Research Officer I at icipe - International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

Overall Purpose of the Job

• To support icipe and Cirad together with RMRN-EA partners from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in conducting participatory research through Living labs for the co-creation of knowledge and innovation that support agroecology transitions of agri-food systems.

Specific Duties

• Contribute to the design of participatory approaches for the co-creation (socio-technical diagnostic, innovation tracking, prototyping and evaluation) of agroecological innovative systems in the RMRNEA living labs and the assessment of socio-economic, cultural and gender-related benefits, drivers and bottlenecks of the best-bet agroecological innovation bundles.
• Contribute to the active participation of local communities, farmers, researchers and other stakeholders, including decision-makers, to the RMRN-EA Living labs.
• Coordinate experiments, including implementation and evaluation (data collection) of innovative  agroecology systems in the RMRN living labs, in relation to partners.
• Contribute to the management of the platform in partnership for research and training in East Africa (dP Trace).
• Prepare reports and documentation on outcomes, best practices, and challenges.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange through workshops and seminars.
• Fulfil additional duties as assigned by the supervisor

Requirements/Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Sciences.
• At least 3-4 years of practical experience in facilitating or organizing participatory workshops and field trials.
• Experience in diagnostic, prototyping, experimentation, and evaluation of innovative agricultural systems.
• Good communication and report writing skills.

Other Desirable Attributes

• Proficiency in basic computer skills such as MS Office (Word and Excel), data analysis and email communication.
• Proficiency in online (e.g. Google forms, KoboToolBox) and offline (structured questionnaires) surveys would be a plus.
• Proficiency in running stakeholder engagements via platforms such as WhatsApp.
• Basic project management and problem-solving abilities are essential