Local Data Collection Specialist - Zambia

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Local Data Collection Specialist - Zambia for a consultancy assignment financed by World Bank in Zambia.

Aninver Development Partners is seeking a qualified Local Data Collection Specialist for an upcoming impact evaluation assignment in Zambia, supported by the World Bank. The initiative focuses on assessing a pilot economic inclusion program that combines social cash transfers with livelihoods support to help extremely vulnerable households escape poverty sustainably.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in managing field operations, coordinating local survey teams, and ensuring the collection of high-quality quantitative and qualitative data across multiple rural districts. This consultancy is an excellent opportunity for an experienced field operations professional to contribute to poverty reduction and social protection policies in Zambia.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Manage and oversee local field data collection activities for a large-scale household impact evaluation in Zambia.
• Ensure adherence to rigorous quality control measures, ethical standards, and data security protocols during fieldwork.
• Collaborate closely with the evaluation team to culturally adapt, pre-test, and finalize survey instruments.
• Facilitate smooth communication and logistics across multiple provinces and districts.

Scope of work

• Develop a comprehensive Field Procedure Plan outlining team structures, recruitment protocols, training schedules, and fieldwork timelines.
• Collaborate with the Evaluation Team to revise, culturally adapt, pre-test, and finalize quantitative and qualitative research instruments.
• Recruit, manage, and train qualified enumerators, qualitative researchers, and supervisors proficient in local languages.
• Oversee tablet-based household and community surveys across multiple districts, ensuring strict adherence to sampling frames.
• Coordinate qualitative data collection, including in-depth face-to-face interviews and focus groups.
• Implement rigorous data quality control measures, including high-frequency checks, back checks, and daily progress reporting.
• Support the finalization of clean quantitative datasets in Stata-readable formats and oversee the transcription and translation of qualitative audio recordings.

Your role as Local Data Collection Specialist - Zambia

• Lead local field implementation and manage day-to-day operations for baseline surveys and qualitative data collection.
• Supervise field teams, enumerators, and supervisors across designated provinces and districts in Zambia.
• Monitor data collection progress using digital tools and ensure the execution of high-frequency data checks.
• Liaise with local authorities and community leaders to secure access and cooperation for survey activities.
• Address operational challenges in the field promptly and implement corrective measures to maintain data integrity.
• Contribute to the preparation of comprehensive field implementation reports documenting all survey and qualitative activities.

Requirements

• Demonstrated professional experience in managing large-scale quantitative and qualitative data collection field operations in Zambia.
• Strong familiarity with social protection, poverty reduction, or economic inclusion programs in rural contexts.
• Proven ability to recruit, train, and manage large teams of enumerators and field supervisors.
• Excellent understanding of digital data collection methodologies and mobile survey platforms.
• Strong interpersonal, cross-cultural, and communication skills with fluency in relevant local languages of Zambia.
• Professional proficiency in written and spoken English.
• National of, or based in, the project country

Desirable

• Prior experience working on impact evaluations funded by international financial institutions such as the World Bank.
• Familiarity with randomized controlled trial (RCT) research methodologies in social sectors.
• Advanced degree in social sciences, economics, statistics, or a related field.

An experienced local field operations expert with a strong background in managing complex household surveys and qualitative data collection across rural Zambia for international development projects.

Assignment details

• Location: Zambia
• Financed by: World Bank
• Estimated duration: 20 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a World Bank-financed project in Zambia.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? This position requires a national of, or a professional based in, the project country.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.