Category: Short-Term Contract | Research & Data Collection | Child Protection & Social Development Location: Nyeri County, Kenya
If you are a social sciences graduate residing in Nyeri County with a background in research or data collection, this short-term assignment is a timely and meaningful opportunity. The State Department for Children Services, the National Council for Children Services (NCCS), the Archdiocese of Nyeri, the Catholic Diocese of Meru, and the Legacy for Children (L4C) Kenya programme are jointly recruiting Enumerators to support a Childcare Reform Situational Analysis in Nyeri County.
The Context: Why This Assignment Matters
Over the last several decades, global evidence has consistently demonstrated the harm caused by institutional care for children. Research spanning 80 years shows that placing children in institutional settings — even when their basic physical and nutritional needs are met — causes significant harm to their psychological, cognitive, and social development. It increases attachment problems and limits long-term life outcomes.
Kenya’s National Care Reform Strategy (NCRS) 2022–2032 responds to this evidence with a clear vision: that all children and young people in Kenya live safely, happily, and sustainably in family and community-based care where their best interests are served. By 2031, the strategy aims to complete the transition away from institutional care entirely.
To achieve this, counties must first understand the current landscape — and that is exactly what this Situational Analysis (SITAN) is designed to do.
About the Assignment
The SITAN exercise in Nyeri County will gather comprehensive data on institutionalised children, unaccompanied and separated children, children at risk of family separation, and the family and community-based services and systems that exist to support them. The data collected will directly inform a county-level action plan for childcare reform.
The assignment is approximately 10 days in duration and will be conducted during May and June 2026. Applicants must be residents of Nyeri County.
Scope of Work
The Situational Analysis has nine specific objectives:
- Document the number, location, and profile of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) and Specialised Care Institutions (SCIs) operating in the county, both registered and unregistered
- Assess CCIs and SCIs against Government of Kenya standards, with focus on staff-to-child ratios, child safeguarding, case management, and alternative care strategies
- Document the types of services CCIs and SCIs provide, with a focus on prevention, alternative family-based care, reintegration, and exit planning
- Record the profile of children in CCIs and SCIs, including age, sex, ethnicity, disability status, orphanhood status, reason for placement, and length of time in care
- Document knowledge, attitudes, and practices around residential care, alternative family-based care, and reintegration among directors, staff, children’s officers, community members, care leavers, and parents
- Capture challenges and opportunities identified by CCI and SCI managers and staff
- Collect recommendations from care leavers based on lived experience
- Assess county legislation, regulations, and policies relevant to childcare reform
- Evaluate the financing landscape of the care and child protection systems in the county
Duties and Responsibilities
Enumerators will be expected to:
- Complete an intensive three-day training prior to data collection
- Conduct interviews in accordance with the interviewer guideline and adhere to the enumerator code of conduct
- Locate and conduct interviews with selected SCIs, CCIs, and respondents
- Accurately capture responses for quantitative questionnaires and transmit data on schedule
- Transcribe audio files and handwritten notes from Key Informant Interviews and Focus Group Discussions into provided templates
- Identify and resolve inconsistencies in interviewee responses through appropriate follow-up questioning
- Review data for completeness and accuracy
- Produce daily observation reports detailing achievements, observations, and challenges
- Meet with supervisors daily to submit completed interview and FGD reports
- Maintain safe custody of all research materials and field notes
- Observe strict research confidentiality during and after the SITAN exercise
- Carry out any additional data collection procedures as directed by the field supervisor
Note: Successful applicants must possess a smartphone to facilitate digitalised data collection, reporting, and analysis.
Desired Qualifications and Abilities
- A bachelor’s degree in social sciences from a recognised institution
- Prior experience conducting research and/or data collection
- Familiarity with programming for vulnerable children and families
- Understanding of data confidentiality and integrity requirements
- Verifiable residential status in Nyeri County
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, Kiswahili, and the local dialect
- Proven ability to meet targets and deadlines
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Good computer literacy
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work accurately with strong attention to detail
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Why Your CV and Cover Letter Must Be Carefully Prepared
This is a competitive short-term assignment drawing applicants from across Nyeri County. Your cover letter carries particular weight here — the advert specifically requires that you indicate your sub-county of residence within it. A cover letter that fails to do this, or that is generic and poorly structured, will likely not proceed.
Your CV must be concise — a maximum of three pages — and must clearly demonstrate your research and data collection experience, your familiarity with child protection or social development programming, and your communication abilities in the required languages.
Need Help with Your CV or Cover Letter?
We offer professional CV writing and Cover Letter writing services tailored for Kenyan professionals applying to research, NGO, and development sector roles. We understand what selectors at organisations like NCCS and Legacy for Children are looking for, and we will help you put your best foot forward.
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How to Apply
Send a brief cover letter and a curriculum vitae of no more than three pages to:
- wangariwamugunda@gmail.com
- Copied to: jmburru@gmail.com and kagendoofficial19@gmail.com
Important: Clearly indicate your sub-county of residence in your cover letter.
Deadline: All applications must be received by Tuesday, 10th April 2026. Successful applicants are expected to be available to start immediately.
Final Word
This is a short-term but highly purposeful assignment that sits at the heart of Kenya’s national childcare reform agenda. If you are based in Nyeri County, have the right academic background, and are ready to contribute to work that directly shapes the lives of vulnerable children and families, this is an opportunity worth pursuing with full seriousness.
Prepare your application documents carefully, indicate your sub-county clearly, and submit well ahead of the deadline.
For professional CV and Cover Letter writing support, contact us on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/message/YFSZ3WHAXQCEF1
