Job Description
The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), working in partnership with CIMMYT, is seeking an experienced and analytical Research Officer – Scaling and Impact to strengthen its research portfolio in Africa. This opportunity is ideal for a highly motivated professional who is passionate about generating practical evidence that improves agricultural livelihoods, enhances climate resilience, and supports sustainable food systems. The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team dedicated to transforming scientific research into meaningful solutions that benefit farming communities, policymakers, development organizations, and research partners across the region.
The position focuses on planning, coordinating, and implementing socio-economic research activities that evaluate agricultural technologies, innovation pathways, market participation, resilience, and adoption of improved farming practices. The successful candidate will play a central role in designing research methodologies, developing data collection instruments, supervising field activities, and ensuring that research outputs meet high scientific and ethical standards. This role requires someone who can combine strong quantitative analytical skills with practical field experience while working effectively across different cultural and institutional environments.
Working closely with scientists, economists, statisticians, project managers, and external collaborators, the Research Officer will contribute to evidence generation that informs strategic planning, policy dialogue, investment decisions, and agricultural development initiatives. The role includes transforming complex datasets into practical recommendations through statistical modelling, impact assessment, economic analysis, visualization tools, and well-structured technical documentation. Findings generated through this work will contribute to research publications, donor reports, policy briefs, and institutional knowledge products that influence agricultural development across Africa.
The successful candidate will also support collaborative learning by engaging with governments, universities, private-sector partners, development agencies, and farming communities to strengthen research quality and promote knowledge sharing. Attention to detail, sound judgement, strong organizational ability, and excellent communication skills will be essential for managing multiple assignments while maintaining research integrity and data quality.
This position offers an excellent opportunity to contribute to internationally recognized research programmes addressing food security, climate adaptation, sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, and rural economic development. The successful applicant will work in a dynamic environment that values innovation, scientific excellence, professional growth, collaboration, and continuous learning. Individuals who enjoy solving complex development challenges using evidence-based approaches and who are committed to delivering research with measurable impact are encouraged to apply for this exciting opportunity based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Key Responsibilities
- Design comprehensive socio-economic research frameworks that evaluate agricultural innovations, technology adoption patterns, household resilience, productivity improvements, market participation, and sustainable farming systems across multiple project locations.
- Develop high-quality research methodologies, questionnaires, digital survey instruments, sampling approaches, and analytical protocols that generate reliable, accurate, and policy-relevant evidence.
- Coordinate field research operations by planning logistics, supervising enumerators, monitoring survey implementation, resolving operational challenges, and maintaining compliance with approved research standards.
- Ensure excellent quality control throughout every stage of data collection by conducting routine validation exercises, reviewing completed questionnaires, verifying field outputs, and implementing corrective measures whenever necessary.
- Organize, clean, validate, document, and maintain large research databases while applying internationally accepted data management standards that support transparency, reproducibility, and long-term accessibility.
- Perform advanced statistical, econometric, and quantitative analyses using appropriate analytical software to produce meaningful findings that support evidence-based programme planning and strategic decision-making.
- Interpret research findings and translate technical results into practical recommendations suitable for scientists, donors, government institutions, development partners, and farming communities.
- Prepare well-structured technical reports, research summaries, policy briefs, presentations, scientific manuscripts, and knowledge products that communicate project achievements effectively.
- Produce maps, charts, dashboards, tables, and visual analytical products that improve interpretation of research findings for diverse audiences and stakeholders.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary research teams across different programmes to strengthen integration of socio-economic evidence into agricultural research initiatives.
- Build productive working relationships with government agencies, universities, research institutions, implementing partners, donor organizations, and community representatives throughout project implementation.
- Participate in proposal development by contributing technical content, research methodologies, monitoring frameworks, budgets, and evidence supporting new funding opportunities.
- Support project monitoring, learning, and evaluation activities by documenting lessons learned, identifying opportunities for improvement, and recommending adaptive management strategies.
- Maintain strict adherence to ethical research standards, institutional policies, confidentiality requirements, and responsible management of participant information throughout all project activities.
- Contribute actively to organizational learning by sharing technical expertise, mentoring junior colleagues where appropriate, participating in internal knowledge exchange forums, and promoting continuous improvement across research programs.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Master's degree or higher in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, Rural Development, or another closely related quantitative discipline.
- Minimum of three years of relevant professional experience conducting applied socio
- economic research.
- Demonstrated expertise in survey design, sampling techniques, and digital data collection systems.
- Strong experience managing household, community, or agricultural field surveys.
- Advanced knowledge of quantitative data analysis and econometric methods.
- Proficiency using statistical software such as R, STATA, Python, SPSS, or similar analytical platforms.
- Excellent analytical thinking and evidence interpretation skills.
- Experience preparing technical reports, research publications, and policy
- oriented knowledge products.
- Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to both technical and non
- technical audiences.
- Strong project coordination, planning, and organizational skills.
- High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder engagement abilities.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong written and spoken English communication skills.
- Commitment to research ethics, integrity, diversity, and continuous professional development.
How to Apply
Interested candidates who meet the stated qualifications are encouraged to submit a complete application before 21 July 2026. Applications should include an up-to-date curriculum vitae, a detailed cover letter explaining suitability for the position, and any additional supporting documents requested during the recruitment process. Only applications received before the closing date will be considered. Due to the anticipated volume of submissions, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process. CIFOR-ICRAF is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive workplace where diversity, professionalism, integrity, and excellence are valued throughout every stage of recruitment.