Research and Learning Advisor

Job description

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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. Our head office is based in Brussels, Belgium. We implement our programmes and projects with one shared passion: to ensure the improvement of quality education.Do you share our ambition to ensure that learners around the world can enjoy their fundamental human right to quality education, without exception? Are you convinced as well that quality education guarantees equal opportunities for everyone and is the key to a better world? We are looking for two Research and Learning Advisors who will operate from our office in Lusaka. Do you want to take on this challenge? Then continue reading!

Position in the organisation
As a Research and Learning Advisor, you will oversee research activities under the learning agenda for VVOB. This includes designing and managing research and evaluations applying quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches. You will work closely with VVOB technical staff, particularly the VVOB Strategic Education Advisor – Research and Learning, to design and implement research studies that inform VVOB on the implementation of different models in local contexts and generate evidence to strengthen programme design, decision-making, and innovation.
Result areas of this position:
Research Design and Implementation

• The Research and Learning Advisor will lead the oversight of the partner-led randomized controlled trial (RCT), ensuring methodological rigor, data quality, and actionable insights to inform program learning and decision-making.

• In collaboration with research consultants, develop and lead research frameworks, methodologies, and protocols, ensuring alignment with the VVOB learning agenda.

• Coordinate studies that assess the impact of VVOB interventions on learners, educators, and school systems.

• Oversee data collection processes on various research projects being conducted in Zambia using qualitative and quantitative methods. Ensure high-quality data throughout all research phases.

• Ensure adherence to ethical standards in research, particularly when working with children and vulnerable groups.

Learning and Capacity Building

• Facilitate capacity-building sessions for M&E and research staff on best research practices.

• Develop templates and other materials that help support and improve the quality of M&E and research staff day-to-day work, in close collaboration with other colleagues.

• Translate research findings into actionable strategies and tools for program improvement.

• Organize learning forums, workshops, and webinars to share research results with internal and external stakeholders.

3. Data Quality Assurance, Data Cleaning, Data Analysis and Reporting

• Set up mechanisms and systems to assure high data quality in both research and M&E activities. Continuously check up on data quality, and coordinate and support other colleagues involved in data quality. Clean data that requires correction and maintain both raw and cleaned datasets.

• Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of VVOB interventions.

• Present findings through clear, concise, and engaging reports, presentations, and infographics tailored to diverse audiences, including educators, policymakers, and donors.

• Publish research papers and policy briefs on VVOB interventions to influence education policy and practice. Present on these papers and briefs in international fora and at conferences.

4. Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Establish cooperative and cordial relationships with research consultants, while remaining a critical lens on their products and activities to assure they align with VVOB needs, they are contextually relevant, and they result in high quality research.

• Engage with Ministry of Education (MoE) staff and the MoE’s research coordination committee to promote the integration of evidence-based recommendations into education policies and systems.

• Foster partnerships with academic institutions, donors, and global networks to conduct research on areas of interest to VVOB.