Organization: Helen Keller International (Helen Keller Intl)
Location: Katsina State, Nigeria
RFP Reference: NG-3456
Application Reference: NG-Sol2596
RFP Issue Date: 20th October 2026
Application Deadline: 29th October 2026
Consultancy Duration: 14 Months
Anticipated Start Date: 1st November 2026
Position: Individual Consultant – Research Coordinator
Introduction
Helen Keller International (Helen Keller Intl) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and improving the sight and lives of the world’s vulnerable by combating the causes and consequences of blindness, poor health and malnutrition.
Helen Keller Intl invites applications from suitably qualified individuals for engagement as an Individual Consultant – Research Coordinator in Katsina State, Nigeria.
The consultancy involves providing technical and operational leadership for a cross-sectional validation study of vitamin A biomarkers among children in Katsina State.
The selected consultant will coordinate survey planning and implementation, field teams, data and biospecimen collection, quality assurance, and stakeholder engagement.
The anticipated consultancy duration is 14 months, including approximately six months of residence in Katsina State during field implementation.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Interested applicants must possess the following qualifications and experience:
- Master’s degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Epidemiology, Dietetics, Biostatistics or a closely related field, with at least five years of relevant research experience; or a doctoral degree in a relevant field.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating large-scale or complex surveys, assessments or research studies.
- Strong understanding of research design, sampling, survey methodology, research protocols and field implementation.
- Experience developing or adapting research protocols, questionnaires, field manuals, training materials and data-collection procedures.
- Experience recruiting, training, supervising and managing multidisciplinary field teams.
- Experience in data collection, data management, descriptive analysis, summary statistics, cross-tabulations and research quality control.
- Strong understanding of research ethics, informed consent, participant confidentiality and protocol compliance.
- Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with project partners.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Hausa.
- Willingness and ability to reside in Katsina State during the approximately six-month field implementation period.
Desirable Experience and Skills
- Experience in nutrition surveys, dietetics, dietary assessment, biomarker or biospecimen-based research.
- Knowledge of electronic data-collection platforms such as ODK, KoboToolbox or SurveyCTO.
- Working knowledge of statistical software such as Stata or R.
Scope of Work
The Research Coordinator will work under the supervision of the Helen Keller Country Monitoring and Evaluation lead and in close coordination with the Principal Investigators and project partners.
The consultant will undertake the following responsibilities:
1. Study Design and Survey Preparation
- Provide technical input into study design and adapt approved protocols to the local context.
- Support the development, adaptation, translation and field testing of questionnaires, consent materials, field manuals and standard operating procedures.
- Contribute to sampling strategies, participant recruitment procedures and field implementation plans.
- Support formative research and preparation of survey tools.
- Translate approved research protocols into practical procedures for field implementation.
2. Survey Coordination and Field Implementation
- Coordinate the day-to-day implementation of the survey.
- Oversee recruitment, training, standardization, deployment and supervision of field personnel.
- Develop and deliver field-team training materials and practical sessions.
- Coordinate field logistics across study locations.
- Monitor participant recruitment and survey progress.
- Identify and resolve methodological, operational and protocol-related challenges.
- Ensure consistent implementation of approved study procedures.
3. Data, Dietary and Biospecimen Quality Assurance
- Oversee quantitative and qualitative data collection.
- Implement data-quality monitoring and quality-control procedures.
- Review incoming survey data for completeness, consistency and accuracy.
- Oversee dietary data collection where applicable.
- Coordinate biospecimen collection, labeling, documentation, storage and transfer where applicable.
- Ensure secure handling of participant information.
- Maintain records of protocol deviations, field incidents and corrective actions.
- Provide weekly or as-needed reports on protocol compliance and implementation quality.
4. Stakeholder Coordination, Reporting and Dissemination
- Serve as a liaison between Helen Keller Intl, Johns Hopkins University and relevant project partners.
- Maintain working relationships with government officials, health authorities and community stakeholders.
- Coordinate stakeholder engagement and community entry activities.
- Provide regular progress reports to investigators and project leadership.
- Contribute to data interpretation, descriptive analyses and technical reporting.
- Support the preparation of policy briefs, presentations, manuscripts and other dissemination materials.
Expected Deliverables
The consultant will be expected to contribute to the following outputs:
- Study Preparation Materials: Adapted study tools, questionnaires, consent documents, training materials, field manuals, standard operating procedures and implementation plans.
- Field Implementation and Tracking: Field-team recruitment, training, deployment, supervision, participant recruitment and survey-progress tracking.
- Quality Assurance Documentation: Data reviews, resolution of data queries and dietary or biospecimen quality-control documentation where applicable.
