Monica Biravolu

CEO and Founder, QualAnalytics

Monica is the CEO and Founder of QualAnalytics and a Scholar-in-Residence at American University. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Duke University and has held academic appointments at Yale and Duke. A specialist in the sociological study of global development, she has led research on HIV/AIDS, refugee conditions, nutrition, and education across India, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean.

She advocates for mixed-methods evaluations, integrating rigorous qualitative research with quantitative surveys. Her work is extensively published in leading journals, including the American Sociological Review, World Development, and Social Science and Medicine.

What we do

Design

We conduct qualitative research to bridge the gap between funder objectives and beneficiary needs. By uncovering the lived realities of target populations, we ensure programs are culturally resonant, feasible, and evidence-based from the start.

Monitor

We provide real-time qualitative monitoring to help teams learn and adapt. Our nuanced feedback identifies implementation roadblocks, allowing partners to course-correct and improve program effectiveness during delivery.

Evaluate

While numbers show what is happening, we explain why. Our evaluations explore the behavioral and social drivers of impact, providing the context necessary to understand program success or address unexpected challenges.

Train

We build high-performing research teams through bespoke training in qualitative methodologies. From field data collection to expert analysis, we equip teams with the technical skills required to ensure data integrity and rigor.

Friends of QualAnalytics

Every project at QualAnalytics begins with people — researchers who listen, question, and translate lived experiences into evidence that matters. Our team is made up of passionate, motivated individuals who bring energy and purpose to every inquiry.

Nilgün Uygun

Nilgün holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from Duke University and a B.A. from Boğaziçi University. An expert in gender, migration, and development, her ethnographic research has focused on sex work and migrant communities in Turkey. With a background spanning philosophy, political science, and international relations, she specializes in research that synthesizes the humanities and social sciences.

Nilgün has held academic appointments at Haverford College, Drexel University, and Doğuş University, and has served as a consultant for major community history projects. She advocates for qualitative research that combines creative imagination with analytical and empirical rigor. She is fluent in Turkish and English.

Tamara Hafner

Tamara is a global health researcher with a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School. She specializes in access to medicines and has led numerous pharmaceutical and health systems assignments for international organizations.

Her expertise lies in developing conceptual frameworks and research protocols, alongside conducting rigorous qualitative assessments. Tamara is particularly interested in applying systems thinking methodologies to complex health challenges, ensuring that research outputs are both technically sound and practically actionable.

 

Usha Rao

Usha is an anthropologist and researcher who brings a deep historical and cultural perspective to complex social inquiries. Her work spans a remarkably diverse range of subjects, from the cultural economy of traditional Indian sweets to critical discourse analysis of Supreme Court judgments regarding caste, tribal rights, and development.

A multi-disciplinary researcher, Usha specializes in high-touch qualitative methods, including extended observations, in-depth interviews, and media analysis. Beyond her consultancy, she is an accomplished documentary filmmaker; her film Our Metropolis explores the urban transformation of Bangalore. She has collaborated with leading institutions such as the National Law School, the Centre for Policy Research, and the Madras Institute for Development Studies.

 

 

Trusted by Global Leaders

 

From multilateral agencies to premier research universities, we partner with organizations that demand the highest standards of analytical rigor. Our work supports a diverse range of clients in translating complex social data into actionable insights for global development.

 

Testimonials

Ms. Biradavolu’s work on the review of the ethnic scholarship programme, and her outputs were of high quality, as assessed by UNICEF’s review management team, and from feedback provided by MoEYS senior counterparts, who valued the evidence yielded. Ms. Biradavolu’s professional working style was highly appreciated by UNICEF and MoEYS, and was integral to being able to effectively collect data from a range of stakeholders and beneficiaries from different ethnic group.

Katheryn Bennet,
Chief of Education UNICEF, Cambodia

Monica was the lead researcher for a multi-country study on Syrian refugees and host communities. She developed interview guides, trained facilitators, and analyzed nuances—like gender dynamics and legal struggles—that quantitative surveys couldn’t capture. I was impressed by her dedication and careful analysis, which enriched the narrative and brought it to life, seamlessly blending with the quantitative findings. Monica’s work was integral to documenting the lives of these refugees.

Dr. Nandini Krishnan,
Lead Economist The World Bank

I’ve worked with Monica for 12 years. Without a doubt she is the best qualitative researcher I’ve ever known. Whether it’s conceptualizing and designing studies or collecting and analyzing data or presenting results in high impact formats, she’ll do it herself, or organize and oversee a highly effective team to do it. No project is too small or too big.  Qualanalytics, under Monica’s direction, meets the very highest standards in qualitative research.

Kim Blankenship, PhD,
Professor, Department of Sociology, American University

I worked with Monica for a qualitative research project in Nepal. In addition to her expertise in analyzing data and writing-up findings – Monica is open-minded and responsive to feedback, which makes the process and outcome more productive. I truly appreciate Monica’s professionalism, patience, and fun, positive attitude. She consistently delivers high-quality work, both independently and as a team player, making her an invaluable asset to any research project.

Kaori Oshima,
Senior Social Development Specialist, The World Bank

Monica was hired for a two-year, complex mixed-method evaluation in Nepal. We previously struggled to find someone with the depth of knowledge for this multi-layered approach, but Monica was more than up to the task. She was a knowledgeable advisor, conscientious data collector, and clear writer. She worked with the quantitative team to ensure seamless analysis. We have since hired her for other activities and I highly recommend her.

Amanda Pomeroy-Stevens,
Senior Technical Advisor, John Snow Inc.