Senior Research Officer – MSNA Training & Country Support

About the role

The Senior Research Officer will join the Global MSNA Team within the Research Systems Unit, based in Dakar. The role focuses on designing, delivering and improving the MSNA Training and Certification Programme while providing direct support to country teams across the MSNA cycle.

Key responsibilities

• Map existing MSNA guidance, identify gaps and develop missing training resources, consolidating them into a Practitioner’s Manual.
• Co‑design and maintain MSNA online courses, including foundational, sampling, indicator selection and data collection modules.
• Engage and map certification partners in West and Central Africa, building relationships for training delivery.
• Design and co‑deliver training workshops, annual lessons‑learned sessions and the Global MSNA workshop.
• Act as primary focal point for assigned MSNA countries, providing monthly check‑ins, technical support and quality assurance throughout the research cycle.
• Review country outputs against MSNA minimum requirements and provide surge support during critical phases.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline such as development studies, humanitarian studies, international relations, research methods or social sciences.
• Minimum of 2 years experience in the humanitarian sector or in field‑based roles within fragile or development contexts.
• Proven experience designing and implementing large‑scale quantitative surveys and primary research.
• Experience supporting multi‑sectoral needs assessments and working with country teams.

Required skills

• Quantitative survey design
• KoBo tools