Technical Consultant for ASER studies - Data Management

Technical Consultant for ASER studies - Data Management

Duty Station: remote work within Asia Time Zone, occasional field travel to Myanmar

Line Manager: Head of Programmes for Myanmar

Start Date: 1st August 2026

Completion of work: 30 April 2027

Part-time position: 0.7 FTE
 

People in Need

People in Need (PIN) was established in 1992 by a group of Czech war correspondents who were no longer satisfied with merely reporting on humanitarian crises and began providing direct assistance to affected populations. Since then, PIN has evolved into an international humanitarian and development organization working in more than 20 countries to support vulnerable communities, promote human rights, and strengthen resilience in contexts affected by conflict, disasters, and poverty.

About the Myanmar Programme at People in Need

PIN has been operating in Myanmar since 1997, with an established country office since 2008. The organization delivers multisectoral humanitarian and development programming with a particular focus on Education in Emergencies (EiE), Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), Shelter, Livelihoods, DRR, local governance and Protection mainstreaming in hard-to-reach and conflict-affected areas. PIN’s approach to working with local civil society organizations is grounded in mutual trust, partnership development, capacity strengthening, and localization.

Background

Myanmar has one of the biggest education crisis. Years of conflict, covid, displacement, economic instability, and natural disasters have disrupted children's access to safe and quality education. Since 2021, the situation has deterioated with school closures, population displacement, fragmentation of education systems, and increasing learning losses. Across the country, millions of children are now accessing education through diverse modalities, including ethnic education systems, community-based schools, temporary learning spaces, monastic schools, and other alternative education arrangements.
In this context, reliable evidence on children's learning outcomes is critical to inform programming, strengthen accountability, and support evidence-based decision-making. During 2025–2026, PIN successfully conducted a nationwide literacy and numeracy assessment across Myanmar, measuring learning outcomes among students attending a wide range of learning spaces supported by Plan International Myanmar (PIM), Save the Children International (SCI), UNESCO, and UNICEF. The assessment generated important evidence on foundational learning outcomes across diverse education systems and contexts, contributing to a stronger understanding of learning achievement and disparities among crisis-affected children.

In this new consultancy we plan to expand the areas of assessment and adjust tools for different ethnic minorities.  Building on this experience, the Education Programme seeks to conduct a sample learning assessment using the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) methodology to generate new comparable evidence on new areas in literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning outcomes among children supported by partner education providers.

Position Summary

The objective of the consultancy is to provide technical leadership and advisory support for the design, implementation, analysis, visualization, and reporting of sample-based learning assessments using ASER tools across multiple education programmes and partners in Myanmar.

The consultant will ensure methodological rigor, statistical validity, comparability of assessment results, high-quality data management, and production of evidence that supports programme learning, accountability, adaptive management, and donor reporting.

The consultant will work closely with the Education Programme, MEAL teams and staff in the country including MEC focal points/implementing partners, and relevant stakeholders throughout all phases of the assessment process.

The consultant will lead on the following process:

  • Design the proportional sample.
  • Review and contextualize ASER literacy, numeracy, and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) assessment tools together with EiE expert.
  • Ensure comparability of learning outcomes across timelines, partners, educational modalities, and geographic areas.
  • Strengthen the capacity of programme staff and partners on learning assessment methodologies, sampling procedures, data quality assurance, and interpretation of findings.
  • The person should have practical knowledge of digital platforms used for data collection and management, such as Kobotoolbox (that was used during ASER), or ActivityInfo
  • Lead the teams that will be doing data collection, data management, statistical analysis
  • Be the main lead in Data analysis.
  • Develop analytical products and dashboards (utilizing powerBI) for different types of audiences
  • Support the team and lead decision making in MEAL aspects
Logistics
  • The project team will provide logistical support for:
  • Coordination with partners and stakeholders
  • Organization of workshops and meetings
  • The consultant will be responsible for producing deliverables and reports according to the agreed workplan.
Methodology

The consultant will apply a participatory and technically rigorous approach combining technical advisory support, capacity building, and coordination with project teams and partners.

During the inception phase, the consultant will agree with the project team on a detailed workplan and priorities for technical support. The consultant will contribute to the design and implementation of hazard and stakeholder assessments, supporting the development of tools, guiding data collection, and assisting in the analysis and validation of findings.

