Research, Training and Consultancy in Tanzania
Quality Be the First
Our name is rooted in the Usambara Mountains of Tanga Region, north-eastern Tanzania. From the early twentieth century, these mountains became a major centre of scientific enquiry. Researchers who came during the colonial period, most notably at the Amani Research Institute established in 1902, studied agriculture, forestry, soils and human health in search of practical solutions to agricultural and health problems. Research has continued there to the present day. We chose the name Usambara to remember this long tradition of problem-solving research and to carry it forward in a modern, ethical and locally grounded way, led by Tanzanians for Tanzania and Africa.
Our team brings together experienced academics and practitioners who understand both the demands of rigorous scholarship and the realities of local institutions. We guide clients through every stage of research, from proposal development to data analysis, reporting and publication, while promoting academic integrity and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Guided by our slogan, "Quality Be the First", we work closely with each client to deliver practical, timely, ethical and evidence-based solutions that address social, economic and cultural challenges at national and international levels.
USARETCO is a registered business in the United Republic of Tanzania under the Business Names (Registration) Act (Cap. 213), Registration No. 591326, issued by the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) on 11 December 2024.
Features
Academic Quality Assurance
We provide language editing, proofreading, similarity (plagiarism) checks and AI-content screening for proposals, reports, dissertations and journal manuscripts. Each check comes with a clear report and practical guidance on how to revise the work in your own words. On request, we issue confirmation letters for language editing and similarity checks.
Data Analysis and Statistical Support
We analyse quantitative and qualitative data using recognised software such as SPSS, Stata, R, Python and NVivo. Our analysts help you choose suitable methods, test assumptions, present results in clear tables and figures, and interpret the findings so that you understand them fully and can defend them with confidence.
AI Literacy and Responsible AI Training
We run practical, hands-on training for students, lecturers, researchers and professionals on using artificial intelligence tools ethically and productively in research, teaching, administration and self-employment. Courses are delivered face to face, online or in blended mode, and participants receive certificates of completion.
Services
OUR SLOGAN : QUALITY BE THE FIRST
Research Design and Data Services
Professional guidance from proposal to findings: research design, tool development and validation, sampling, ethical fieldwork, transcription and translation, data analysis and accurate data visualisation.
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Academic Writing and Quality Assurance
We check and strengthen written work before it reaches supervisors, examiners or editors: quality reviews, language editing and proofreading, plagiarism and AI checks, language clearance letters and integrity guidance.
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Defence and Presentation Preparation
We prepare candidates to present and defend their research with confidence, through presentation training and mock defence panels led by experienced academics.
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Artificial Intelligence Training
Practical, responsible AI skills for students, graduates, lecturers, professionals and institutions, from ethical use and tool selection to AI in teaching and assessment.
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Training and Capacity Building
Practical, competence-based training that leaves lasting research skills: data analysis, research assistant preparation, research methods and writing, reference management, supervision and M&E.
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Consultancy and Publication Guidance
Evidence for organisations that need to make decisions, and guidance for researchers who want to publish: research consultancy, systematic reviews, manuscripts, ethics applications and grant proposals.
Learn MoreJOB OPPORTUNITY
TRAINERS
Applications are open all year round. There is no closing date. Suitable applicants are added to the USARETCO trainer register and are contacted when a course matches their expertise.
How to apply: click Apply Now and upload your CV, copies of your academic certificates and a short cover letter stating the training area(s) you wish to teach. For enquiries, email info@usaretco.com or call/WhatsApp +255 655 523679.
• At least a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; a Master's degree or PhD is an added advantage.
• Bachelor's degree holders must also hold a recognised training certificate, such as Training of Trainers (ToT), or a certificate in the area they wish to teach.
• At least two years' experience of teaching, training or facilitating adult learners.
• Ability to use competence-based, learner-centred methods and to assess learning outcomes.
• Confidence in delivering live online sessions through Zoom or Google Meet and in using a learning platform such as Moodle.
• Excellent spoken and written communication in English and Kiswahili.
• Commitment to academic integrity, research ethics and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
1. Research Methods Trainer
• Master's degree or PhD in the social sciences, education, health or a related field.
• Sound knowledge of quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods designs, sampling, instrument development and research ethics.
• Experience of supervising or guiding research proposals, theses or dissertations.
