Consultant - Qualitative Methods Short-term

About Central Square Foundation (CSF)

Founded in 2012, Central Square Foundation is a non-profit philanthropic foundation working with the vision of ensuring quality school education for all children in India. CSF’s mission is focused on ensuring high-quality foundational learning for all children in India. To achieve this, we partner with individuals and social impact organizations to bring innovative solutions in education and build government capacity to drive systemic impact.

Learn more about us and our work at www.centralsquarefoundation.org.

About the Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment and Learning (RMEAL) team

CSF’s Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation team undertakes a range of research and M&E activities to generate evidence that strengthens education programs and policies. By focusing on the “what works” and “why it works,” the team aims to deepen our understanding of systemic improvements that drive meaningful learning outcomes for children from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds.

CSF’s Research and M&E team is deeply engaged, advised, and mentored by renowned experts like Luis Crouch (Chief Technical Officer, RTI International), Ben Piper (Sr. Director, RTI International), Karthik Muralidharan (Chair, JPAL S.Asia), Asiya Kazmi (Global Education Policy Lead, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation). The Project Manager will join a high-caliber leadership team with collective experience working in both corporate and development sector organizations like BCG, IFMR, J-PAL, IGC, NITI Aayog, and National Skill Development Corporation.

Position Summary

This is a contractual position for a duration of 3 months, with the possibility of extension based on performance and organizational needs. The Consultant (Qualitative Methods) will play a key role in supporting CSF’s process evaluations, with a focus on state-level Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) programs, Uttar Pradesh under the NIPUN Bharat Mission. The researcher will work closely with the RMEAL team and partners to design and execute rigorous qualitative studies that examine program implementation fidelity, stakeholder perspectives, and contextual factors influencing program outcomes

Roles & Responsibilities

Design and Planning (10%)

• Support development of appropriate qualitative research designs to address key evaluation questions, considering the objectives of process evaluations in the FLN (Foundational Literacy and Numeracy) domain.
• Collaborate with CSF verticals, partner organizations, and government stakeholders to develop data collection tools such as interview guides, focus group discussion protocols, and observation checklists.
• Ensure alignment of research tools with theories of change and program logic models.
  
  
  

• Conduct and oversee in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations in diverse settings, engaging with multiple stakeholders, including teachers, students, parents, and government officials.
• Support in training and supervising data collection teams, ensuring adherence to research protocols and quality standards.
• Manage and clean qualitative datasets using appropriate software for analysis.
  
  
  

• Conduct thematic analysis, coding, and synthesis of qualitative data to identify key patterns and insights related to program implementation.
• Draft high-quality evaluation reports, case studies, and presentations with actionable recommendations for program improvement.
• Collaborate with quantitative researchers to integrate findings into mixed-methods studies.
  
  
  

• Minimum requirement of Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields, including economics, public policy, education, or any related field. A relevant Master’s degree with some coursework of research methods would be preferable. PhD students and graduates between assignments are also encouraged to apply.
• Atleast 2 years of experience in qualitative research, preferably in education, public policy, or social development. Prior understanding of the education landscape and education-related studies in India, will be desirable.
• Strong expertise in qualitative research methods, including thematic analysis, case study development, and participatory approaches.
• Proficiency with qualitative data analysis software such as NVivo, ATLAS.ti or Dedoose (preferable).
• Ability to synthesize qualitative findings into actionable insights and recommendations.
• Experience in designing and conducting interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations.
• Experience working with government stakeholders and understanding of education policy contexts, particularly FLN programs, will be a significant advantage.
• Knowledge of Indian states’ socio-cultural contexts, particularly Haryana, UP, MP is highly desirable.
  
  
  

• Strong communication skills to articulate complex insights to non-technical audiences
• Action-oriented, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple projects effectively
• Passion for advancing education equity and belief in the possibility of foundational learning for all children.
• Willingness to adapt to the dynamic nature of work and travel to project locations (including rural and semi-urban areas).