Research Analyst I/II

Job Summary:

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is seeking a Research Analyst I/II. This position is nationally recruited, will be based at IFPRI Offices in Abuja, Nigeria. The contract will be for two (2) year period, renewable depending on performance and availability of resources. This is primarily a research position, requiring a good understanding of agriculture and rural development, experience with quantitative and/or qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. The successful candidate will provide analytical support to the research program titled Strengthening Food Systems to Promote Increased Value Chain Employment Opportunities for Youth, funded by the Mastercard Foundation (MCF), and implemented in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP).

The Research Analyst will contribute mainly to preparing and implementing surveys, contributing to data analysis, and collaborating on quantitative and/or qualitative research relating to the role of gender, youth, and digital solutions in creating jobs and reducing post-harvest losses along key value chains in Nigeria. There will also be opportunities for the Research Analyst I/II to contribute to capacity strengthening and knowledge sharing activities across research, government, civil society, and other stakeholder communities. Interested candidates must have work authorization to work in Nigeria.

IFPRI is hosted by the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) in Nigeria. 

Essential Duties 

Specific tasks include, but are not limited to:

Contribute to quantitative analyses of primary and secondary data, including household surveys, monitoring data, and value chain stack surveys. Contribute to qualitative analysis, including situational diagnostics, policy landscaping, policy change processes, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews, and/or case studies of specific policies, programs, and projects. Conduct literature reviews and syntheses on topics relevant to the Program. Prepare presentations and presentation materials.  Participate in the design of data collection instruments, protocols, and applications for ethical review boards; train and supervise enumerators or support survey firms in implementation of data collection efforts. Contribute to the preparation of research reports, policy notes, academic journal articles, and other documents as required by the Program. Liaise with key program partners, including MCF and WFP, as well as with the Government of Nigeria and collaborators in other research networks, policy think tanks, universities, civil society organizations, and donor agencies as required by the project. Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications: 

At the Research Analyst I, Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Development Economics, Sociology, Development Studies or related field plus 2 years of relevant experience or a Masters in the above disciplines. At the Research Analyst II, Master’s degree in economics, Agricultural Economics, Development Economics, Sociology, Development Studies or related field plus three years of post-master's work experience in research or public policy. Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks, consistently meet deadlines, and work independently with minimum supervision and produce completed products on time. Demonstrated skills in quantitative and/or qualitative research methods, data management, and analysis.  Demonstrated capacity to analyze and utilize policy-relevant information from a broad range of sources on value chain analysis and post-harvest loss, including its intersection with gender, youth, and digital solutions.  Familiarity with theoretical and technical issues related to social and economic development, agriculture and rural development, growth and poverty, food security, and/or nutrition, both in broad terms and specific to Nigeria.  Strong willingness to learn new technical skills. Familiarity with development policy issues in Nigeria especially youth, gender, and value chain related issues. Excellent written and spoken English communications skills. Demonstrated professional level of attention to detail and accuracy of work. Excellent interpersonal skills along with the ability to work independently and with colleagues in a multi-cultural environment. Possess good judgement and a high level of respect for confidentiality Excellent presentation skills in seminars and workshops. Strong ability to coordinate, prioritize, and organize a rapidly changing workload; is flexible and able to work under pressure. Highly effective planning, organizational, and multi‐tasking skills with a positive attitude and strong administrative service orientation, and  Ability and willingness to travel. 

Preferred Qualifications 

Experience in survey and questionnaire design. Experience conducting and supervising household surveys in Nigeria. Experience with data entry and CAPI software packages (Surveysolutions, CSPro, SurveyCTO, etc.). Experience with data analysis using STATA, R, and SPSS.  Excellent skills in qualitative analysis using Nvivo, ATLAS.ti, MAXQDA, MonkeyLearn, and others preferred.  Fluency in one or more local Nigerian languages. 

Physical Demand & Work Environment: 

Employee will sit in an upright position for a long period of time with little opportunity to move/stretch Employee will lift between 0-10 pounds. Employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform activities such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing computer terminal; extensive reading.

IFPRI offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits. IFPRI is an international and equal opportunity organization and believes that diversity of its staff contributes to excellence. We encourage women to apply.