Terms of Reference (ToR) for Volunteers: Analysis Support for COPPHA Open Access Publishing Training

Background

The Coalition for Open Access Publishing of Public Health in Africa (COPPHA) led by WACREN and Peoples-Praxis has conducted a Peer Reviewing Course to build the capacity needed to support Diamond OA journals in Africa. The key objective is to train African researchers in all aspects of the peer review process to enable them to conduct high-quality reviews. This includes critically assessing research manuscripts, providing constructive and actionable feedback, and upholding ethical standards. By equipping African researchers with these skills, the course prepares them to take on reviewer roles and contribute to the growth of Diamond OA publishing in Africa. The course also sets the foundation for the upcoming COPPHA course on Open Publishing.

To ensure robust monitoring and evaluation, the Coalition seeks the services of two (2) volunteers with knowledge and skills in statistics and qualitative research to assist in analysing data from the training programme for three months.

Volunteers’ Tasks

The volunteers will undertake the following tasks:

Volunteer – Quantitative Analysis

  1. Data Reconciliation:
    • Merge three spreadsheets into a master database, reconciling data from:
      • Individuals who expressed interest (career stage and review experience data).
      • Participants enrolled in the course.
      • Participants who engaged with the course (country, city, education, etc.).
  2. Quantitative Analysis:
    • Analyse the characteristics of individuals who expressed interest, engaged, or did not engage with the course.
    • Assess course completion data and identify relationships between baseline characteristics and completion rates.
  3. Reporting:
    • Provide summaries and visualisations of the quantitative and qualitative analyses.

Qualifications

  • Academic Background:
    • A minimum bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Statistics, Data Science, Social Sciences, or a related discipline).
  • Skills and Experience:
    • Demonstrated experience with quantitative research methods.
    • Proficiency in statistical analysis tools (e.g., SPSS, R, or Python) and spreadsheet software (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets).
    • Familiarity with content analysis techniques and qualitative data coding.
    • Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

 

Volunteer – Qualitative Analysis

  • Data Reconciliation:
    • Merge three spreadsheets into a master database, reconciling data from:
      • Individuals who expressed interest (career stage and review experience data).
      • Participants enrolled in the course.
      • Participants who engaged with the course (country, city, education, etc.).
  • Qualitative Analysis:
    • Conduct content analysis of forum posts and assignments to identify themes and patterns.
  • Reporting:
    • Provide summaries and visualisations of the quantitative and qualitative analyses.

Qualifications

  • Academic Background:
    • A minimum bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Statistics, Data Science, Social Sciences, or a related discipline).
  • Skills and Experience:
    • Demonstrated experience with qualitative research methods.
    • Proficiency in spreadsheet software (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets).
    • Familiarity with content analysis techniques and qualitative data coding.
    • Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

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Benefits

  • Opportunity to contribute to a high-impact project advancing Open Access Publishing in Africa.
  • Recognition of your contribution to COPPHA project reports and publications.
  • Exposure to a network of professionals and researchers across Africa.
  • Opportunity to enhance your analytical skills and gain experience in a multinational research and training initiative.
  • A certificate of appreciation upon successful completion of the assignment.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit the following:

  1. A brief cover letter detailing their qualifications and interest in the role.
  2. An updated CV highlighting relevant experience.
  3. Any relevant work samples or references (optional).

Applications should be sent to coppha@wacren.net with the subject line: Volunteer Application – COPPHA Analysis Support.

Deadline for Applications: Thursday, December 05, 2024.

Date of Commencement of Work: Monday, December 09, 2024.

Reporting Line

The volunteer will report to the COPPHA Training Project Coordinator.

Note: This is a voluntary position with no monetary compensation, but the experience and recognition gained will add significant value to the volunteer’s professional development.

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