RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Project name: Strengthening Biodiversity Conservation and Community Resilience in the Sango Bay and Lake Nabugabo Ramsar Sites
Work Package 5 (WP5)

  KEY DETAILS

  Organisation:  Regenerate Africa

  Position:  Research Assistant (Short-term, field-based)

  Duty Station:  Sango Bay & Lake Nabugabo Ramsar Sites — Uganda

  Districts:  Kyotera · Masaka

  Duration:  Approximately 10–12 days (including 1 day of training)

  Start Date:  July 2026

  Application Deadline:  20th July 2026

  Email:  nakiryaronah@regenerateafrica.org

 

1. Background

The Uganda Biodiversity Fund (UBF), in collaboration with Regenerate Africa and Nature Uganda, is implementing the project ‘Strengthening Biodiversity Conservation and Community Resilience in the Sango Bay and Lake Nabugabo Ramsar Sites,’ with financial support from the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The project is currently in its preparatory phase and spans five target districts — Kyotera, Rakai, Masaka, Masaka City, and Kalungu.

Communities living within and adjacent to the Sango Bay and Lake Nabugabo Ramsar Sites remain heavily dependent on direct wetland resource extraction — fishing, farming on wetland margins, papyrus harvesting, and sand mining — as their primary source of livelihood. This dependence is a key driver of wetland degradation and biodiversity loss. Under Work Package 5 (WP5) and Outcome 2.1, Regenerate Africa leads the community resilience and alternative livelihoods component of the project, with a focus on establishing viable, sustainable nature-based enterprises for wetland-dependent communities.

Before designing and implementing livelihood interventions, a rigorous, evidence-based value chain and market analysis is required across the six project sites to ensure that project investments in alternative livelihoods are grounded in real community needs, actual market structures, and genuine commercial viability. Research Assistants will support this data collection exercise across all study sites.

2. Purpose and Scope of the Assignment

Research Assistants will support the implementation of the value chain and market analysis study across the six project sites in the Sango Bay and Lake Nabugabo Ramsar Sites. The study has three specific objectives:

Objectives of the study 

▸  Objective 1: To establish baseline indicators for nature-based livelihood enterprises, value chain and market dynamics in the study landscapes;

▸  Objective 2: To undertake a livelihoods and market analysis for nature-based enterprise value chains in the Sango Bay and Lake Nabugabo Ramsar sites;

▸  Objective 3: To identify gaps, employment needs, income streams, resource use patterns, income levels, household demographics, opportunities, constraints, market linkages, and community dependence on wetland resources.

Objectives of the assignment for the research assistants

1. To collect data using the household survey tool with integrity and ethical considerations
2. To collect data using the observation check lists through pictures and note taking that will also be triangulated with the rest of the data.

 

The study will be conducted across the following  sites:

▸  Sango Bay Ramsar Site (Kyotera) Musambwa Islands; and adjacent wetlands and  landing sites.

▸  Lake Nabugabo Ramsar Site in Masaka district

3. Roles and Responsibilities of Research Assistants

3.1  Pre-field Training (1 days)

▸  Attend the mandatory 1-day orientation and training workshop prior to field deployment;

▸  Familiarize with the data collection tools: household survey questionnaire (on ODK),

▸  Participate in pre-field tool testing, piloting, and revision as required;

▸  Complete training on: data collection techniques and interviewing; use of ODK digital data collection tools and GPS coordinate capture; quality control; research ethics and informed consent;

3.2  Household Survey

▸  Administer the semi-structured household survey questionnaire on ODK digital tools to randomly selected respondents in the assigned project site;

▸  Collect GPS coordinates for each respondent household as required by the ODK tool;

▸  Ensure equal participation of women and men in the household survey, as required by the study’s gender mainstreaming strategy;

▸  Achieve the required sample size for the assigned site, as confirmed by the study inception report.

3.3  Field Observations

▸  Conduct structured field observations at the assigned project site using the observation checklist, documenting the status of livelihoods, natural resources, market infrastructure, and wetland use;

▸  Capture photographs of on-farm activities, market sites, and other relevant features — with participant consent — to triangulate and supplement primary data;

▸  Record GPS coordinates for key observation points as appropriate.

