Research Analyst at Policy Innovation Centre (PIC)

The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) is the first national institutionalised behavioural initiative in Africa supporting government and stakeholders to make behaviourally informed decisions and generate evidence for impact driven interventions in critical thematic areas (Governance, Health, Gender & Social Inclusion, Education, Digital & Financial Inclusion). The PIC is positioned to support the delivery of better policies and innovative solutions for high impact interventions across Africa. The PIC is an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), a leading think tank in Africa redefining evidence based policy advocacy.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Research Analyst

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Contract

Description

The Research Analyst will support the design, analysis, and interpretation of project data to inform evidence-based decision-making. He will manage datasets, conduct statistical analyses, and synthesize findings from multiple sources to generate actionable insights that guide project implementation and policy recommendations.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop research plans, methodologies, and tools to generate evidence that informs development programs and policies.
• Identify key development data sources, literature, and best practices to guide research priorities.
• Design surveys, questionnaires, and interview guides to capture relevant programmatic insights.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative data collection through surveys, focus groups, and interviews.
• Ensure accurate and timely data entry, coding, and management for development projects.
• Maintain ethical standards and confidentiality in all data collection and storage processes.
• Analyze collected data using statistical, thematic, or qualitative techniques to produce actionable insights.
• Identify trends, gaps, and patterns in program performance and development outcomes.
• Translate complex data into understandable findings to guide program decisions and policy recommendations.
• Prepare clear research reports, policy briefs, and development program summaries for stakeholders.
• Present findings through presentations, workshops, or learning sessions for internal teams and partners.
• Document lessons learned and recommendations to improve future development interventions.
• Collaborate with program teams to ensure research findings inform project planning and implementation.
• Provide technical guidance to teams on data collection, research methods, and analysis.
• Assist in integrating evidence-based insights into program design, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Support monitoring and evaluation activities by providing research inputs for development programs.
• Review and validate research data to ensure accuracy, reliability, and relevance.
• Recommend improvements to research and evaluation processes to enhance program impact.
• Liaise with government agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners to access relevant data.
• Support evidence-based dialogue with stakeholders to inform policy and program development.
• Build and maintain a network of contacts for ongoing research collaboration and validation of findings.

Qualifications / Job Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Social Sciences (e.g., Development Studies, Public Policy, Economics, Statistics), or related fields
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in applied research, monitoring & evaluation, or data analysis in a development or governance context.
• Proven experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods (e.g., survey design, interviews, data analysis using statistical software).
• Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesise complex findings into clear, actionable insights and reports.
• Demonstrated experience working with government agencies, civil society organisations, development partners or donors in Nigeria or Sub‑Saharan Africa.
• Proficiency in statistical and data tools (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R, Excel) and familiarity with data visualisation and database management.
• High level of attention to detail, organisational ability, and capacity to manage multiple research streams under deadlines.
• Commitment to ethical research practices, integrity, and evidence‑based decision making.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Professional development opportunities.
• A supportive and collaborative working environment.

Application Closing Date
24th November, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Application Instructions:
Please send your CV on no more than 2 A4 pages (Minimum font size 10) AND an accompanying covering letter of no more than 2 pages (Minimum font size 10) answering the following questions:

• What is your motivation for wanting to join the PIC?
• What are the top three key attributes you would bring to the PIC?

Note

• Only qualified candidates will be contacted.
• PIC may be unable to notify every applicant of the result of their application. If you have therefore not been contacted within 8 weeks of the closing date, then you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful. However, we may retain your data and contact you for future openings that match your skills and competencies.
• Equal employment opportunity statement: PIC is an equal employment employer. We do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, colour, religion, gender, disability, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected under applicable laws.