The consultant will also deliver technical training and mentoring for staff and partners on MEAL aspects.

Finally, the consultant will support the technical implementation of all the stages of this project.

Duties & Responsibilities

Research Design and Assessment Methodology

  • Review previous ASER reports, partner education systems, baseline assessments, and existing learning assessment approaches together with EiE technical lead.
  • Develop an inception report detailing the methodology, sampling strategy, analytical framework, and quality assurance mechanisms in the MEAL sections and write individual reports from partners (11 reports in total togheter with the education in Emergencies lead).
  • Design an analytical framework aligned with programme indicators and donor reporting requirements.
  • Define key variables, indicators, and disaggregation categories for analysis.
  • Establish baseline-endline comparability methodologies and document associated limitations.
  • Participate In meetings with donor.

 

Sampling Design and Statistical Methodology

  • Design representative sampling for aprox 25 villages of different townships in Myanmar
  • Conduct sample size calculations and different scenarios based on the agreed parameters with donor
  • Develop sampling procedures considering accessibility constraints and organize MEAL implementing team to conduct field work (e.i: training enumerators)
  • Ensure representativeness across gender, age, displacement status, disability, language groups, educational modality, and geographic location, and or any other parameters discussed with donor.
  • Document all methodological assumptions, limitations, and deviations.

Assessment Tool Review and Contextualization

  • Review and adapt ASER literacy, numeracy, and SEL assessment tools to partner curricula, languages, and local contexts togheter with EiE advisor
  • Develop new/adjusted questionnaires for students, teachers, schools, and learning centres.
  • Conduct variable mapping and compatibility reviews between baseline and endline instruments where applicable.
  • Pilot assessment tools and revise instruments based on findings.
  • Develop assessment protocols and administration guidelines.

Capacity Building and Training

  • Support implementing team in producing evidence of the trainings and manuals.
  • Deliver Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions for partner organizations.
  • Support enumerator training on assessment administration, child-friendly approaches, safeguarding, informed consent, and quality assurance.
  • Provide ongoing mentoring and technical support throughout implementation to all the MEAL staff

Ethical Review and Safeguarding Compliance

  • Develop ethical review documentation regarding data, including study protocols, consent procedures, safeguarding measures, confidentiality procedures, and risk mitigation plans.
  • Lead and support the ethical review and approval process.
  • Ensure compliance with child safeguarding, Do No Harm, and data protection requirements (GDPR compliance) throughout implementation.

Data Collection Oversight and Quality Assurance

  • Support partners focal and enumerators/ PIN team during assessment implementation.
  • Establish quality control mechanisms.
  • Define protocols for non-response, inaccessible locations, and replacement sampling.
  • Monitor adherence to approved methodologies and ethical standards.
  • Document implementation challenges and corrective actions.

Data Management 

  • Consolidate datasets from multiple sources.
  • Clean, validate, and harmonize data from different collection rounds
  • Develop protocols on data management documentation. Use activity info
  •  Ensure secure storage and management of assessment datasets.
  • Establish procedures for version control and data traceability.
  • Make sure partners have their activity info accounts set up under PIN account

Statistical Analysis and Interpretation

  • Conduct descriptive and inferential statistical analyses as per request of EiE advisor
  • Analyse literacy, numeracy, and SEL outcomes using ASER proficiency scales.
  • Assess minimum proficiency achievement rates and programme outcome indicators.
  • Conduct disaggregated analyses by gender, age, disability, displacement status, language group, educational modality, and geography.
  •  Explore relationships between learner characteristics, teacher characteristics, and learning outcomes.
  •  Apply appropriate statistical techniques including non-parametric tests, correlation analysis, regression models, and subgroup analyses.

Data Visualization and Reporting

  •  Develop analytical dashboards and interactive reporting products using Power BI.
  •  Build data models linking learner, teacher, school, programme, and geographic data.
  •  Create visualizations of learning outcomes, subgroup comparisons, programme performance, and geographic coverage.
  •  Develop baseline-endline comparison dashboards where applicable.
  • Produce user-friendly outputs suitable for both technical and non-technical audiences.

Reporting 

  • Prepare technical assessment reports and methodological annexes.
  • Produce reports and summary briefs.
  • Develop presentations and facilitate validation workshops.
  • Document lessons learned and recommendations for future assessments.
  • Support dissemination and use of findings for programme improvement and strategic decision-making.

