Research Assistant

Description

Position Title: Research Assistant Reports to: Chair, Centre for Population HealthLocation: University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), Kigali, Rwanda with travels to Butaro Campus Duration: One year full-term The Centre for Population Health (CPH) at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) serves as the university’s hub for population health initiatives. CPH generates and shares evidence to inform policy, train future leaders, and transform healthcare delivery—with the ultimate goal of improving population health and reducing health inequities. Among its flagship initiatives, the centre is establishing a Human Development and Demographic Surveillance System (HD2SS) in Butaro. This system will provide critical data on disease surveillance, morbidity and mortality patterns, chronic conditions, nutrition, and child health to guide health policy and practice in Rwanda and across the region. To support its growing portfolio of work, the Centre is seeking a dedicated Research Assistant to contribute to a range of research and programmatic activities. Key responsibilities

• Support the design, implementation, and coordination of population health research activities, including the HD2SS and field studies.
• Participate in community engagement efforts, including sensitization activities and stakeholder coordination at local, national, and international levels.
• Assist with the recruitment, training, and supervision of field staff involved in data collection and related project tasks.
• Contribute to the development and review of study protocols, ethical submissions, data collection tools, and standard operating procedures.
• Collect, manage, and ensure the quality of both quantitative and qualitative data, including tasks such as transcription, translation, data entry, and cleaning.
• Coordinate project operations, including administrative processes, logistics, procurement, and financial documentation in collaboration with relevant teams.
• Provide support in the preparation of research deliverables including reports, presentations, manuscripts, and dissemination materials.
• Conduct literature reviews and contribute to the development of grant applications, project proposals, and other technical documents.
• Collaborate with principal investigators and team members to monitor project progress, identify operational challenges, and implement timely solutions.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor or project leadership in alignment with project needs.Qualifications and experience
  • Master’s degree in public health, Global Health, or a related health discipline
    • At least 2 years of demonstrable experience in research, with formal training in research methods and data collection
    • Practical experience in both qualitative and quantitative data collection, including data quality assurance, particularly in community and patient settings
    • Proficiency in using data collection tools and survey methodologies for both qualitative and quantitative research
    • Knowledge of the Rwandan health system and its operational structures
    • Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive
    • Excellent written and oral communication in both English and Kinyarwanda Competencies
      • Strong organizational and project management skills. experience in community engagement is an added advantage
      • Ability to manage and prioritize multiple project tasks with a high attention to detail
      • Ability to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and handle competing priorities
      • Effective interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate clearly and collaborate with diverse stakeholders
      • Initiative, reliability, and problem-solving orientation
      • Willingness to be flexible and take on additional responsibilities as needed Organizational profile The University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) is on a mission to radically change the way health care is delivered around the world. UGHE is a new university based in Rwanda that is training the next generation of global health professionals—doctors, nurses, researchers, and public health and policy experts—into leaders and change makers who strive to deliver more equitable, quality health services for all. UGHE launched in September 2015 with its flagship Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MGHD) program. Through an academic experience uniquely rooted in the values of equity, students are empowered to both ease suffering at the bedside and drive transformational, systemic changes to the health system. UGHE is an initiative of Partners In Health (PIH), an internationally recognized non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. In over nearly three decades of operating alongside public sectors in countries around the world, PIH has developed a model to deliver high quality healthcare to some of the world’s most marginalized communities. Nowhere has this impact been more profound than in Rwanda, where Inshuti Mu Buzima—PIH’s sister organization— has collaborated with government partners to drive health innovation for over a decade.