ELLY ODHIAMBO ONDITI
Nairobi
Summary
Dynamic research professional with extensive experience at Grant Thornton, excelling in community engagement and data collection. Proven track record of enhancing program evaluation through meticulous documentation and reporting. Adept at collaborating with diverse stakeholders, leveraging strong analytical skills to drive impactful outcomes in vulnerable populations. Recognized for achieving over 98% data accuracy.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Assistant
Grant Thornton
10.2025 - Current
- Supported an affordable housing impact assessment across multiple sites in 5+ counties, including household visits and community engagement
- Contributed to data collection and field assessments for 10+ project components, working with diverse community members and stakeholders
- Engaged 500+ households and beneficiaries through structured interviews, surveys, and community interactions
- Conducted site and household assessments in 20+ locations, ensuring accurate and ethical data capture
- Assisted in coordination of multi-location field activities across 4–6 regions, supporting scheduling, logistics, and reporting
- Supported monitoring and documentation processes that informed program evaluation and decision-making
- Maintained accurate records, cleaned field data, and contributed to timely reporting and data quality assurance.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently in remote and hard-to-reach areas, adhering to assessment protocols and timelines.
Volunteer - Deputy Director
Stellar Generation Kenya
05.2023 - Current
- Playing a pivotal leadership role in mentoring at-risk youth, advocating for child protection, and supporting vulnerable groups such as street families. In this role, I support strategic planning, coordinate field operations, and contribute to the holistic development of young people and communities across Kenya.
- Guiding and mentoring over 200 adolescents (both girls and boys) struggling with drug addiction, offering personalized support that has encouraged healthier life choices and personal growth.
- Leading and implementing community awareness initiatives on girl child protection, directly engaging more than 500 individuals to promote education, safety, and gender equality.
- Designing and implementing intervention programs tackling adolescent issues, resulting in measurable improvements in mental health and emotional resilience.
- Supporting strategic leadership functions by deputizing the First Deputy Director, ensuring effective program execution and operational continuity.
- Planning, managing, and executing high-impact events in collaboration with other leaders, significantly improving outreach and engagement across target demographics.
- Organizing and leading feeding initiatives for street families, distributing meals and offering hope and dignity to over 100 individuals in need.
Research Assistant
60 Decibels
Nairobi
08.2024 - 10.2024
- Contributed to 60 Decibels' mission of amplifying the voices of vulnerable populations by conducting structured phone interviews with refugees and low-income households, generating actionable insights for development programs and impact evaluation. Consistently met and exceeded performance benchmarks in data quality, efficiency, and respondent engagement.
- Successfully conducted hundreds of structured phone interviews with individuals from marginalized communities, including refugee populations, capturing both quantitative and qualitative data on socio-economic conditions.
- Maintained exceptional standards of data accuracy and integrity, achieving a 98%+ accuracy rate in data entry and response documentation in line with strict research protocols.
- Leveraged digital platforms (e.g., SurveyCTO, KoboToolbox) for secure data entry, real-time tracking, and confidential storage of responses, reducing data processing time by 30%.
- Identified and reported emerging trends and behavioral insights across projects, directly informing program design and strategic interventions for client organizations.
- Provided actionable field feedback that led to the refinement of survey tools, increased respondent comprehension, and improved overall data quality.
- Collaborated seamlessly with project managers, data analysts, and multilingual interview teams to meet tight deadlines while maintaining research integrity.
- Consistently recognized for high-quality performance, reliability, and sensitivity in working with vulnerable populations.
Data Enumerator
Planned Parenthood Global
Nairobi
08.2023 - 06.2024
- I supported field-based research and evaluation initiatives in Nairobi, played a critical role in gathering high-quality, accurate data through household surveys and structured interviews to assess community health needs, inform program planning, and evaluate the impact of reproductive health interventions.
- Additionally, I engaged with vulnerable and underserved populations-including youth, women, and marginalized groups-ensuring respectful, inclusive, and ethical data collection practices.