3.4 Data Submission and Reporting

▸  Upload completed ODK household survey data daily during field data collection;

▸  Submit completed KII checklists and FGD notes to the Field Supervisor within 24 hours of each day of data collection;

▸  Prepare and submit a brief site-level field report within two days of completing data collection, summarizing: key observations from KIIs, FGDs and field observations; any data quality issues encountered; any notable community feedback or contextual information relevant to the study;

▸  Participate in a post-field debrief session with the Regenerate Africa study team.

3.5  Ethical Responsibilities

▸  Obtain informed consent from all respondents prior to any data collection activity, and ensure respondents understand the study’s purpose, their right to withdraw, and how their information will be used;

▸  Maintain the confidentiality and anonymity of all respondents’ personal information throughout and after the assignment;

▸  Follow the study’s do-no-harm approach: if any respondent discloses experience of gender-based violence or intimate partner violence, stop or redirect the line of questioning, do not probe for further detail, and — with the respondent’s consent — share information on locally available support services;

▸  Manage and protect all collected data and materials with integrity and do not share with unauthorized third parties.

4. Minimum Qualifications

▸  Minimum qualification of a diploma in a relevant field  such as social work, environment , public health etc

▸ Basic computer literacy, with hands-on experience using smartphone/tablet-based data collection applications such as ODK;

▸  Prior experience in data collection, particularly household survey administration or enumeration;

▸  Must be available for the full duration of the assignment. Preference will be given to applicants residing in or from Kyotera and Masaka Districts (the project’s target districts); applications from candidates residing outside these districts will not be considered;

▸  Fluency in Luganda, the local language of Kyotera and Masaka districts, is required.

5. Key Competencies

▸  Excellent interviewing, facilitation, note-taking, and observational skills;

▸  Ability to engage respectfully with community members, farmers, local leaders, and government officials across diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds;

▸  High degree of integrity, accuracy, and commitment to research ethics;

▸  Ability to work effectively under supervision and as part of a team in the field;

▸  Familiarity with gender-sensitive data collection approaches is an added advantage.

6. Confidentiality

All information collected in the course of this assignment is strictly confidential and the property of Regenerate Africa and the IKI project consortium. Research Assistants are required to:

▸  Manage, preserve, and protect all data and materials with integrity throughout and after the assignment;

▸  Maintain the confidentiality and anonymity of all respondents at all times;

▸  Not share, publish, or disseminate any project data, findings, or materials without prior written authorisation from Regenerate Africa;

▸  Return all data collection tools, notes, and materials to the Supervisor upon completion of the assignment.

7. Termination

The Research Assistant appointment may be terminated before contract expiry under the following conditions:

▸  Incompetence or consistent neglect of assigned duties, as determined by the Supervisor;

▸  Misconduct of a job-related nature;

▸  Falsification, fabrication, or misrepresentation of collected data;

▸  Breach of confidentiality or research ethics obligations;

▸  Failure to upload data, submit tools, or attend required meetings without justified cause.

8. Terms of Contract

Start Date:  July 2026 — exact date to be confirmed upon selection

Duration:  Approximately 10–12 days, inclusive of 2-day training and 8–10 days of field data collection, reporting, and debrief

Duty Station:  Assigned project site(s) within Sango Bay or Lake Nabugabo Ramsar Sites — field-based

Remuneration:  Daily allowance and transport facilitation — details to be confirmed upon selection

Reporting to:  Field Coordinator / MEL Officer, Regenerate Africa

 

9. How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit the following to Regenerate Africa:

▸  A brief cover letter (maximum 1 page) indicating which study/site you are applying for and your relevant experience;

▸  An updated curriculum vitae (CV), maximum 3 pages;

▸  Contact details for two professional referees.

 

Applications to:  nakiryaronah@regenerateafrica.org   cc: info@regenerateafrica.org

Subject line:  Research Assistant — Value Chain Study, [Your Name]

Deadline:  20th July 2026

 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Regenerate Africa is an equal opportunity organisation and strongly encourages applications from women and candidates residing in or near the target project sites.