Company Profile

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Please visit www.iita.org for more information on IITA.

Job Description

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) seeks to engage a RESEARCH DATA ASSOCIATE - SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS on behalf of The Alliance of Bioversity International, also a part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

The Position

The Alliance is seeking an idealistic, flexible and qualified professional with the technical skills required for social science research in the growing portfolio of Data Driven Sustainability projects.

The Research Data Associate  will assist in delivering high-impact projects for major international brands and producers that translate emerging research on climate and environment into practical processes and services. The Data Driven Sustainability team is leading several multi-year projects in the land use sector that seek to prepare low-income farmers for more climate change resilience and zero-deforestation production. We work with sustainability-minded companies buying primarily in Southeast Asia and West Africa regions, who know the practices needed to adapt to climate change and protect the environment, but need support learning how to improve sustainable adoption of those practices.

The ideal candidate is passionate about social and environmental sustainability issues. They will be conducting field work, managing teams of enumerators, coordinating with local stakeholders, all the while maintaining the highest level of ethical standards.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Research Planning and Design
   • Develop research methodologies and tools appropriate for various social science studies.
   • Ensure research objectives align with national or organizational priorities.
   • Training
   • Design and deliver training modules for research assistants and field enumerators.
   • Ensure the consistent application of research methodologies and ethical considerations.
2. Field Research Supervision
   • Oversee the entire fieldwork-related parts of the research process from preparation to training and data cleaning, ensuring field team adherence to established protocols.
   • Ensure quality control by regularly reviewing data collected and addressing inconsistencies in real time.
3. Data Analysis
   • Apply quantitative and qualitative research methods for data analysis.
   • Use specialized software (e.g., SPSS, NVivo) to process and analyze data.
4. Publication and Dissemination
   • Write comprehensive research reports and articles for national and international publications.
   • Present research findings at conferences, workshops, and other relevant forums.
5. Collaboration and Teamwork
   • Collaborate with a distributed team, ensuring seamless communication and workflow.
   • Cultivate new and strengthen existing relationships with national and international partners, fostering a culture of knowledge exchange.
6. Continuous Learning and Updating
   • Stay updated with the latest developments in social science research methodologies and tools.
7. Engage in professional development opportunities to enhance research capabilities.

Required Skills or Experience

• MSc degree in Social Sciences or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years’ work experience (minimum 3 years in post-qualification  social science research), including at least one peer-reviewed journal publication.
• At least 3 years of hands-on experience in field work in the cocoa sector is essential
• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with colleagues from different cultures and backgrounds.
• Experience working in a distributed team setting.
• Ability to anticipate challenges and devise solutions in advance.
• Demonstrated initiative in enhancing research quality and impact.
• Proficiency in research software (e.g., SPSS, NVivo, Kobocollect) and tools.
• Strong statistical and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to present complex data in a clear and comprehensible manner, with prior experience presenting research results in international fora.
• Understanding and adherence to research ethics and principles.
• Commitment to ensuring the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of research participants.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and requirements.
• Willingness to travel domestically or internationally.