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 Field Coordinators will be responsible for the planning and logistical management of primary data collection activities in the field, including the coordination of enumerator teams, the management of data collection schedules and site access, the maintenance of security protocols, and the quality assurance of data collected. Two Field Coordinator positions are available, to be deployed in different geographic zones within Somalia (specific zone assignments to be confirmed at mobilisation). Field Coordinators will report directly to the Senior Research Officer and Team Leader.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and coordinate all field-based data collection activities, including the scheduling of key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and direct activity verification visits in assigned geographic areas.
- Recruit, brief, train, and supervise teams of Enumerators and community-level data collectors for quantitative and qualitative data collection exercises.
- Conduct community entry and liaison with local gatekeepers, civil society actors, community leaders, and local authorities to facilitate access for research and monitoring activities.
- Ensure the application of safe data collection practices, including obtaining informed consent from all research participants, applying data protection protocols in the field, and maintaining participant confidentiality at all times.
- Apply conflict sensitive and Do No Harm screening at the field level, identifying and reporting any potential risks to research participants, enumerators, or the programme resulting from planned data collection activities.
- Manage field-level logistics including transport, accommodation, per diem, and equipment for data collection teams within agreed budgets and procurement protocols.
- Review and conduct initial quality checks on data submitted by enumerators, flagging inconsistencies, missing data, or data quality issues to the Research Officer in a timely manner.
- Maintain regular communication with the MEAL team lead and Research Officer regarding field progress, access constraints, security developments, and any incidents or adverse events.
- Prepare concise field trip reports following each data collection mission, documenting findings on access, data quality, contextual developments, and any deviations from the approved data collection plan.
- Support the identification and documentation of good practices, unexpected results, and emerging stories from the field for potential inclusion in MEAL reports and communications products.
Qualifications and Experience
- A minimum of 5 years of experience coordinating field data collection in Somalia, including in areas with variable security conditions.
- University degree or equivalent professional qualification in social sciences, development studies, community development, or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated experience supervising and training enumerator teams for household surveys, KII, or FGD-based data collection in fragile settings.
- Fluency in Somali is required. English proficiency is required at a professional working level.
- Demonstrated knowledge of conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm principles as applied to field research.
- Experience applying GESI-responsive data collection approaches, including strategies for engaging women, youth, and marginalised community members.
- Familiarity with mobile data collection platforms (KoBoToolbox, ODK, or equivalent) is required.
- Prior experience working on governance, civil society, or civic engagement programmes is an advantage.
- Applicants are expected to indicate their preferred or available geographic area(s) within Somalia in their application.
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.