• Field data collection experience; skills in KoboToolbox or ODK are an advantage.
2. Data Analysis Trainer
• Degree in statistics, economics, data science, epidemiology or a related field.
• Practical proficiency in at least two of the following: SPSS, Stata, R, Python or NVivo.
• Ability to teach data cleaning, descriptive and inferential statistics, regression and qualitative coding, and to explain results in plain language.
• Evidence of data analysis work in research or evaluation projects.
3. Academic Writing Trainer
• Master's degree or PhD in linguistics, English, education or any research-based discipline.
• A proven record of academic writing, such as peer-reviewed publications, or experience of academic editing.
• Strong knowledge of APA and Harvard referencing, reference managers (Mendeley or Zotero) and the avoidance of plagiarism.
• Ability to give clear and constructive feedback on proposals, dissertations and journal manuscripts.
4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Trainer
• Degree in computer science, information technology, educational technology or a related field, or any relevant degree supported by recognised AI certifications.
• Hands-on experience of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Copilot) for research, teaching, administration and self-employment.
• Good understanding of prompt design, AI ethics, data privacy, bias and academic integrity.
• Ability to design practical activities for learners with different levels of digital skill.
Desirable for all roles
• Experience of training in Tanzanian higher learning institutions, public bodies or NGOs.
• Experience of developing training materials and assessments.
Team
DR. BENARD ADAM HAMZA (PhD)
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Benard Adam Hamza is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of USARETCO. He holds a PhD from the University of Mysore and works as a Lecturer and AI in Education Specialist at the Institute of Social Work, Dar es Salaam. He has more than eight years of experience as a research consultant and has supervised over fifty research projects and proposals. His expertise covers quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods research, data analysis and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in education.
JACKLINE MUSHI
Director of Customer Care Services
Jackline Mushi leads customer care at USARETCO. She is the first point of contact for clients and handles enquiries, bookings and follow-up, making sure that every client receives timely, courteous and professional service.
Contact
- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- P.O. Box 76812, Dar es Salaam
+255-655523679 - Call or WhatsApp- info@usaretco.com
- Mon-Fri - 08:00AM-07:00PM
USARETCO collects only the personal information that clients and job applicants give us, such as names, contact details and documents submitted for review. We use this information solely to deliver the services requested, to communicate with clients and to process applications. We do not sell or share personal information with third parties, except where the law requires it. Client documents are treated as confidential and stored securely. You may ask us at any time to correct or delete your information by writing to info@usaretco.com. We handle personal data in line with the Personal Data Protection Act, 2022 of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Academic Integrity
Our editing, similarity-checking, data analysis and research-support services are designed to strengthen the client's own work and to help clients understand and meet the standards of their institutions. We promote honest scholarship, proper citation and transparent reporting. Clients remain responsible for complying with the academic rules of their institutions.
Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence
We use and teach artificial intelligence tools openly and ethically. Wherever AI tools support our work, our staff check every output for accuracy, and we encourage clients to declare any use of AI in line with the guidelines of their institutions or publishers.
Terms of Service
Fees, timelines and deliverables for each assignment are agreed with the client before work begins. Information shared with us is kept confidential. For questions or complaints, please contact us on +255 655 523679 or info@usaretco.com.
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Become a USARETCO Research Assistant
USARETCO builds a register of trained research assistants who support research projects, surveys and evaluations across Tanzania. Graduates and final-year students with an interest in research are welcome to apply.
How it works
1. Register: complete the form below and upload your CV, academic certificates and a passport-size photograph.
2. Pay the registration fee: TSh 50,000. Payment instructions will be sent to you by email or WhatsApp after we receive your registration.
3. Complete the online training: research ethics, data collection, digital data tools, data entry and reporting.
4. Receive your Certificate of Participation as a USARETCO Research Assistant once you have completed the training and your payment has been confirmed.
For help, call or WhatsApp +255 655 523679 or email info@usaretco.com.
Every research assistant who completes the USARETCO Online Research Assistant Training receives this Certificate of Participation and is accepted onto our register of research assistants. Each certificate carries a unique number in the format USARETCO/RA/year/number, is signed by our Chief Executive Officer and bears the USARETCO seal.
To confirm that a certificate is genuine, please send its number to info@usaretco.com or call +255 655 523679.
