Research Associate, Private Sector and Food Systems Transformation at Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

About the Role

The Knowledge Leadership (KL) team provides support across all programmatic areas within GAIN, working with programme teams to bring nutrition and related expertise into programme design and delivery and leading on the development and use of learning agendas to inform programme progress and impact. The KL team supports the implementation and dissemination of research, evaluation and learning activities in support of the country and global programme teams. GAIN works with private sector to envision and support their proactive role in food systems transformation. This includes both small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in food value chains, and employers of vulnerable works.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Knowledge Leadership, you will support the knowledge management, knowledge mobilization, research, and learning activities of GAIN programmes that support small businesses and employers to transform food systems. This includes but is not limited to SME cluster (the SUN business network) as well as selected workstreams in the Drivers of Food Systems Transformation portfolio (workforce nutrition, social protection).

Key Responsibilities include;

• Conducting reviews of literatures relevant to various programmes learning agenda and in response to emerging research questions
• Providing technical support to the development and modification of country and global-level performance measurement frameworks (including logic models and results frameworks) for relevant projects and programmes, in consultation with relevant KL advisors and country programme managers
• Working closely with colleagues to implement the programmes research activities (e.g., support training for data collection; supervise data collection activities; manage datasets and conduct simple data analysis; verify data quality)
• Carrying out analysis on qualitative and quantitative data, including statistical analyses and format / design results for oral and written dissemination
• Supporting in the preparation of reports, briefs, presentations, and other knowledge products for the dissemination of research and programme findings and learnings

About You

• The ideal candidate will have demonstrated related experience in food systems research and in leading and developing GAIN’s knowledge products (Working Papers, Briefing Papers). You will have knowledge of nutrition and food systems relevant to GAIN’s programming areas and quantitative and qualitative research methods and understanding of field data collection in low- or middle-income countries and associated challenges. Candidate with experience with the private sector a plus.
• You should have excellent communication, writing and presentation skills, willing and able to work in multicultural and multilingual environments. The postholder should have ability to conduct literature reviews, and systematically synthesize information.
• You should be computer literate with excellent MS Office skills, experience with data analysis software such as Stata is a plus.
• Master holder in nutrition, public health, agriculture or related field, candidate with in-depth knowledge of nutrition and food systems, with programme implementation experience is highly desirable.