Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH) is a Tanzanian non-profit, non-governmental research organization established in 2009 with a focus in advancing public health priorities of sub-Saharan Africa through collaborative research, training, capacity building and knowledge translation. AAPH also works in close collaboration with different partners to support the government of Tanzania in advancing efforts around some of the key health and nutrition agenda, especially for children and women.  In collaboration with the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and the University of Dodoma (UDOM), AAPH is implementing a research project titled ‘Meals, Education, and Gardens for In-School Adolescents’ (MEGA). This project aims to determine the longer-term effectiveness of an updated school-based intervention package on reducing adolescent malnutrition and to assess the implementation of the updated school-based intervention package.  For this, AAPH is hiring temporary study research assistants for data collection as described herein.

Position Reports To: Senior Project Coordinator.

Location: Dodoma, Tanzania.

Employment Term: One month, September 2026.

Level of Effort (LOE) per week: 100%

Job summary

The Research Assistant will work under the Senior Project Coordinator and the Principal Investigators as an enumerator in ensuring that all study data collection activities are implemented on time. The Research Assistant will serve as a primary point of contact, interviewing up to 1500 in-school adolescents aged 14-17 years in Chamwino DC, Dodoma region in the selected four intervention and two control schools and filling observed information as directed by the Senior Project Coordinator and per study protocol.

Position Responsibilities:

  • Successfully complete the required training before conducting any interview.
  • Master and demonstrate effective interviewing skills using the ODK platform.
  • Conduct and document informed consent (for adults aged 18 years and above) and assent for minors (aged 14-17 years) to eligible research participants, as described in the study protocol and SOPs to ensure voluntary participation.
  • Interview study respondents in Kiswahili, following the wording and order of questions in the quantitative survey.
  • Follow the study standard operating procedures (SOPs), i.e., understand and implement the methods detailed during the survey training.
  • Adhere to the applicable ethical standards and GCP for research involving human subjects.
  • Maintain participant privacy and confidentiality during interviews.
  • Ensure completeness and accuracy of collected data and take corrective measures where needed.
  • Ensure quality and security of collected data.
  • Ensure timely submission (upload) of data in the ODK servers daily.
  • Carefully handle all survey instruments and protect project equipment from damage.
  • Act responsibly, treat participants and community with respect and demonstrate integrity and work ethics.
  • Perform other miscellaneous study-related duties as shall be assigned by supervisor(s).

Qualifications:

  • The ideal candidate should have a diploma or bachelor’s degree in medicine, nursing, clinical medicine, sociology, pharmacy or other health-related field. A health-related Master degree or higher are an added advantage.
  • Demonstrated experience with health-research and field data collection, particularly studies related to nutrition, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health among young people.
  • Familiar with the usage of electronic devices, such as tablets or smart phone for quantitative data collection, and software such as ODK, KoboToolbox, Survey Solutions, and RedCap.
  • Reading, written, and verbal fluency in Kiswahili and English.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work independently and in a team.
  • Demonstrate adequate oral and written communication skills.
  • Must be available for the entire training period and anticipated periods of data collection.
  • Only applicants with the Responsible Conduct of Research and Human Subjects Protection Training certificate obtained within the past three years will be considered.

TO APPLY:

Interested candidates for the above position; should submit an application letter with the following subject ‘“Application for Research Assistant: MEGA Project, Dodoma”,, Curriculum Vitae (CV), a valid Responsible Conduct of Research and Human Subjects Protection Training/GCP certificate and contact information (email addresses and telephone numbers) of three professional references. Applications should be electronically submitted by Tuesday the 28th September 2026 to the Human Resource and Administration Officer at Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH) through this LINK.

Applicants will be selected on a rolling basis. Kindly note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Deadline: 
September 28, 2026