Role Description:

The primary purpose of this role is to design and oversee a rigorous and ambitious research agenda that generates actionable evidence for WUSC, Mastercard Foundation and its partners to build awareness and ultimately remove systemic barriers that hinder access to education and dignified work for refugee and displaced youth. The Research Manager will ensure that all data collection is inclusive, ethical, gender-responsive, and directly informs the initiative’s technical assistance and policy advocacy efforts.

Reporting to the MERL Regional Senior Manager, they will:

Research Design & Implementation:

• In close collaboration with the thematic pillars (RLO partnerships, Higher Education Inclusion and the Technical Assistance Mechanism), lead the design and execution of research studies, mapping exercises, and situational analyses across the African continent to identify policy and systemic barriers impacting RDP youth as well as opportunities for engagement.
• Manage the production of high-quality research reports, policy papers, and evidence-based recommendations.
• Manage relationships with external research firms, consultants and data collectors

Evidence Generation for Policy & Advocacy:

• In collaboration with the Learning Manager, synthesize research findings into accessible formats (e.g., learning briefs) to influence Mastercard Foundation staff, partners, and broader ecosystem actors.
• In partnership with RLOs themselves, undertake rigorous research to understand the impact of the RLO Opportunity Fund, especially ensuring that research is RDP-centred.
• Support the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) and Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) in using research data to advocate for institutional and national policy changes.

Methodology & Data Integrity:

• Implement mixed-methods research approaches, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative methods such as Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs).
• Ensure all research is inclusive and gender-responsive, specifically capturing dis aggregated data for young women, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
• Uphold rigorous safeguarding standards to ensure research activities do not cause harm to vulnerable program participants.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Knowledge Management, or a related field.
• Significant experience in knowledge management, MERL, or program learning within large-scale international development initiatives, preferably in Africa.
• Strong understanding of the challenges facing refugee and displaced populations, particularly young women and persons with disabilities.
• Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative research methods, digital monitoring tools, and participatory learning approaches (e.g., Most Significant Change).
• Ability to synthesize complex data into clear, accessible learning products for various audiences.
• Deep commitment to gender-responsive and inclusive approaches in data collection and knowledge sharing.
• Complete fluency in English is essential, with strong oral presentation and writing skills.
• Fluency (or professional competencies) in French is a strong asset.
• Commitment to social inclusion, gender equality, and working with displaced and refugee youth.

• In close collaboration with the thematic pillars (RLO partnerships, Higher Education Inclusion and the Technical Assistance Mechanism), lead the design and execution of research studies, mapping exercises, and situational analyses across the African continent to identify policy and systemic barriers impacting RDP youth as well as opportunities for engagement.
• Manage the production of high-quality research reports, policy papers, and evidence-based recommendations.
• Manage relationships with external research firms, consultants and data collectors
• In collaboration with the Learning Manager, synthesize research findings into accessible formats (e.g., learning briefs) to influence Mastercard Foundation staff, partners, and broader ecosystem actors.
• In partnership with RLOs themselves, undertake rigorous research to understand the impact of the RLO Opportunity Fund, especially ensuring that research is RDP-centred.
• Support the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) and Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) in using research data to advocate for institutional and national policy changes.
• Implement mixed-methods research approaches, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative methods such as Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs).
• Ensure all research is inclusive and gender-responsive, specifically capturing dis aggregated data for young women, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
• Uphold rigorous safeguarding standards to ensure research activities do not cause harm to vulnerable program participants.

• Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative research methods, digital monitoring tools, and participatory learning approaches (e.g., Most Significant Change).
• Ability to synthesize complex data into clear, accessible learning products for various audiences.
• Strong oral presentation and writing skills.

• Advanced degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Knowledge Management, or a related field.
• Significant experience in knowledge management, MERL, or program learning within large-scale international development initiatives, preferably in Africa.
• Strong understanding of the challenges facing refugee and displaced populations, particularly young women and persons with disabilities.
• Deep commitment to gender-responsive and inclusive approaches in data collection and knowledge sharing.
• Complete fluency in English is essential.
• Fluency (or professional competencies) in French is a strong asset.
• Commitment to social inclusion, gender equality, and working with displaced and refugee youth.