Scope of Work:

Gender Equity and Digital Connectivity Study

Position Title: Research Assistant

Country: Tanzania

Duration: November 1, 2025 – November 30, 2026

Level of Effort: 29 days

Location: Field-based or traveling from Morogoro or Dar es Salam

Reporting to: Research Project Manager

Background

In January 2024, Government of Tanzania’s (GoT) Ministry of Health (MoH) announced the Integrated and Coordinated Community Health Worker program (ICCHW) to recruit, train, deploy, and pay digitally ~140,000 CHWs (two in each of Tanzania’s hamlets and mtaa). 

The Integrated and Coordinated CHW (ICCHW) Program is implementing digital payments to Community Health Workers (CHWs) to improve timeliness, transparency, and retention.

The Gates Foundation in combination with Global Communities is supporting the digitalization of payments to CHWs under the ICCHW program. The MoH has identified implementation research as a critical priority for digital payment implementation. Therefore, the MoH has formed a group of researchers to design and carry out implementation research with the assistance of Global Communities.

This position will support the Research Project Manager in the implementation of the Optimizing CHW Digital Payments study under the ICCHW Digital Payments Implementation Research IRB — including tool piloting, data collection, and field coordination. The Research Assistant is expected to compile and analyze quantitative data, travel to the district pilot workshop, and conduct at least 12 district focus groups discussions.

Tool Piloting and Preparation

• Participate in pilot testing of qualitative data collection tools.
• Provide feedback on tool clarity, translation, and sequencing.

Data Collection

• Merge data from secondary sources to generate a stratification table, sampling frame and sampling list.
• Conduct focus group discussions (FGDs) with CHWs in Kiswahili.
• Obtain informed consent and ensure participant confidentiality.
• Record, transcribe, and label data using standardized file-naming protocols.
• Maintain field logs, participant reimbursement records, and daily summaries.
• Securely transfer audio files and transcripts to a local server.

Field Coordination

• Ensure ethical conduct and high-quality audio recordings.
• Assist the Research Project Manager in compiling daily progress updates.

3. Deliverables

• Stratification table, sampling frame and sampling list
• Pilot summary and final feedback report on data collection tools
• De-identified transcripts and field notes for all assigned interviews and FGDs
• Completed consent forms, field tracking and reimbursement logs
• Weekly fieldwork summaries submitted to the Research Project Manager

• At least 2 years’ experience supporting qualitative or mixed-method research
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills in Kiswahili and English
• Demonstrated experience conducting focus group discussions
• Willingness to travel and work in rural field sites

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Sociology, or Development Studies (Master’s preferred)