Research Associate at International Alert

International Alert is one of the world's leading peacebuilding  organisations, with over 30 years of experience supporting communities,  advising governments, organisations and companies on how to build  peace. Alert works with people in conflict-affected and threatened areas  to make a positive difference for peace; to improve the substance and  implementation of international policies relevant to peacebuilding; and to  strengthen the peacebuilding sector.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Research Associate

Location: Abuja (FCT) (with frequent field travel across project states)
Duration: 3 months with possible extension
Contract Type: Consultancy
Reports to: National Team Lead

Background

• The DDR Policy Harmonisation and Reintegration Programme is designed to strengthen national frameworks and delivery systems for effective Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) in Nigeria. 
• The programme will be informed by rigorous evidence derived from comprehensive field-based assessments—including socio-economic profiling, trauma impact studies, reintegration opportunity mapping, and other core components.
• To ensure effective delivery of high-quality, field-grounded evidence, the programme requires a Research Associate to support the Research Experts and lead the data collection, cleaning, analysis, and coordination processes.

Purpose of the Assignment

• The Research Associate will provide technical and operational support to the research function of the DDR project. 
• This includes hands-on coordination of field data collection, enumerator management, digital tool deployment, data cleaning and analysis, and the production of clear, well-organised data outputs. 
• The Associate will be key to ensuring the smooth execution of research activities and the credibility of the datasets that inform programme decisions.

Key Responsibilities
Field Research Coordination:

• Support the Research Experts in planning and executing field-level research activities.
• Coordinate field logistics and schedules for surveys, focus groups, and interviews across targeted states.
• Supervise and manage field enumerators and ensure adherence to data collection protocols.
• Ensure informed consent and ethical compliance are observed during all fieldwork.

Digital Data Collection and Management:

• Program and manage data collection instruments using digital platforms (e.g., KoboCollect, ODK).
• Conduct pre-testing and deployment of survey tools, including troubleshooting technical issues.
• Monitor incoming data during fieldwork and ensure real-time quality control.

Data Cleaning and Analysis:

• Perform thorough data cleaning, validation, and organisation in preparation for analysis.
• Conduct descriptive and basic inferential data analysis (using SPSS, Stata, R, or Excel).
• Prepare visualisations (charts, graphs, dashboards) and summary tables for internal and external use.
• Work closely with the Research Experts to develop clean, analysable datasets for reporting.

Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain well-organised databases and metadata for each research component.
• Contribute to fieldwork summary reports, data dictionaries, and methodological documentation.
• Draft annexes or technical appendices for inclusion in final research reports.

Key Deliverables

• Field Coordination Plans: Workplans and schedules for enumerator deployment 
• Cleaned Datasets: Fully validated and labelled datasets, with supporting documentation
• Data Analysis Summary: Statistical summaries, visualisations, and basic trend analysis Enumerator Reports: Performance reports and feedback logs 
• Digital Toolkits: Programmed and tested tools for mobile data collection

Required Qualifications and Experience
Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Demography, Social Sciences, Public Health, or a related field.
• Master’s Degree (or equivalent experience) is an added advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in quantitative and qualitative research, preferably in conflict or reintegration contexts.
• Demonstrated experience with data collection tools such as KoboToolbox, ODK, or SurveyCTO.
• Proven experience with data cleaning and analysis using statistical software (e.g., Excel, SPSS, Stata, R, or Power BI).
• Experience supervising fieldwork and managing teams of enumerators.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong organisational and documentation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Application Closing Date
10th May, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their updated CV highlighting relevant research and field experience, cover letter outlining suitability and expected daily/monthly rate,sample of previous data analysis work or research brief (if available) and two referees (with contact information) to: nigeria@international-alert.org using the position as the subject of the email.

Note

• Equal Opportunity: The project encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of gender, ethnicity, or background. 
• Candidates from conflict-affected areas or with previous DDR-related experience are particularly encouraged to apply.