IHfRA holds a team of trained moderators and facilitators that lead qualitative research projects, including conducting key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions in the local language. We are familiar with using Nvivo and ATLAS.ti software for qualitative data management and analysis.

IHfRA uses Android Tablets for data collection. We have a versatile and specialized team for scripting; coding of surveys into electronic platforms/tablets working with various platforms including SurveyCTO, ODK, KoBoToolbox; Akvo Flow, Survey Solutions, Survey2Go, Tangerine, etc. These enables the programming of very flexible surveys, with complicated skip patterns if required, multi-media, and excellent audit functions.
Quantitative data collection is conducted using cutting-edge electronic data collection equipment (tablets/smart Phones). From the training of the data team to the piloting of research instruments, preparing survey logistics, programming the tablets, field supervision, data quality back-checks, implementing ethical standards, sound accounting, insurance coverage and complying with in-country legal requirements, IHfRA puts a lot of emphasis on ensuring robust data collection processes.
IHfRA has conducted large-scale surveys in multiple sectors, including the agriculture, education, health, gender, labor, social protection, finance, poverty (income/consumption), mine and telecom sectors. These surveys have included prevalence studies, program evaluations, behavioral games and market research surveys.

IHfRA’s research and data teams have extensive experience programming complex surveys onto ODK platforms, such as SurveyCTO, SurveySolution and Akvo Flow.
These enable the programming of very flexible surveys, with complicated skip patterns and multi-media. These tools also offer excellent audit functions, including capturing the time and location of the interviews, the duration of each question, and even random audio recordings of selected interviews.

Even when electronically collected, raw data often come with inconsistencies. Our skilled research analysts ensure that all options are well coded, outliers removed, variables and options within them correctly labelled, open ended questions translated and coded in the main language, and the dataset re-shaped or re-organized so that variables match the structure of the survey.
All data will be delivered to the client, ready to use, cleaned and labelled in Stata/SPSS and Excel formats.

IHfRA holds a network of over 50,000 enumerators across Africa, including field coordinators, supervisors, interviewers, quality control officers, moderators and translators, extensively trained by IHfRA and with experience working on multiple research projects with IHfRA. The enumerators IHfRA works with are selected through a competitive process and all have at least a Bachelor’s degree from leading local or international Universities.

We employ a rigorous approach to data quality, which includes using in-built data quality checks via survey programming, auditing at least 10% of each interviewer’s work (i.e. 10% of the total sample), and most important of all, ensuring intensive enumerator training. We have an independent Data Quality team that leads this effort.

IHfRA provides all the required infrastructure, logistics and management oversight to conduct large-scale surveys. We train our research teams, coordinate with authorities to obtain the required approvals, organize field logistics and transport, manage data quality and control processes, maintain sound accounting practices, and ensure we have the required insurance policies.

We minimize attrition and ensure smooth data collection processes by conducting extensive field preparation, informing local authorities of our survey and recruiting and confirming survey participants in advance of data collection. Field preparation makes a very big difference to the quality of field work.

IHfRA has strict guidelines on conducting interviews with survey participants, which are reinforced during our training sessions. Our team has experience conducting interviews on sensitive topics and are well-versed interviewing children and adults alike.