RELI Africa (Regional Education Learning Initiative) is hiring a Research Assistant for a mixed-methods study on inclusive education and disability in Kenya. The deadline is 1 May 2026 — this window is tight. If you have a background in social sciences, education research, or development studies and hands-on experience with tools like KoboToolbox or ODK, apply immediately.
About This Role
The Research Assistant will support all phases of a study titled Examining Inequality within Inclusion: Access, Costs, and Learning for Children with Disabilities in Kenya — from tool refinement and ethical approval coordination through to data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Field activities will be conducted across selected urban informal settlements in Nairobi, with the study also covering Kajiado, Kilifi, and Narok counties. You’ll work closely with the RELI Kenya Country Coordinator and the Principal Investigator throughout the engagement.
This is a short-term consultancy contract of 2–4 months from the date of contracting. It is not a permanent position.
About the Study
The study generates evidence on access, participation, cost burdens, and learning outcomes for children with disabilities in Kenya — a population that remains significantly underserved despite formal policy commitments to inclusive education. Using a mixed-methods design, the research will examine schooling patterns, household-level cost barriers, the capacity of Educational Assessment and Resource Centres (EARCs), and the lived experiences of learners and caregivers..
Key Responsibilities
A. Research Design & Preparation
- Support refinement of research tools — questionnaires, interview guides, and FGD protocols
- Participate in tool pre-testing and revisions
- Assist in developing sampling frames for schools and households
- Support coordination of ethical approval processes and documentation
B. Data Collection
- Conduct quantitative data collection — school and household surveys
- Facilitate qualitative data collection including Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and in-depth interviews
- Ensure accurate and complete data recording, digital or paper-based
- Uphold ethical standards including informed consent and safeguarding protocols throughout
C. Data Management & Quality Assurance
- Review collected data for completeness and consistency
- Support data entry, cleaning, and validation
- Maintain organised and secure data storage systems
- Flag data quality issues and support resolution
D. Data Analysis Support
- Assist in basic quantitative analysis — descriptive statistics
- Support transcription and organisation of qualitative data
- Participate in thematic coding and preliminary analysis
- Contribute to triangulation of findings across data sources
E. Reporting & Documentation
- Support preparation of field reports and progress updates
- Contribute to synthesis of findings — tables, summaries, emerging insights
- Assist in drafting sections of the research report where required
F. Coordination & Logistics
- Support coordination with schools, communities, and stakeholders
- Assist in scheduling interviews and field activities
- Ensure adherence to study timelines and fieldwork plans
Deliverables
By the end of the contract, the Research Assistant is expected to have produced:
- Clean and complete quantitative and qualitative datasets
- Transcribed and organised qualitative data
- Fieldwork reports and daily/weekly field updates
- Inputs into data analysis and synthesis
- Contributions to draft sections of the final research report
Required Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Education, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Development Studies, or a related field — OR at least 5 years of demonstrated experience in research and data collection
- Additional training in research methods is an advantage
- Demonstrated experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods
- Experience working in urban informal settlements is highly desirable
- Prior work on education, disability, or inclusion-related research is an added advantage
Skills & Competencies
- Strong data collection and interviewing skills
- Familiarity with digital data collection tools — KoboToolbox, ODK, or SurveyCTO
- Basic data analysis skills in Excel, SPSS, STATA, or similar
- Strong organisational and documentation skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work sensitively and professionally with children and vulnerable populations
For researchers looking to strengthen their qualitative and quantitative methods credentials, the ILO training and capacity resources and development-sector platforms offer relevant short courses in mixed-methods research design.
Ethical Requirements
The Research Assistant must adhere to all ethical research standards including:
- Following informed consent and assent procedures at all data collection points
- Maintaining confidentiality and data protection at all times
- Applying safeguarding principles when engaging with children and other vulnerable populations
Salary, Contract & Location Details
Compensation
RELI Africa states that compensation will be aligned with the study budget and commensurate with the candidate’s experience. Include your expected remuneration in your cover letter — this is a mandatory application requirement.
Contract Type
Short-term consultancy — approximately 2 to 4 months from date of contracting.
Location
Nairobi, Kenya (urban informal settlements), with study coverage extending to Kajiado, Kilifi, and Narok. Fieldwork is on-site and involves community-level engagement. This is not a remote role.
How to Apply
Application Deadline
Friday, 1 May 2026
Submission Instructions
Submit your cover letter and CV as a single PDF document to:
Use “Research Assistant” as the email subject line. Include your expected remuneration in the cover letter. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
RELI Africa confirms that no payment is required at any stage of the recruitment process.
About RELI Africa
RELI Africa — the Regional Education Learning Initiative — is a pan-African network focused on generating and applying evidence to improve education quality and equity across the continent. The organisation works with governments, civil society, and research institutions to strengthen education systems for the most marginalised learners. RELI is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in its own workforce.
