Latest Jobs at Rhizome Consulting

Job Summary

• The Human-Centered Design & Innovation Specialist will lead the application of design thinking, user-centred research, systems thinking, and innovation methodologies to develop solutions that address complex challenges across multiple sectors. The successful candidate will work closely with programme teams, stakeholders, communities, government institutions, and private sector partners to identify user needs, generate insights, co-create solutions, and support the design and testing of innovative products, services, policies, and interventions.

Key Responsibilities
Human-Centered Design & User Research

• Lead user research activities including interviews, observations, focus group discussions, journey mapping, and ethnographic studies
• Identify user needs, behaviours, pain points, motivations, and opportunities for innovation
• Translate research findings into actionable insights that inform programme, product, and service design
• Develop user personas, customer journeys, experience maps, and design frameworks

Innovation & Solution Development

• Facilitate innovation processes to generate creative and practical solutions to complex challenges
• Lead ideation workshops, design sprints, co-creation sessions, and innovation labs
• Support the development of innovative products, services, systems, and programme models
• Apply systems thinking approaches to identify root causes and design sustainable solutions

Prototyping, Testing & Iteration

• Design and coordinate prototyping and pilot-testing activities
• Gather user feedback and analyse performance data to improve solution effectiveness
• Support iterative learning and continuous improvement throughout project implementation
• Ensure solutions remain responsive to evolving user and stakeholder needs

Stakeholder Engagement & Co-Creation

• Facilitate participatory design processes involving communities, clients, beneficiaries, and partners
• Foster collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholder groups
• Build relationships with government agencies, development partners, private sector actors, and community representatives
• Promote inclusive and equitable participation throughout the design process

Knowledge Management & Capacity Building

• Develop design toolkits, frameworks, methodologies, and guidance materials
• Deliver training and mentoring on human-centered design, innovation, and design thinking approaches
• Document lessons learned, innovation outcomes, and best practices
• Support organisational learning and knowledge-sharing initiatives

Educational Qualifications

• Master s degree in Design, Innovation Management, Social Innovation, Development Studies, Public Policy, Business Administration, Human-Centered Design, Psychology, Sociology, Engineering, or a related discipline

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Minimum of 10 years experience in human-centered design, innovation, service design, product development, programme design, or related fields
• Demonstrated experience conducting user research and applying design thinking methodologies
• Strong understanding of co-creation, participatory design, systems thinking, and innovation frameworks
• Experience designing, testing, and scaling products, services, programmes, or policy solutions
• Proven ability to facilitate workshops, design sprints, innovation labs, and stakeholder engagement processes
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams across development, public, private, or social impact sectors
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and facilitation skills
• Excellent report writing, presentation, and stakeholder management capabilities
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deliver results in dynamic environments

go to method of application »

Job Summary

• The Community Engagement & Participation Specialist will provide technical leadership in the planning, implementation, and management of community engagement, stakeholder participation, and social mobilisation activities across a range of programmes and initiatives. The successful candidate will be responsible for strengthening relationships with communities and stakeholders, facilitating participatory processes, promoting inclusion, and ensuring that programmes are responsive to the needs, priorities, and aspirations of target populations.

Key Responsibilities
Community Engagement & Participation

• Develop and implement community engagement and participation strategies aligned with programme objectives
• Design and facilitate participatory processes that promote meaningful involvement of communities in programme planning, implementation, and evaluation
• Establish mechanisms that strengthen community ownership, accountability, and sustainability
• Promote inclusive participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, vulnerable populations, and marginalised groups

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management

• Conduct stakeholder mapping, analysis, and engagement planning
• Build and maintain productive relationships with government institutions, community leaders, civil society organisations, private sector actors, and development partners
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations, dialogue platforms, and multi-stakeholder engagement processes
• Represent the organisation at meetings, forums, workshops, and partnership events as required

Social Mobilisation & Community Capacity Building

• Design and implement social mobilisation and outreach activities to support programme objectives
• Facilitate community awareness campaigns, community dialogues, and engagement events
• Build the capacity of community structures, local organisations, and community-based facilitators
• Support the establishment and strengthening of community committees, networks, and local platforms

