Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

The Qualitative Research Consultant will be responsible for the following:
Study Design and Tool Development 

• Review and refine qualitative research questions in alignment with study objectives
• Finalize and validate qualitative data collection tools, including In-depth interview (IDI) guides, Focus group discussion (FGD) guides, and Key informant interview (KII) guides
• Ensure tools are contextually appropriate, culturally sensitive, and aligned with ethical standards

Oversight of Data Collection 

• Provide technical oversight during qualitative data collection across selected sentinel facilities
•  Ensure adherence to study protocol, consent procedures, and data quality standards
• Provide guidance on managing sensitive topics related to HIV, funding disruptions, and workplace stress

Data Management and Analysis 

• Guide transcription, translation, de-identification, and secure storage of qualitative data
• Lead or supervise qualitative data coding using NVivo or equivalent software

Interpretation and Reporting 

• Lead synthesis and interpretation of qualitative findings
•  Generate analytical summaries aligned to each qualitative objective
• Contribute to development of technical reports and policy-relevant insights and recommendations

Key Deliverables  

• The Qualitative Research consultant will produce the following:
• Finalized qualitative data collection tools
• Interim progress report on data collection
• Raw and cleaned, de-identified qualitative dataset
• Verbatim transcripts in English of all IDIs, FGDs, and KIIs
• Thematic analysis outputs
• Qualitative findings report

Required Qualification:
The Qualitative Research Consultant should have :

• Degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Statistics, Qualitative Research, or related field. Master’s degree or higher will be an added advantage
• Demonstrated expertise in qualitative research methods, including IDIs, FGDs, and KIIs
• Demonstrated experience in conducting research on sensitive topic areas related to health
• Proficiency in qualitative data analysis software (NVivo, R packages for qualitative analysis or equivalent software).
• Proven ability to mentor research teams and lead qualitative analysis
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with ability to engage diverse stakeholders.