DATA ASSOCIATES

Project: Training in Work (TiW) Project

Implementing Agency: Avencion

Funding Partner: Built International Investment (BII)

Location: Chongwe and Chibombo Districts, Zambia

Duration: 6 weeks, with possible extension

About Avencion

Avencion is a project management and technology firm delivering innovative solutions and technical support across multiple sectors and locations in Zambia. Through its work with development partners and implementing organisations, Avencion supports programmes that generate practical evidence, strengthen institutional capacity, and contribute to sustainable development.

About the Project

BII Zambia is strengthening its Training into Work (TiW) model by integrating an entrepreneurship pathway that enables young people to pursue self-employment and sustainable enterprise growth alongside formal employment.

As part of this initiative, Avencion is undertaking research to generate evidence on labour market demand, skills gaps, employer needs, training effectiveness, and employment outcomes. The findings will inform programme design, improve training delivery, and support evidence-based decision-making for skills development interventions.

Avencion is therefore seeking qualified and experienced Data Associates to support the research team throughout the project.

The Opportunity

The Data Associates will play a key role in ensuring the quality, integrity, and usability of data generated during the research process. The successful candidates will support data collection, cleaning, validation, coding, analysis, visualisation, and reporting.

The role will involve working closely with the Project Lead, Research Lead, Monitoring and Evaluation team, and field teams to ensure that project data is accurate, reliable, secure, and suitable for generating meaningful research findings.

Key Responsibilities

1. Data Collection Support

• Support the design and technical review of digital and paper-based data collection tools.
• Assist with pre-testing, piloting, and validation of research instruments.
• Monitor incoming data and identify quality issues for timely resolution.
• Work with the Research Lead and field supervisors to address data collection challenges.

2. Data Cleaning, Validation and Management

• Organise, consolidate, and maintain project datasets.
• Clean and validate quantitative and qualitative data in line with established protocols.
• Identify and address missing values, inconsistencies, duplicate records, and outliers.
• Maintain accurate and well-organised data files throughout the project.

3. Data Coding and Entry

• Develop appropriate coding frameworks for quantitative and qualitative data.
• Code open-ended survey responses and qualitative information systematically.
• Support accurate data entry, verification, and reconciliation.

4. Data Analysis

• Conduct quantitative data analysis using appropriate statistical techniques and software.
• Support thematic analysis of data from Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs).
• Support the integration of quantitative and qualitative findings.
• Generate tables, charts, and other outputs to communicate research findings effectively.

5. Data Protection and Ethical Compliance

• Maintain strict confidentiality of project and participant information.
• Ensure secure storage, transfer, and archiving of project data.
• Comply with approved research protocols and applicable data protection requirements.
• Adhere to Avencion's safeguarding, data protection, anti-fraud, and confidentiality policies.
• Ensure compliance with all ethical requirements throughout the assignment.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Data Science, Economics, Mathematics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Health, Social Sciences, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
• A postgraduate qualification will be an added advantage.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 3 years of demonstrated experience in data analysis within research or development programmes.
• Experience working with mixed-methods research designs.
• Experience handling and analysing large quantitative datasets.

Technical Skills

Candidates should demonstrate proficiency in one or more of the following:

• SPSS
• STATA
• R
• Python
• Advanced Microsoft Excel

Experience with Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent data visualisation platforms is highly desirable.

Knowledge of digital data collection platforms such as KoboToolbox, SurveyCTO, ODK, or similar platforms will be an added advantage.

Candidates should also be proficient in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint for report preparation and presentation.

Key Competencies

The ideal candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• High attention to detail and commitment to data quality.
• Ability to work with both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary research team.
• Strong communication and reporting skills.
• High levels of integrity and confidentiality.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and in field-based environments.

• Support the design and technical review of digital and paper-based data collection tools.
• Assist with pre-testing, piloting, and validation of research instruments.
• Monitor incoming data and identify quality issues for timely resolution.
• Work with the Research Lead and field supervisors to address data collection challenges.
• Organise, consolidate, and maintain project datasets.
• Clean and validate quantitative and qualitative data in line with established protocols.
• Identify and address missing values, inconsistencies, duplicate records, and outliers.
• Maintain accurate and well-organised data files throughout the project.
• Develop appropriate coding frameworks for quantitative and qualitative data.
• Code open-ended survey responses and qualitative information systematically.
• Support accurate data entry, verification, and reconciliation.
• Conduct quantitative data analysis using appropriate statistical techniques and software.
• Support thematic analysis of data from Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs).
• Support the integration of quantitative and qualitative findings.
• Generate tables, charts, and other outputs to communicate research findings effectively.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of project and participant information.
• Ensure secure storage, transfer, and archiving of project data.
• Comply with approved research protocols and applicable data protection requirements.
• Adhere to Avencion's safeguarding, data protection, anti-fraud, and confidentiality policies.
• Ensure compliance with all ethical requirements throughout the assignment.

• SPSS
• STATA
• R
• Python
• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent data visualisation platforms
• KoboToolbox, SurveyCTO, ODK, or similar platforms
• Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Attention to detail and commitment to data quality
• Ability to work with both quantitative and qualitative data
• Organisational and time-management skills
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary research team
• Communication and reporting skills
• Integrity and confidentiality
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and in field-based environments

• Bachelor's Degree in Statistics, Data Science, Economics, Mathematics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Health, Social Sciences, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
• A postgraduate qualification will be an added advantage.
• Minimum 3 years of demonstrated experience in data analysis within research or development programmes.
• Experience working with mixed-methods research designs.
• Experience handling and analysing large quantitative datasets.