Inclusion, Safeguarding & Social Accountability

• Ensure community engagement approaches are inclusive, gender-responsive, culturally appropriate, and accessible
• Promote safeguarding principles and ethical engagement practices
• Support the design and implementation of community feedback and grievance mechanisms
• Strengthen social accountability and citizen participation initiatives where applicable

Research, Learning & Knowledge Management

• Support community assessments, stakeholder studies, and participatory research activities
• Gather and document community insights, lessons learned, success stories, and emerging issues
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, learning, and adaptive management processes
• Prepare technical reports, stakeholder engagement updates, and programme documentation

Educational Qualifications

• Master s degree in Community Development, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, International Development, Public Health, or a related field

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Minimum of 7 years experience in community engagement, stakeholder participation, social mobilisation, local governance, or related fields
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing participatory approaches within development, public sector, private sector, or social impact programmes
• Strong understanding of community development principles, stakeholder engagement methodologies, and participatory facilitation techniques
• Experience working with government agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, and community-based structures
• Knowledge of social inclusion, safeguarding, gender equality, disability inclusion, and accountability frameworks
• Proven ability to facilitate consultations, workshops, community dialogues, and multi-stakeholder engagement processes
• Strong relationship management, negotiation, communication, and conflict-resolution skills
• Excellent analytical, report writing, presentation, and documentation capabilities
• Ability to work effectively in diverse cultural, social, and geographic contexts

go to method of application »

Job Summary

• The Education Research & Systems Specialist will provide technical expertise in education sector research, learning assessments, programme evaluation, policy analysis, and systems strengthening. The successful candidate will support the design and implementation of studies, assessments, evaluations, and evidence-generation initiatives while providing strategic recommendations to improve education policy, programme effectiveness, institutional performance, and learning outcomes.
• The role requires a strong understanding of education systems, quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, learning measurement frameworks, and the factors influencing educational access, retention, equity, quality, and student achievement.

Key Responsibilities
Education Research & Analysis

• Design and implement education sector studies, research projects, assessments, and evaluations
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research to generate evidence on educational challenges, opportunities, and programme effectiveness
• Analyse education data and research findings to support policy development and programme improvement
• Produce technical reports, policy briefs, research papers, and knowledge products

Education Systems Strengthening

• Support the assessment and strengthening of education systems, institutions, and governance structures
• Provide technical recommendations on education policy, planning, financing, accountability, and service delivery
• Contribute to the design and implementation of education sector reform initiatives
• Support institutional capacity strengthening efforts for government agencies, schools, and education stakeholders

Learning Assessment & Measurement

• Design and implement learning assessments to measure educational performance and student outcomes
• Support the development and adaptation of assessment tools and methodologies
• Analyse learning outcomes data to identify trends, gaps, and areas for intervention
• Provide technical guidance on foundational literacy, numeracy, and learning measurement approaches

Monitoring, Evaluation & Evidence Generation

• Contribute to the design of monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks for education programmes
• Support baseline, midline, endline, impact evaluation, and verification exercises
• Develop indicators, measurement approaches, and data collection methodologies
• Ensure evidence generated is translated into practical recommendations for decision-making

Stakeholder Engagement & Capacity Building

• Engage with government institutions, development partners, donors, schools, research institutions, and other stakeholders
• Facilitate workshops, consultations, learning events, and technical working groups
• Provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to education stakeholders
• Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across programme partners

Educational Qualifications

• Master s degree in Education, Educational Planning, Educational Measurement, Education Policy, Development Studies, Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Statistics, International Development, or a related field
• A PhD in Education, Economics, Public Policy, Research Methods, or a related discipline will be an added advantage

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Minimum of 10 years experience in education research, education systems strengthening, programme evaluation, learning assessments, or related fields
• Demonstrated experience conducting education sector studies, evaluations, assessments, and policy analysis
• Strong understanding of education systems, governance, institutional strengthening, and education reform processes
• Experience designing and implementing learning assessments, student performance studies, and education measurement frameworks
• Knowledge of foundational literacy and numeracy assessment methodologies, including international and national assessment frameworks
• Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, including survey design, sampling, data collection, and analysis
• Experience working with governments, development partners, donors, academic institutions, or education-focused organisations
• Proficiency in data analysis and statistical software such as SPSS, STATA, R, Python, Power BI, Tableau, or related tools is an advantage
• Excellent analytical, report writing, communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and deliver high-quality outputs within tight timelines