Career Opportunitinities

Research Assistants/Enumerators

(EXCLUSIVELY RECRUITING REFUGEES LIVING IN NAIROBI COUNTY)

Position TitleResearch Assistant / Enumerator (Refugee Labour Market Study)
Target GroupRefugees and Asylum Seekers residing in Nairobi County
Duty StationNairobi City County (Eastleigh, Kasarani, Kawangware, Kangemi, Kayole, etc.)
Consultancy DurationShort-term Field Contract (approx. September – October 2026)
Reporting LineLead Consultant / Field Research Supervisors
Applications Emaillaura@desdemonaconsulting.com
Application Deadline9th September 2026 (11:59 PM East Africa Time)

1.     BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Supporting the Policy Transition from Humanitarian Encampment to Socio-Economic Inclusion

Desdemona Consulting Group Limited (DCG), in partnership with Kituo Cha Sheria (Legal Advice Centre), is conducting a comprehensive Refugee Labour Market Study and Strategic Advocacy Support assignment in Nairobi City County. Historically, Kenya’s refugee management has relied on a humanitarian model. However, the Government of Kenya has embarked on a transformative policy transition from encampment to a development-led, government-owned approach centered on socio-economic integration and self-reliance. This shift is formally anchored in the Refugees Act of 2021, the national Shirika Plan, and the localized Nairobi City County Refugee Integration and Community Building Strategy (NCRIS).

Despite these progressive legal frameworks, urban refugees in Nairobi encounter severe legal, institutional, and administrative barriers—including challenges in obtaining Class M work permits, securing county business licenses, and achieving professional qualification recognition. To address these bottlenecks, Kituo Cha Sheria commissioned DCG to compile an empirical, evidence-based analysis of refugee economic contributions and skills profiles to dismantle these systemic barriers. Reflecting the core commitment of this assignment to foster refugee self-reliance and embed refugee voices, DCG is exclusively recruiting qualified urban refugees and asylum seekers living in Nairobi as research assistants and enumerators.

2.       OBJECTIVES OF THE DATA COLLECTION

Generating Empirically Rigorous Evidence to Dismantle Systemic Administrative Barriers

The primary objective of the field data collection is to build a high-quality, mathematically sound quantitative and qualitative baseline of the urban refugee economy in Nairobi County.

3.       CORE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ENUMERATOR

Serving as Trusted Field Ambassadors and Safeguarding Data Integrity

  1. Community Mobilization & Trust: Mobilize refugee communities within assigned areas of Nairobi, establish localized trust, explain the voluntary nature of the study, and obtain verbal or written informed consent in respectful, culturally appropriate formats.
  2. Quantitative Electronic Surveys: Administer structured household, worker, and business owner questionnaires electronically on encrypted mobile devices using secure platforms (KoboToolbox or ODK), ensuring GPS spatial validation and daily data synchronization.
  3. Qualitative Focus Groups & KIIs: Facilitate or co-facilitate participatory Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with distinct demographic cohorts (women, youth, professionals) and conduct semi-structured Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with relevant community and business leaders.
  4. Ethical Compliance & Data Protection: Strictly adhere to the Kenya Data Protection Act of 2019, ensuring strict data minimization, stripping personally identifiable information (PII) from active records, and securing respondent confidentiality.
  5. Humanitarian ‘Do No Harm’ & Protection: Apply sensitive interviewing protocols, recognize signs of respondent distress, and execute pre-established protection referral pathways developed with Kituo Cha Sheria in instances of active risk exposure.

4.       REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Exclusively Seeking Talented Nairobi-Based Refugee Professionals and Community Advocates

  1. Refugee Status & Nairobi Residence: Must be a registered refugee or asylum seeker living in Nairobi County (e.g., Eastleigh, Kasarani, Kawangware, Kangemi, Kayole, etc.). Applicants must provide proof of residence/status.
  2. Prior Research Experience: Demonstrated experience in conducting socio-economic, livelihood, labor-market, or enterprise surveys. Prior experience facilitating focus groups or key informant interviews is a strong asset.
  3. Technological Competency: Hands-on experience collecting data using mobile-based electronic survey platforms (such as Open Data Kit (ODK) or KoboToolbox) on encrypted Android tablets or smartphones.
  4. Multilingual Capabilities: Fluency in English and/or Kiswahili is required. In addition, applicants must have a native or highly fluent command of at least one key refugee community language. To ensure broad representation across nationalities and prevent the omission of any group, we seek candidates speaking languages representing key countries of origin, including but not limited to: South Sudan (SSD): Dinka, Nuer, Bari, or other South Sudanese languages; Somalia: Somali; Ethiopia: Oromo, Amharic, Tigrinya, or other Ethiopian languages; Eritrea: Tigrinya, Arabic, or other Eritrean languages; Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): French, Lingala, Swahili, or other Congolese languages; Rwanda: Kinyarwanda & Burundi: Kirundi. We actively encourage qualified applicants from all nationalities and language groups living in Nairobi to apply.
  5. Safeguarding & Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional active listening skills, cultural sensitivity, gender awareness, and a strong understanding of research ethics, safeguarding, and the ‘Do No Harm’ principle.

5.       APPLICATION PROCESS & RECRUITMENT TIMELINE

Ensuring Fair, Transparent, and Professional Recruitment Pathways

Interested and qualified refugee professionals residing in Nairobi County are invited to submit their applications via email. Your application package must contain:

  1. Curriculum Vitae (CV): A detailed professional resume (max 2 pages) showing your academic background, past data collection or research experience, mobile tools proficiency, and a list of languages spoken fluently.
  2. Cover Letter: A persuasive letter (max 1 page) explaining your motivation for joining this study, confirming your current residential area in Nairobi, and outlining how you meet the requirements.

Please address and send your application using the details below:

Send Applications To:laura@desdemonaconsulting.com
Email Subject Line:Application for Refugee Research Assistant / Enumerator – Nairobi
Application Deadline:9th September 2026 (11:59 PM East Africa Time)

Disclaimer: Desdemona Consulting Group Limited is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women, youth, and persons with disabilities from the refugee community are highly encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.