and Value Chain Advisor and will be responsible for the following tasks:

Work with Water Supply Services and Private Sector Development Specialist and the Lead Advisor to provide technical support to collect data, including community engagement, for 6 new MUS communities—working with the Activity team to assist with the data needed to draft 6community-level business plans that will serve as a framework for each community to engage in market-oriented agriculture production while efficiently using water from the community MUS.

1.     Schedule and Methodology—work with team to draft a schedule and methodology for identifying and collecting data across 6 targeted communities. This will include creating a list of interviewees, timeline, and travel plan for interviews, and develop a questionnaire to collect the range of information for each MUS and possible value chain(s). Note: one questionnaire should be relevant for all communities. 

2.     Data Collection—coordinate the collection of data needed for each business plan.

3.     Review, adapt and finalize data—based on the framework drafted earlier, work under the guidance of the Lead Assessment and VC advisor to draft each framework, complete with data collated. Findings will indicate the amount of revenue needed to manage community-level MUS. 

4.     Level of Effort/Timeline/Reporting

DELIVERABLES

• A bachelor’s degree in agriculture, business administration, water resource management, economics, social science, or related field
• Candidates having 3 years of experience with assessments, data collection, and community-level engagement.
• An energetic, forward-thinking and creative individual with high ethical standards and appropriate professional image.
• An extremely well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus.
• Experience and ability to collect and estimate financial costs and data in rural areas.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, and fluency in English and Nepali.
• Applicants should have an Individual VAT /PAN registration certificate

6.     Reporting

The Data Researcher will directly report to the Water Supply Services and Private Sector Development Specialist.

Application instructions:

Interested and qualified applicants should email their CV to KarnaliWater_Recruitment@dai.com with “Data Researcher” in the subject line by March 31, 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applicants are requested to include the proposed daily rate.  

About DAI

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work.  DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.