Research Associate

About the Role

The 1864 Research and Innovation Institute is looking for a Research Associate to support our first institutional engagement. This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of research, government technology, and social impact — helping to build and document the data tools that will inform how public institutions serve citizens across Africa.

You will work closely with all three co-founders, supporting fieldwork, communications, and project coordination. This is a hands-on role with significant responsibility and direct exposure to high-level institutional work from day one.

What You Will Do

• Support research activities including desk reviews, field interviews, and data collection with government partners
• Assist in co-design workshops with frontline government workers, capturing insights and facilitating documentation
• Draft blog posts, social media content, and communications that reflect the Institute's voice and niche
• Coordinate project logistics including scheduling, partner communications, and progress tracking
• Maintain project documentation and knowledge management systems
• Support impact assessments and contribute to case study write-ups for publication

Who We Are Looking For

• A degree in social sciences, development studies, public policy, statistics, or a related field
• Strong proficiency in R or Stata for data analysis and visualisation. You are comfortable cleaning datasets, running analysis, and producing charts that communicate findings clearly
• Genuine interest in governance, public sector reform, and how data tools can improve how government serves citizens
• Prior experience working with or around government institutions in Nigeria is a strong advantage
• Highly organised and self-directed, comfortable managing your own workload in a small fast-moving team
• Based in Abuja or willing to travel to Abuja for fieldwork and partner meetings

What We Offer

• N200,000 to N250,000 per month depending on experience
• Direct mentorship from three co-founders with deep expertise in research, technology, and institutional development
• Byline credit on published blog posts and case studies
• Flexible remote working arrangement
• Strong professional reference and potential contract extension based on performance and funding
• The chance to be part of building something from the ground up — and to have your work matter