Horn Africa Consultants Firm (HACOF) is a regional development consultancy firm with operational presence across the Horn of Africa, including Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, HACOF provides technical advisory, research, monitoring and evaluation, and programme management services to international development partners, donors, and implementing organisations working in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
HACOF is currently pursuing a number of competitive procurement opportunities across Somalia, Kenya, and the wider Horn of Africa region, spanning monitoring and evaluation and related technical advisory services. In anticipation of potential contract awards, HACOF invites expressions of interest from qualified individual consultants and technical experts across these thematic and geographic areas to join its roster of pre-qualified personnel.
NOTE: Inclusion on the HACOF roster does not constitute an offer of employment or a guarantee of engagement, and all consultancy assignments remain subject to successful contract award, confirmed scope, and available funding. Consultants whose profiles are assessed as relevant will be contacted directly when a suitable assignment arises. HACOF is committed to building a diverse and regionally rooted expert pool and strongly encourages applications from competent professionals, nationals of the countries in which HACOF operates, and candidates with direct lived and working experience of fragile and conflict-affected settings in the Horn of Africa.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Senior Research Officer will serve as the primary technical support to the Team Leader across all evaluation and monitoring activities. This individual will take responsibility for tool development, data collection planning, dataset management, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and the production of draft analytical sections for evaluation reports, third-party monitoring reports, and learning products. The Research Officer will also support the Communications Officer in translating findings into accessible communication products.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the Team Leader in the development of data collection tools and instruments for Baseline, Midline, and Endline assessments, including household survey questionnaires, structured and semi-structured KII guides, FGD protocols, and observation checklists.
- Develop and maintain data management systems for the assignment, including codebooks, cleaning protocols, and version-controlled datasets.
- Conduct and support primary data collection activities, including key informant interviews with civil society leaders, government officials, and community members.
- Undertake quantitative analysis using appropriate statistical software (SPSS, Stata, R, or equivalent) and qualitative analysis using NVivo, ATLAS.ti, or equivalent platforms.
- Review and synthesise secondary literature, programme documents, partner reports, and contextual analysis relevant to the programme’s Results Framework indicators.
- Support the preparation of quarterly third-party monitoring reports, including drafting findings sections, summary tables, and analysis of compliance, relevance, and inclusiveness of verified activities.
- Support the conduct of social network analysis as directed by the Team Leader, including data collection and mapping of network relationships in the Somali civic space.
- Contribute to the preparation of bi-annual Outcome Harvesting sessions, including reviewing partner documentation prior to sessions and supporting the capture and synthesis of session outputs.
- Draft sections of Baseline, Midline, and Endline evaluation reports under the direction and quality review of the Team Leader.
- Maintain and regularly update evidence mapping database tracking programme outputs, outcomes, and contextual indicators across all Results Framework domains.
- Support the Communications Officer in identifying and documenting compelling stories of change and evidence of governance space developments from the programme’s MEAL data.
- Conduct regular desk-based secondary data review and context monitoring to flag emerging trends, risks, or developments of relevance to the programme.
Qualifications and Experience
- A minimum of 7 years of demonstrated experience supporting and delivering research and evaluation activities in the Somali context, including direct experience with data collection in Somalia.
- Advanced University degree (Masters level minimum) in social sciences, statistics, political science, development studies, or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated experience using quantitative data analysis software (SPSS, Stata, R, or equivalent).
- Demonstrated experience using qualitative analysis software (NVivo, ATLAS.ti, or equivalent).
- Strong academic and professional writing skills in English, with a demonstrated track record of contributing to evaluation or research reports.
- Experience conducting key informant interviews and focus group discussions in Somalia, including with non-governmental organisations, community leaders, and government officials.
- Familiarity with results frameworks, theories of change, and outcome mapping approaches used in governance and civil society programming.
- Knowledge of conflict sensitivity and GESI principles as applied to research design and data collection.
- Somali language proficiency is strongly desirable and will be a significant advantage in the shortlisting process.
- Prior experience with Outcome Harvesting or similar contribution-tracing methodologies is an asset.
How to apply
Applicants must submit all of the following documents in a single email to the address indicated below. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- A cover letter of no more than two pages in English, clearly stating the position title applied for, the applicant’s relevant experience in relation to the position requirements, the applicant’s availability to commence the assignment from August 2026, and the applicant’s daily/monthly rate expectation in USD.
- A current curriculum vitae (CV) of no more than six pages, structured to clearly demonstrate compliance with the minimum qualifications and experience requirements listed for the position. The CV must include, at minimum: full name, contact details, nationality, languages, education history with institutions and graduation dates, professional certifications, a reverse-chronological employment history covering at least the past ten years, and a list of at least three professional references with name, title, organisation, telephone, and email contact details.
Submission Instructions: Applications should be sent to hr@hacof.com. The email subject line must clearly state the position title in the format: [POSITION TITLE]. This is a rolling recruitment process, and early applications are encouraged. Shortlisting will begin immediately upon receipt of applications and will continue until the position is filled.