The image shows a sample. To join, register on the Research Assistants page.
TRAINING COURSES
Every learner who completes the six-week USARETCO Applied Artificial Intelligence Training receives this Certificate of Participation. Each certificate carries a unique number in the format USARETCO/AI/year/number, is signed by our Chief Executive Officer and bears the USARETCO seal.
To confirm that a certificate is genuine, please send its number to info@usaretco.com or call +255 655 523679.
The image shows a sample. To join, enrol in the Applied Artificial Intelligence Certificate
on the Training Courses page.
Aim: To prepare learners to work as competent and ethical research assistants in surveys, evaluations and academic research.
Who it is for: Undergraduate students and graduates of universities and colleges.
Entry requirements: Current or completed diploma or degree studies, basic computer skills, and a computer or smartphone with internet access for Zoom.
Learning outcomes: By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
1. Explain the main research designs and the stages of a research project.
2. Apply research ethics, including informed consent, confidentiality and data protection.
3. Choose suitable sampling techniques for a given study.
4. Administer questionnaires and conduct interviews accurately and respectfully.
5. Build and use digital data collection forms in KoboToolbox and ODK.
6. Enter, clean and manage data, and run basic analysis in SPSS and NVivo.
7. Write a short, clear field report.
Learning hours: Six weeks, with 12 live evening sessions of 2 hours each on Zoom (24 hours) and about 12 hours of guided self-study. Total: about 36 learning hours.
Lead trainer: Dr. Benard Adam Hamza (PhD).
Assessment, certification, learner support and complaints: see the Learner Information section.
Aim: To equip learners with practical and ethical skills in using artificial intelligence for study, research, work and self-employment.
Who it is for: Undergraduate students and graduates of universities and colleges.
Entry requirements: Current or completed diploma or degree studies, basic computer skills, and a computer or smartphone with internet access for Zoom.
Learning outcomes: By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
1. Explain what artificial intelligence is, how generative AI tools work and what their limits are.
2. Write clear and effective prompts for different tasks.
3. Use AI tools to support academic reading, writing and research without plagiarism, and acknowledge AI use correctly.
4. Use AI to support data analysis and research tasks, and check AI outputs for accuracy.
5. Apply AI tools to career development and self-employment.
6. Use AI responsibly, with attention to ethics, bias, privacy and academic integrity.
Learning hours: Six weeks, with 12 live evening sessions of 2 hours each on Zoom (24 hours) and about 12 hours of guided self-study. Total: about 36 learning hours.
Lead trainer: Dr. Benard Adam Hamza (PhD).
Assessment, certification, learner support and complaints: see the Learner Information section.
To complete a course, learners must attend at least 75% of the live sessions, complete the weekly online quizzes and submit a final project. The overall pass mark is 50%. Learners who meet these requirements, and whose fee payment is confirmed, receive a USARETCO Certificate of Participation with a unique number, signed by the Chief Executive Officer.
Learner support
Learners can ask questions during live sessions and between sessions through info@usaretco.com or WhatsApp +255 655 523679. Course materials are available on the course page.
Learner feedback
At the end of each course, learners complete a short evaluation. We review the feedback after every intake and use it to improve course content and delivery.
Complaints and appeals
Learners may make a complaint, or appeal an assessment decision, by writing to info@usaretco.com within 14 days. We acknowledge every complaint within 3 working days and give a written response within 10 working days. Appeals are reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer.
Equal opportunities and accessibility
USARETCO welcomes all learners, regardless of gender, disability, religion or background. Learners who need reasonable adjustments, such as extra time or materials in another format, should tell us when they enrol.
COURSE MODULES
Research Assistant | Week 1: Foundations of Research (PDF)
Module 1 of the Research Assistant Certificate (USR-RA-101). Sessions 1 and 2: introduction to research, research paradigms and designs. Includes activities, a self-check quiz and references.
Research Assistant | Week 1: Foundations of Research (Word)
Editable Word version of Module 1 of the Research Assistant Certificate (USR-RA-101). Sessions 1 and 2: introduction to research, research paradigms and designs.
Research Assistant | Week 2: Research Ethics and Sampling (PDF)
Module 2 of the Research Assistant Certificate (USR-RA-101). Sessions 3 and 4: research ethics, informed consent, data protection and sampling.
