Two-week checklist
*Initiate dialogue even before going to the country. Email with daily contact if he/she has been established.
Introductions, one-on-one, and group meetings1
Fieldwork
 Chief of WASH
 With UNICEF point person or local NGO partner, consider feasibility and
o Explain project
challenges of field work (i.e. Consider pre-field introductions needed,
o Schedule time for a presentation to WASH team and other
school schedules, etc.)
interested stakeholders
 Examine the sampling frame and determine schools the country office
o Establish other program related contacts: Education, Child
thinks it would be feasible to vist.
Protection, etc.
o Discuss the number of FGDs/IDIs needed based on diversity.
o Receive your run-down on current WASH projects
o Review ideas with the rest of the team for feedback.
 How long has this been going on?
 Go over the tools with the Research Assistants as if a ‘cognitive
 Are other stakeholders involved?
interview.’ Ask them about the questions, how they interpret them, what
 Who is being targeted?
they may expect to be problematic, and what other thoughts they have.
 What have the initial results shown?
Make revisions as necessary. Take notes on this process as it will provide
 Request to accompany field visits, especially to visit local
valuable contextual information as you analyze your data.
schools. Find out necessary protocol to do this.
 Consider any major questions the team would like to add to the tools and
o Set regular (every two weeks) meeting/check-in times to discuss
what that may mean for revising IRB. (NOTE: The tools are designed to
progress, challenges and update schedule as needed.
measure similar domains across spaces. Additions are welcome but the
o Be introduced to peer/daily contact: Ensure this person knows
cost of adding questions—time and salary for transcription—should be
in advance they are your go-to person, and that they have time
noted. In addition, removing questions should be approved first by
for you
Emory team as this could impair cross-country analysis.)
o Review Terms of Reference for implementing partner
 Become familiar with recorders and test them out.
 The “logistics” person (the person you will go to in order to book a
Desk Review
vehicle or schedule a meeting)
 Academic / peer reviewed literature
 WASH in Schools staff members (if applicable)
 NGO reports, UN reports, etc
 Deputy Representative (supports RE: transportation, logistics.)
 Government documents/data (many are not shared outside the given
 Administrative Assistant and Logistics Coordinator.
ministries)
o Arranging travel, forms and permissions needed, your status
o Obtain information early on how the government system works
and implications re office access etc., security clearance,
from the national level to the ground level- makes things a lot easier
reserving vehicles.
when writing the report.
 Meet with other UNICEF staff, including: Chiefs of Education, Child
 Talk to local NGOs
Protection, etc. Have Chief of Wash or other contact persons
o Learn about their past, current and future projects
facilitate introductions.
o What did they learn? What were their challenges?
 Cluster coordinators WASH, education
 Figure out how data from each source was collected to understand the
 Other local NGOs and partners
strengths and limitations as report references.
Logistics
 Purchase phone, learn the number, share number and collect other’s
 Find a place to stay*
o Consider how you will get to work everyday
 Can you travel alone at night?
 Is there public transportation?
o Ask the UNICEF drivers to help in the housing search; they know EVERYTHING about the city
o Ask what typical prices are for housing—you may need to use this information for negotiating your rent.
o Know that this might take a few days to sort out – and that the search may not be prepared for you on your arrival. (UNICEF isn’t used to
seeking long-term housing). You may have to push a bit.
 Office space, supplies, and other resources (i.e. web and printing access).
 Find out about security situation
Helpful Hints
1. Three questions for ALL meetings
 Do you have relevant documents for desk review?
 Do you have other relevant contacts I should reach out to?
 Do you want to be involved or updated throughout the process? What level of involvement?
2. Don’t get frustrated – remember that UNICEF is a big agency and it takes a long time to get moving or change direction. This is something you can’t
control, and can’t entirely circumvent. Adjust yourself and your goals to work within that context. Recognize that achieving in this context will depend
on the time and willingness of others, on permission, on vehicles, etc. You will move at the rate of the slowest moving step, so plan accordingly for
maximum impact adaptable to someone else’s schedule. And, when you’ve only had minimum impact, be OK with that, and adjust accordingly.
3. Be flexible (your schedule is going to change, and it will be ok)
4. Be sociable (it’s fun and a great networking opportunity)
5. Be realistic about where you can add value, and where your expertise is. The UNICEF country office may have their own ideas of what you’re there to
do, or what they need from you. Help them define your role (right away) in the research but also in other projects.
6. Be clear what you need from each individual/organization and tell them up front – both within UNICEF and outside. If you’re not clear, tell them so up
front – don’t fake it – and ask for their help in clarifying.
7. Always have your business card (maybe a summary of the project, too) with you – it’s amazing how many dinners, etc can be networking opportunities
8. If your computer charger has 3 prongs – get a 3 prong to 2 prong adapter for your international adapter
9. Keep a journal/log of what is going on each day/week