Regional Senior Research Officer for East and Southeast Africa, based in Kampala

Join IMPACT Initiatives as a Regional Senior Research Officer in Kampala, Uganda, to enhance research quality across East and Southeast Africa.

• *Division: HQ Programs, Communications and Research
• *Reporting to: Manager of HQ Research Quality Assurance Unit
• *Location: Kampala, Uganda
• *Duration: 9 months (with potential for extension)
• *Start date: September 2026.

• Support implementation of research standards, especially for IMPACT’s country operations in East and Southeast Africa;*i.e. implement quality control processes and provide technical backstopping and learning support for research implementation, to ensure all teams are complying with established standards, as defined within IMPACT’s Research Toolkit. This includes:
• Act as the HQ RQA Unit focal point for the East and Southeast African region and provide day-to-day support and advice to country teams on different stages of research implementation, while ensuring proper documentation of all key outputs
• Support the transition to more streamlined and decentralised quality assurance processes at the country level, including the development of reviewer tools and training, and any other required capacity strengthening or learning support
• \[In collaboration with Global Programme teams\] Provide technical guidance and support for research planning and methodology design, primarily for quantitative research
• \[In collaboration with Global Programme teams\] Provide peer review support for research design, quantitative data processing and analysis, and narrative information products
• Flag and discuss relevant risks with Unit Manager in a timely manner
• Provide other research implementation support as needed, including temporary in-country deployments (“surge support”) to country teams *– this could represent up to 25% of the total working time under this contract.*
• Strengthen research standards through a learning-based approach i.e*. implement internal learning processes to continuously strengthen IMPACT’s research methods, tools and outcomes. This includes:
• Support with the development, maintenance of relevant learning solutions (e.g. guidance notes, online courses, quarterly webinars, tailored training sessions) to ensure uptake and application of the Research Toolkit across all teams, primarily within the East and Southeast African region
• \[In collaboration with MEAL team\] Contribute to the regular review and consolidation of research-related lessons learned and best practices, including in the implementation of regular ‘Quality Monitoring’ exercises to identify, address key gaps vis-à-vis IMPACT’s Research Quality Framework
• Identify and integrate required improvements to research processes and guidelines
• \[On an ad-hoc, by need basis only\] Support research implementation in other regions / countries as directed by Unit Manager and based on the team’s workflow and/ or organisational priorities.

• Work experience: At least 3 years of relevant work experience in designing and implementing primary research programmes, preferably in humanitarian or international development contexts in the East or Southeast Africa regions.
• Academic qualifications: Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant discipline (e.g. Social Research, Economics, Data Science, Statistics, Anthropology, International Development, or similar)
• Language requirements: Fluency in English required, French desired.

• For this position, salary between 2’580 CHF and 2’640 CHF monthly (before income tax), as well as a monthly living allowance of 400 USD *NB – IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education of staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied as a recognition that some staff are required to work in difficult places where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.*
• Enrolment in Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approx. 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance.
• Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and professional expenses are fully covered).
• Contribution to the luggage transportation: between 20 and 100 kgs, depending on the length of the contract (+ luggage and personal property insurance)
• Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Family/compassionate leave when applicable.
• Predeparture induction – 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives’ HQ in Geneva + one week pre-departure training in ACTED HQ in Paris, including a 4-days in situ security training;
• IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff, and the health insurance provided covers, among others, up to 1000 € per year of psychosocial counselling fees.