Research Advisor

VVOB – education for development is an international non-profit organisation with over 40 years’ experience in strengthening the quality of education systems in Africa, Asia and South America in close partnership with ministries of education and their institutions.
When you join VVOB, you become a key player in VVOB’s mission to ensure quality education as a key enabler for achieving sustainable development goals. We implement our programmes and projects with one shared passion: to ensure the improvement of quality education. Our teams of national and international experts achieve this by providing technical assistance to governmental and other education actors. In doing so, worldwide we ensure the capacity building of governmental and other education actors.

VVOB is currently looking for a Research Advisor who will provide strong research work for VVOB’s multiyear programmes from 2022-2026 which aim to improve the quality of education in Rwanda’s basic education sector.

The ambition of VVOB is to ensure learners around the world enjoy their fundamental human right to quality education, without exception. In striving for that ambition, we place our values ‘commitment’, ‘integrity’, ‘respect’, ‘quality’ and ‘innovation’ central. In Rwanda, VVOB in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education, through Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB), the National Examination School Inspection Authority (NESA) and the University of Rwanda – College of Education (UR-CE) is implementing the Learning through Assessment and Data (LEAD) –programme from 2022 – 2026. The programme aims to improve the quality of education by strengthening the competencies of newly assigned educational leaders to effectively use data to improve teaching and adequately address repetition, dropout and equity gaps in learning outcomes while being supported by sector and district officials. This is operationalised through blended delivery of accredited continuous professional development (CPD) programmes for educational leaders. As a Research Advisor you will contribute to advancing VVOB’s research on education and to strengthen M&E systems for better evidence.

For more information on VVOB in Rwanda and our programmes, please visit our website.

As the Research Advisor you have the responsibility of carrying out and supporting research on the implementation, impact/effects, sustainability, and costs of VVOB’s programmes in Rwanda. You also support the effective implementation of the M&E system of VVOB Rwanda country programmes.

The Research Advisor reports to the Country Programmes Manager. You are part of the M&E and Research department and work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Advisor. Furthermore, you work closely with the education team in Rwanda and with the M&E and Research team members at the global office and other VVOB country offices.

Main duties & responsibilities:

As Research Advisor, you will:

• Coordinate research studies, including a randomised trial to assess the impact of professional development trajectories for school leaders in close collaboration with a consultant.
• Lead the collection and analysis of research data on the effects and impact of VVOB’s projects within Rwanda in line with the research agenda of VVOB.
• You actively promote evidence-based learning within VVOB by systemising and proactively sharing lessons learned and ensuring capacity development on research both internally and for partners.
• Ensure capacity development on research of the partners according to the needs of the partner and particular situations and phases of the projects.
• Take part in networking and advocacy in external working groups, and task forces in Rwanda’s basic education sector, particularly related to research.
• Collaborate with other VVOB country research advisors, share, and exchange ideas on how to better manage the programme learnings across the organisation.
• As the Research Advisor, you will also perform any other duty assigned by supervisors in line with the position holder’s capacities

Required expertise and experience

• Master’s degree in economics, education, social sciences or other relevant field or equivalent experience with at least 3 years of experience in education research.
• Experience with data management and analysis using packages such as STATA, Excel, and SPSS; knowledge of R is an advantage.
• You have proven experience in both qualitative and quantitative research in Rwanda.
• Experience with the development of research tools, including data collection methodologies, software, and analysis.
• You have knowledge of and/or experience with monitoring and evaluation is an asset.
• You possess excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively in a multi-cultural environment and to external audiences.
• Fluent in English

Competences : (Level 1 = Basic; Leve 2 = Intermediate; Level 3 = advanced)

VVOB Core Competences:

• Cooperation (level 2)
• Continuous Improvement (level 2)
• Result oriented (level 2)

Role competences:

• Creativity (Level 2)
• Development Oriented (Level 3)
• 360° Empathy (Level 3)
• Communication Skills (Level 3)
• Problem Analysis & Judgement (Level3)

What we offer you:

• A dynamic working environment in an international context
• An exciting job with varied responsibilities
• Professional development opportunities
• A competitive gloss salary and benefits package between RWF 2.1M to a maximum 2.6M per month depending on your years of experience, plus other benefits.