Senior Ecosystem & Inclusion Researcher

Role Overview

This role is built around leading mixed-methods field research that captures how startups and small businesses actually operate across East Africa, with particular attention to women-led enterprises and youth-driven tech communities beyond the capital. Day to day, you will be in the field designing survey instruments, running interviews, and coordinating with local innovation hubs to generate evidence that shapes funding decisions, program strategy, and policy recommendations. Your work matters because it brings hard data and lived experience into the same frame, helping organisations understand what truly supports MSME growth in under-served regions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and pilot quantitative survey tools and qualitative interview or focus group guides tailored to specific research questions about entrepreneurship, access to finance, and gender dynamics in East African markets.
• Lead field data collection across multiple counties and towns, managing local enumerators, scheduling community visits, and maintaining rigorous data quality checks throughout the process.
• Liaise with regional innovation hubs, women’s business associations, and youth technology networks to recruit diverse participant samples and ensure research reflects voices outside established urban centres.
• Analyse survey data using statistical software and code qualitative transcripts for thematic patterns, triangulating findings to build a coherent, evidence-driven narrative.
• Draft detailed research reports, policy briefs, and presentation decks that translate complex findings into actionable insights for donors, government bodies, and program managers.
• Facilitate validation workshops with local stakeholders to test preliminary results, collect feedback, and refine recommendations before final publication.
• Support the broader research team in developing proposals, defining indicators, and aligning fieldwork with organisational learning objectives.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in development studies, statistics, gender studies, economics, or another relevant social science field.
• Seven to ten years of applied experience conducting mixed-methods research in East African startup ecosystems or MSME development programmes, with a proven ability to manage projects from inception to dissemination.
• An existing professional network spanning regional innovation hubs, women entrepreneur associations, and youth technology communities—especially those situated outside Nairobi or other capital cities.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analysis skills, including proficiency with statistical software (e.g., Stata, R, or SPSS) and experience coding textual or interview data for thematic insights.
• Fluency in English plus at least one major East African language, such as Swahili, Kinyarwanda, or Amharic, to facilitate credible fieldwork and community engagement.
• Demonstrated success in producing research outputs that influence programme adjustments, policy dialogue, or investment strategies, as evidenced by past reports or publications.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the region, including overnight stays in secondary towns and rural locations where many MSMEs operate.

Application Requirements

Interested candidates should submit:

• Updated CV/Resume
• Cover letter highlighting relevant assignment experience
• Proposed daily consultancy rate in KES/USD
• Samples of previous work, such as policy briefs, research reports, or event proceedings