Organizational Learning

  • Assess the applicability of methodologies across different education systems and contexts in other missions of PIN
  • Document transferable tools, templates, code, and analytical frameworks.
  • Produce recommendations to strengthen future learning assessment exercises within humanitarian and conflict-affected education programmes.
  • The consultant will participate in regular coordination meetings with the Education Programme lead, MEAL team, and implementing focal points/schools.
  • The consultant will provide technical recommendations throughout implementation and support the documentation of lessons learned, methodological challenges, and best practices.
  • The consultant will report directly to the Head of Programmes and will work with rthe Education Programme focal point and team in the country programme of Myanmar as well as work closely with relevant technical teams throughout the assignment.

Expected Deliverables 

  • Inception Report (Due: 15 July 2026)

    • Approved assessment methodology
    • Approved implementation plan

  • Contextualized and Piloted ASER Tools (Due: July–August 2026)

    • Adapted and piloted ASER tools for:
      • Literacy
      • Numeracy
      • Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
      • School assessment
      • Teacher assessment
      • Student assessment

  • Ethical Review Protocol and Approval Package (Due: August 2026)

    • Ethical review package completed
    • Ethical clearance obtained

  • Partner-Specific Sampling and Implementation Plans (Due: August 2026)

    • Sampling framework developed
    • Partner-specific implementation plans finalized

  • ToT Training, Enumerator Capacity Building and Assessment Protocols (Due: August–September 2026)

    • Training package developed
    • Assessment protocols finalized
    • Enumerators trained and deployed

  • Completed Surveys and Validated Dataset (Due: October–December 2026)

    • Survey data collected
    • Dataset cleaned, validated, and anonymized
    • Final assessment dataset prepared

  • Final ASER Assessment Reports and Presentations (Due: January–February 2027)

    • Comprehensive assessment report
    • Partner-specific reports
    • Presentation materials
    • Recommendations for future actions and improvements

A suitable candidate:

Should have:

  • University degree (Master's or PhD) in Statistics, Demography, Educational Measurement, Education, Economics, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation, or another relevant field.
  • At least 4 of professional experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), assessment, research, or quantitative analysis within humanitarian, development, or international NGO (INGO) settings.
  • Minimum 2 years of demonstrated experience designing and implementing sample-based quantitative surveys and statistically representative sampling methodologies.
  • Proved expertise in quantitative research methods, including survey design, sampling theory, statistical analysis, and interpretation of complex datasets.
  • Strong practical experience with digital data collection platforms, particularly KoboToolbox; experience with ActivityInfo is highly desirable.
  • Advanced proficiency in Power BI for dashboard development, data visualization, and interactive reporting.
  • Proficiency in statistical software such as R, Stata, SPSS, or Python for quantitative data analysis.
  • Excellent analytical, and organizational skills
  • Excellent written and spoken English

Preferred to have:

  • Experience leading large-scale learning assessments, preferably using ASER, EGRA, EGMA, MICS, PISA, or similar education assessment methodologies.
  • Based in Asia time zone
  • Proven experience conducting descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, including regression models, correlation analyses
  • Experience measuring skills in capacity-building programmes, including Training of Trainers (ToT).
  • Experience working in Education in Emergencies (EiE) sector or education systems, including government, community-based, ethnic, or alternative education systems.
  • Knowledge of Myanmar or other local languages would be an advantage.

We offer:

  • Working environment in a well-established humanitarian organization in a challenging context;
  • Salary: total contract amount: 2100 Eur/month for part-time (30hrs/week)
  • Equipment: Laptop provided for both professional and personal use;
  • When traveling abroad:
    • Reimbursement of travel expenses such as flights, visas and vaccinations; assistance with the visa application procedure;
    • Travel health insurance covering medical care, incl. the repatriation;
    • 24/7 Medical Support available online;
    • Free psychological consultations available online;
  • Professional Development:
    • Free access to e-learning platforms and PIN Learning Hub; PIN’s global Induction Training, and tailored capacity-building opportunities.

How to apply:

If you are interested in this position, send us your CV and short cover letter via our application form.Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.


People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct and committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need involves. People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp). People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training.All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.
We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.