Research Assistant | Week 2: Research Ethics and Sampling (Word)
Editable Word version. Module 2 of the Research Assistant Certificate (USR-RA-101). Sessions 3 and 4: research ethics, informed consent, data protection and sampling.
Research Assistant | Week 3: Data Collection Tools (PDF)
Module 3 of the Research Assistant Certificate (USR-RA-101). Sessions 5 and 6: questionnaires, surveys, interviews and focus groups.
Research Assistant | Week 3: Data Collection Tools (Word)
Editable Word version. Module 3 of the Research Assistant Certificate (USR-RA-101). Sessions 5 and 6: questionnaires, surveys, interviews and focus groups.
Research Assistant | Week 4: Digital Data Collection (KoboToolbox and ODK) (PDF)
Module 4 of the Research Assistant Certificate (USR-RA-101). Sessions 7 and 8: KoboToolbox, ODK, XLSForm and field data management.
Research Assistant | Week 4: Digital Data Collection (KoboToolbox and ODK) (Word)
Editable Word version. Module 4 of the Research Assistant Certificate (USR-RA-101). Sessions 7 and 8: KoboToolbox, ODK, XLSForm and field data management.
Research Assistant | Week 5: Data Management and Analysis (PDF)
Module 5 of the Research Assistant Certificate (USR-RA-101). Sessions 9 and 10: data cleaning, transcription, SPSS and thematic analysis.
Research Assistant | Week 5: Data Management and Analysis (Word)
Editable Word version. Module 5 of the Research Assistant Certificate (USR-RA-101). Sessions 9 and 10: data cleaning, transcription, SPSS and thematic analysis.
- Initial consultation. We clarify your needs, level of study and deadline.
- Scope and quotation. We agree the scope, deliverables, timeline and fee in writing before any work begins.
- Service delivery. The assigned specialist carries out the agreed work.
- Internal quality review. A second team member checks each deliverable before it reaches you.
- Delivery and follow-up. We deliver the work, explain it where needed and answer follow-up questions.
STANDARDS AND TOOLS WE APPLY
- Referencing: APA 7th edition, Harvard, or the style set by your institution
- Quantitative analysis: SPSS, Stata, R, Microsoft Excel
- Qualitative analysis: NVivo; manual thematic and content analysis
- Reference management: Mendeley, Zotero
- Originality checking: recognised similarity and AI-detection software
- Research reviews: PRISMA 2020 reporting guideline
- Academic requirements: university guidelines and Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) standards
SERVICES FOR HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTION STUDENTS
Relevant services are available to undergraduate, postgraduate diploma, master’s and doctoral students. They complement formal supervision and follow institutional assessment and academic integrity requirements. Students prepare their own drafts, justify their own methodological choices and retain authorship of assessed work. USARETCO provides professional guidance and does not promise grades, approval, graduation or publication.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY
- Authorship. We do not write assignments, proposals, dissertations or theses for submission as a client’s own work. Our role is to guide, review, train and advise.
- Analysis and editing. Researchers review amendments, understand analytical procedures and remain responsible for their arguments, interpretations and final work. Technical assistance for students must be permitted by the institution, stay within the agreed scope and be disclosed or acknowledged where required.
- Originality and AI. We guide source attribution, authentic revision and responsible AI use. We do not provide concealment services, fabricate evidence or guarantee similarity or AI detection scores.
- Institutional rules. We respect the academic integrity policies of our clients’ universities and colleges. Where a request conflicts with those policies, we decline it and explain why.
- Research ethics. We follow recognised research ethics principles, including informed consent, voluntary participation, confidentiality and protection of participants from harm.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION
- Access. Only the team members assigned to an assignment can access the client’s documents and data.
- No sharing. We do not share, publish or reuse client work, data or personal details without the client’s written consent.
- Research data. Participant data are stored securely, anonymised where possible and handled in line with the study’s ethical approvals.
- Retention. Files are kept only for the period agreed with the client and are then deleted.
- Data protection. Personal information is handled according to applicable data protection requirements and agreed confidentiality arrangements.
REQUEST A SERVICE
Contact us with your level of study, the service you need and your deadline, and we will reply with a written scope and quotation.
Phone and WhatsApp: +255 655 523679
Email: usambararesearchtraining@gmail.com
Postal address: P.O. Box 76812, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 19:00