- Protocol Compliance and Progress Reporting: Records of protocol deviations, corrective actions, study progress, risks and required actions.
- Research and Dissemination Outputs: Preliminary summaries, descriptive analyses, technical reports, policy briefs, presentations and manuscripts as required.
Specific delivery dates will be agreed with the supervising lead and Principal Investigators.
Consultancy Duration and Engagement Terms
The anticipated consultancy engagement duration is 14 months.
The selected consultant must be willing to reside in Katsina State during the approximately six-month study data-collection and field implementation period.
No relocation allowance is available for this consultancy.
The final start date, remuneration, payment arrangements and other contractual terms will be confirmed in the written consultancy agreement issued by Helen Keller Intl.
Application Requirements
Interested and qualified individuals must submit the following documents:
- Cover Letter.
- Comprehensive CV/Resume.
- Technical Offer.
- Financial Offer.
- Completed and signed Conflict of Interest Declaration (Annex A).
- Valid government-approved identification document.
- Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) documentation.
- Relevant academic or professional certificates and licences, where applicable.
All application materials must be submitted in English.
Cover Letter
The cover letter must identify the Research Coordinator consultancy assignment and explain the applicant’s suitability.
Applicants should provide their contact details, relevant experience, availability, proposed start date, and willingness to reside in Katsina State during field implementation.
The letter must also confirm oral and written proficiency in English and Hausa and state a 90-day application validity period.
Comprehensive CV/Resume
Applicants should provide an updated CV highlighting relevant qualifications, research experience, survey coordination, field-team management, data quality assurance and stakeholder engagement experience.
At least three professional references must be included, with their names, organizations, professional relationships, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers.
Technical Offer
The Technical Offer must be prepared in Microsoft Word, single-spaced, with consecutively numbered pages.
It should contain:
1. Past Performance / Relevant Experience (Maximum 2 Pages)
Describe relevant research and survey coordination assignments, including responsibilities, deliverables, dates and previous clients or employers.
2. Technical Approach (Maximum 2 Pages)
Explain the proposed approach to study preparation, survey implementation, quality assurance, stakeholder coordination, reporting and dissemination.
Include a proposed workplan covering the anticipated 14-month consultancy engagement.
3. Individual Qualifications and Availability (Maximum 1 Page, Excluding CV)
Explain how the applicant meets the qualifications and experience requirements.
Include current residence, proposed availability, language proficiency and willingness to reside in Katsina State during field implementation.
Important: The Technical Offer must not contain financial or cost information.
Financial Offer
The Financial Offer must be submitted as a separate document.
It must include:
- Proposed professional fee or remuneration.
- Proposed basis of payment, such as monthly, daily or deliverable-based.
- Quantities or level of effort, where applicable.
- Applicable taxes.
- Other necessary assignment costs.
- Relevant cost assumptions.
Applicants must not include relocation or accommodation allowances. Travel costs must not be included in the Financial Offer.
Evaluation and Selection Criteria
Helen Keller Intl will assess applications based on the following:
- Relevant research experience and past performance.
- Academic and professional qualifications.
- Knowledge of research design, survey methodology and quality assurance.
- Field-team management and operational coordination capabilities.
- Stakeholder engagement, reporting and communication skills.
- Technical merit and demonstrated ability to undertake the assignment.
- Reasonableness and realism of the Financial Offer.
Technical merit will be the principal consideration, while cost and other relevant factors will also be considered in determining best value.
Helen Keller Intl may conduct interviews, seek clarification, verify qualifications and contact professional references before making a final selection.
Method of Application
Interested and qualified individuals should submit their complete applications by email to:
Email Subject: Research Coordinator
Applicants should ensure that their submissions contain all the required documents, including the Technical Offer, Financial Offer and signed Conflict of Interest Declaration.
The Technical Offer and Financial Offer must be submitted as separate files.
Where a reference number has been assigned, applicants should include it in their application documents and file names.
Applications must remain valid for 90 days from the date of submission.
Application Deadline: 29th October 2026
Incomplete applications or submissions that do not adequately address the requirements may not be considered.
Important Information
Helen Keller Intl reserves the right to seek clarifications, conduct interviews, check references, negotiate contractual terms, reject applications or decide not to proceed with an engagement.
Issuance of this Call for Applications does not constitute a commitment to engage a consultant or reimburse applicants for expenses incurred during the application process.
Applicants must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest and provide accurate and complete information.
Helen Keller Intl is committed to equal opportunity and providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.
Applicants requiring support during the application or interview process may contact [email protected].
Note: Applicants should review the complete official RFP, including Annex A (Conflict of Interest Disclosure) and Annex B (Professional References), before submitting their applications.