Data Transcription Assistant
Nutrition International
11.2023 - 01.2024
- Transcribed qualitative data from interviews and focus group discussions, ensuring accurate documentation and timely delivery of data critical for research analysis.
- Transcribed over 50 hours of audio recordings from interviews and focus group discussions, maintaining a high standard of accuracy and clarity.
- Ensured 100% on-time delivery of clean, error-free transcripts to support a PhD candidate's research analysis without delay.
- Assisted in the identification of key themes and recurring insights across 15 transcriptions, contributing directly to the synthesis of research findings.
- Supported the research team by summarizing transcript content for inclusion in final reports and evidence-based recommendations.
- Maintained strict confidentiality protocols and handled all participant data in compliance with ethical standards.
- Utilized transcription software and tools efficiently to streamline the transcription process and maintain consistency in formatting and style.
- Enabled the research team to complete a time-sensitive academic and programmatic analysis without delay.
- Contributed to the development of a final research report with practical recommendations for nutrition interventions.
- Recognized for attention to detail, speed, and the ability to extract meaningful information from complex qualitative data.
Research Assistant
International Rescue Committee
Nairobi
09.2022 - 04.2023
- Supported the monitoring, evaluation, and research components of the Rebuild Project-a livelihoods and economic empowerment program designed to support vulnerable communities in Nairobi.
- I worked closely with program and M&E teams to gather, analyze, and report critical data that drove strategic decision-making and improves program performance.
- I conducted in-depth, one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions with program participants to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the Rebuild Project.
Volunteer
Kings Kid Village
Kiambu
05.2022 - 09.2022
- Led the development of 5 educational program initiatives, positively impacting over 200 students by promoting literacy, life skills, and holistic learning in marginalized communities.
- Successfully coordinated 15 student-centered activities, ensuring the active engagement of 150+ learners and alignment with educational objectives and project timelines.
- Additionally, I monitored and evaluated 8 sub-projects under the family support program, compiling detailed assessments and reports that informed strategic planning and program improvement.
Research Assistant
Kenya Medical Research Institute
Nairobi
04.2019 - 06.2019
- Participated in a Public Health research where I collected data from over 300 participants using both quantitative (structured surveys) and qualitative (interviews, observations) methods as part of a community-based health study.
- I also trained and mentored 15 new research assistants, enhancing team efficiency, protocol compliance, and data quality.
Education
Bachelors of Education (Arts) -
University of Nairobi
09.2018
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education -
Nyakoko Mixed Secondary School
01.2012
Skills
- Community Engagement
- Project Coordination
- Data Collection
- Data Verification
- Documentation
- Reporting
- Collaboration
- Financial Tracking
- Administrative Support
Training
60 Decibels Research Assistant Certificate Course, 60 Decibels
References
- Nehemiah Owino, Public Sector Advisory, Manager, Grant Thornton Advisory EA, nemowino@gmail.com, +254710800040
- Stanley Jawuoro, Research Manager (Former Supervisor), International Rescue Committee, stanleyjawuoro@gmail.com, +25414692561
- DR. Caroline Mukeku Nyari, Former Supervisor, BRAC International, carolinemukeku@gmail.com, +254723305361
Timeline
Research Assistant
Grant Thornton
10.2025 - Current
Research Assistant
60 Decibels
08.2024 - 10.2024
Data Transcription Assistant
Nutrition International
11.2023 - 01.2024
Data Enumerator
Planned Parenthood Global
08.2023 - 06.2024
Volunteer - Deputy Director
Stellar Generation Kenya
05.2023 - Current
Research Assistant
International Rescue Committee
09.2022 - 04.2023
Volunteer
Kings Kid Village
05.2022 - 09.2022
Research Assistant
Kenya Medical Research Institute
04.2019 - 06.2019
Bachelors of Education (Arts) -
University of Nairobi
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education -
Nyakoko Mixed Secondary School