research associate

Research Associate

Job Type: Full time
Qualification: At least a Master’s degree
Research Experience: 4+years
Location: Nairobi
Start Date: October 2025
Closing Date: August 8, 2025

KDI is seeking a Research Associate with interest in climate change and risks, health,and community-driven Nature based solutions (NbS) in addressing urban risks forunderserved communities. Skills in qualitative and quantitative research (data collection and analysis), writing and reporting are required.


About Kounkuey Design Initiative

KOUNKUEY DESIGN INITIATIVE (KDI) is a non-profit design and communitydevelopment organization that partners with underserved communities in the US, Africa, and Latin America to physically transform communities and in the process, improve environmental, economic, and social quality of life. Begun in 2006, KDI is made up of architects, landscape architects, engineers, urban planners, and community organizers. KDI believes that participatory planning and design are key tosustainable development. By working collaboratively with communities from conception through implementation, we build on their ideas, enhance them with technical knowledge and design innovation, and connect them to extant resources. In doing so,KDI empowers communities to advocate for themselves and address the majorphysical, social, and economic challenges they face. KDI comprises 50 professionalsworking from four offices: Nairobi, Los Angeles, Eastern Coachella Valley, and Stockholm.

Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) is leading several multidisciplinary disciplinary research projects in Kenya focused on addressing the complex challenges of climate change, health, and resilience in vulnerable urban settlements. One key project aims to integrate Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into development pathways in the Global South by exploring socio-political factors that support the adoption and scaling and institutionalization of community-driven NbS solutions. Another project investigates the spatial impacts of climate change on urban health in vulnerable settlements across various regions. This research synthesizes and contextualizes the climate-related health risks unique to these areas, producing narratives and developing innovative approaches for achieving meaningful impact at multiple scales.


Job Field: urban design, spatial planning, environmental sciences, water management,urban anthropology, human geography, public health, or a relevant social science


Specific responsibilities would include:

• Support research delivery on two large projects including sample selection, and research tool development (survey and interview guides)
• Support the training and management of enumeration teams working on KDI research-related work in the neighborhoods we are active
• Support data collection and management and general research protocols, ethics, and overall project management timelines for KDI projects
• Conduct qualitative, quantitative and spatial data analysis
• Contribute to the production of high-quality research outputs such as reports,working papers, editorials (blogs, podcasts, op-eds), conference papers andpeer peer-reviewed publications
• Participate in stakeholder meetings as required
• Support project adherence to research protocols including design, data management, protocols, ethics, and overall timelines and deadlines
• Support the dissemination of results via presentations and reports to academicand nonacademic audiences, nationally and internationally

Desired Profile

• Experience and affinity with the mission of KDI to work towards justice in the built environment
• At least a Master’s degree
• 4+ years of relevant experience across some combination of the non-profit,international development, academia, design, planning, and research sectors;
• Education or equivalent qualification/comparable experience preferred in one ofthe following fields: urban design, spatial planning, environmental sciences,water management, anthropology, human geography, public health, or a relevant social science;
• Strong experience in qualitative or quantitative collection and data analysis strongly preferred;
• Expertise in one or more of the following topics: urban resilience, adaption planning, justice in the built environment, climate, health, urban nature, infrastructure planning, mobility, inclusive design
• Evidence of Experience in writing research outputs
• Evidence of engagement with multiple stakeholders, including international and local academic researchers, NGO partners, and community participants
• Fluency in Swahili preferred;
• Advanced skills in analytical tools MaxQDA or Dedoose, Excel, SPSS preferred.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants should submit their applications via this form no later than 8 August 2025. Please attach your motivational cover letter, CV, three (3) references, and an example of your research writing via the linked form.

KDI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions at KDI are based onbusiness needs, job requirements and merit, without regard to age, race, creed, color,religion, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national,social or ethnic origin, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity orexpression, genetic information, marital, civil union or partnership status, citizenship statusor other characteristics protected by national, state or local law.

KDI does not ask for money from job applicants. If you encounter any such requests,please report them immediately to mailkenya@kounkuey.org