Research Assistants job at Luigi Giussani Foundation

Organisation Background

Luigi Giussani Foundation (LGF) is an indigenous impact organization that has, for the past 17 years, addressed educational challenges across the country through research and capacity building at all levels of the education system. LGF implements educational and capacity building programs in both refugee and non-refugee contexts, guided by a vision to transform the education ecosystem to nurture dynamic, self-aware, and responsible learners and educators. LGF also conducts research aimed at driving systemic change within the education sector.

LGF, in partnership with Oxfam Uganda, Oxfam Denmark, and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), plans to undertake a study to examine the drivers of teacher wellbeing and retention in contexts of protracted violence and displacement. The study will be conducted in the West Nile sub-region (Yumbe, Madi Okollo, and Terego districts) and Acholi sub-region. To support this work, LGF seeks to recruit competent and qualified Six (6) Qualitative Research Assistants to support data collection activities.

Key duties and responsibilities

Under the supervision of the LGF Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer, the Research Assistants will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Participate in a one-day training at the designated location.
• Assist in scheduling interviews with key informants across the districts in West Nile.
• Obtain informed consent from all study participants, ensuring strict adherence to ethical protocols, safeguarding, and confidentiality guidelines.
• Support the research team in administering Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) for Phase 1 of the Positive Deviance Inquiry, following the assigned list of stakeholders.
• Collect and accurately record data using digital tools (tablets or smartphones).
• Document field notes, emerging insights, and challenges encountered during data collection.
• Participate in daily field debrief sessions, raising any issues to inform adjustments.
• Support data management tasks as required, including organizing and securely storing data in the shared drive or other specified database.
• Ensure accuracy, completeness, and integrity of all collected data.
• Undertake any other responsibilities as assigned by the Field Supervisor

Deliverables:

• Complete and clear audio recordings from the assigned interviews.
• Daily fieldwork summary notes.
• A short end-of-assignment report reflecting field experiences, challenges, and recommendations.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized institution. A qualification in Education is an added advantage.
• At least one year of demonstrated experience in data collection using qualitative research methods, such as Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), autoethnographic methods, or other participant observation techniques.
• Fluency in English and proficiency in at least one of the following local languages: Alur, Kakwa, Madi, Lugbara, Kiswahili, or Aringa. Knowledge of other refugee languages is an added advantage.
• Previous experience conducting research with high-level national and district stakeholders, including District Education Officers (DEOs), District Inspectors of Schools (DISs), Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), Principals at Core PTCs, Commissioners, representatives of NGOs, and officials from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Refugee Desk.

Desirable attributes

• A strong understanding of ethical research practices.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience working with diverse communities and sectors, particularly within education and refugee settlement contexts.
• Residency in one of the following areas is highly desirable: Madi-Okollo, Terego, and Yumbe, including the refugee settlements of Rhino Camp, Bidi Bidi, and Imvepi.
• Knowledge of the local languages is highly desirable

• Participate in a one-day training at the designated location.
• Assist in scheduling interviews with key informants across the districts in West Nile.
• Obtain informed consent from all study participants, ensuring strict adherence to ethical protocols, safeguarding, and confidentiality guidelines.
• Support the research team in administering Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) for Phase 1 of the Positive Deviance Inquiry, following the assigned list of stakeholders.
• Collect and accurately record data using digital tools (tablets or smartphones).
• Document field notes, emerging insights, and challenges encountered during data collection.
• Participate in daily field debrief sessions, raising any issues to inform adjustments.
• Support data management tasks as required, including organizing and securely storing data in the shared drive or other specified database.
• Ensure accuracy, completeness, and integrity of all collected data.
• Undertake any other responsibilities as assigned by the Field Supervisor

• A strong understanding of ethical research practices.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience working with diverse communities and sectors, particularly within education and refugee settlement contexts.
• Knowledge of the local languages is highly desirable

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized institution. A qualification in Education is an added advantage.
• At least one year of demonstrated experience in data collection using qualitative research methods, such as Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), autoethnographic methods, or other participant observation techniques.
• Fluency in English and proficiency in at least one of the following local languages: Alur, Kakwa, Madi, Lugbara, Kiswahili, or Aringa. Knowledge of other refugee languages is an added advantage.
• Previous experience conducting research with high-level national and district stakeholders, including District Education Officers (DEOs), District Inspectors of Schools (DISs), Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), Principals at Core PTCs, Commissioners, representatives of NGOs, and officials from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Refugee Desk.