Senior Research Associate, Nourishing Food Pathways at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people. In particular, we aim to make healthier food choices more desirable, more available, and more affordable. GAIN’s mission is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving consumption of nutritious and safe food for all people, especially the most vulnerable to malnutrition.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Research Associate, Nourishing Food Pathways

Location: Abuja
Duration: 36 Months
Contract Type: Fixed Term

Overall purpose

• The position advertised here, Senior Research Associate, is intended to support the NFP research work within Nigeria and neighboring GAIN countries. The role will involve two main aspects. First, it will provide technical input on and have substantive involvement in the research in Nigeria as well as neighboring NFP countries. This will include supporting the development of research methods, supporting data collection and analysis, and supporting interpretation and communication of the results. Second, it will support project management and implementation of research activities
  through activities such as coordinating research with partners in-country (e.g., local think tanks and data collection
  firms), supporting logistics and meetings related to the work, and contributing to project management tasks (e.g.,
  budgeting and forecasting, work planning, and contracting.)
• This position will report to the Research Advisor and Project Manager, NFP, but will engage intensively with other
  global colleagues on the team, other NFP teams, and colleagues in the respective country office

Responsibilities
Technical Research Input:

• Support the implementation of high-quality, technically sound research activities in alignment with GAIN and other relevant research good practice guidelines, including refining research questions and methodology, developing research plans, and interacting with partners and contractors as needed to carry out the activities
• Carry out literature reviews, stakeholder consultations, evidence synthesis, and other desk activities from development of the approach through to implementation, report writing, and publication/dissemination.
• Support in-country field implementation of research, evaluation, learning, and knowledge management activities, including visiting study sites and interacting with project partners (e.g., implementing partners, consultants, contractors) to ensure timely and quality progress.
• Contribute to or lead the development of project reports and other knowledge products, including research articles, briefings, presentations, and associated tables/figures.
• Support or undertake rigorous data analysis and visualization.
• Communicate technical topics to colleagues and external partners by preparing and presenting reports, and blog posts, organizing and delivering presentations, and facilitating events as needed
• Contribute to or lead the development of project reports and other knowledge products, including research articles, briefings, presentations, and associated tables/figures.
• Ensure high-quality technical outputs from local partners by providing a thorough technical review and liaising with them to improve the quality, as needed.
• Represent the project and GAIN in external forums within country, in coordination and collaboration with the Country Management team, as needed.
• Provide technical support to other programming areas, and related activities as requested by the manager.
• Research and Project Management Coordination, Planning and Implementation
• Manage and organise processes such as procurement of goods and services, budgeting and forecasting, and contracting as related to the NFP research work in country office
• Serve as the main contact point with local partner organizations, such as data collection firms, and oversee their work in both technical and logistical aspects
• Organize and participate in coordination and planning meetings within GAIN and with external partners
• Contribute to regular internal reporting on the project’s progress via GAIN’s “PRISM” project management system
• Support project monitoring and reporting on indicators for the research workstream
• Support the Research Advisor and Project Manager in preparing donors’ reports in collaboration with project teams, technical teams, funding team and support teams.
• Proactively identify and report any issues with implementing the project, address them where feasible, and proactively seek support where issues require wider attention and resolution.
• Contribute to ensuring that implementation of project activities is in line with the policies and best practice standards of GAIN

Key organizational relationships:

• Reports to the Global Research Advisor and Project Manager, NFP.
• Close collaboration with the Portfolio Leads, Project Managers and Operational staff, particularly the Head of Policy and Advocacy in Nigeria, and those working on NFP in the Nigeria country office and other African countries

Job-specific competencies

• Knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, including analysis of survey data, in nutrition, agriculture, or a closely related field. Strong knowledge of at least one of either quantitative and qualitative research methodologies is needed, with some experience with the other.
• Demonstrable understanding of nutrition and food systems; understanding of policy process or of environmental sustainability or gender issues related to food systems would be an asset
• Experience with project management tasks and demonstrated success would be an asset
• Skills with data analysis software, such as R, Stata, SAS, or SPSS; or nVivo or ATLAS.ti
• Knowledge of methods for policy-related research would be an asset
• Skills and abilities to present and share learning and research findings both in English and local language(s) to diversified external audiences, including policy makers
• Ability to create high quality and innovative data visualizations (for communication of findings to expert and non-expert audiences) would be an advantage

Education

• Master’s degree in nutrition, agriculture, sustainable development, economics, development studies, policy/political economy, or related field. Degree should include formal training in research methods.

Competencies:

• Strong writing and presentation skills, including on technical topics.
• Strong communication skills, including facilitating discussions between people with varying levels of technical knowledge.
• Good Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint skills.
• Some competence with project management tasks, such as budgeting and work planning.
• Good judgement, problem solving, and creativity.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable in times of unexpected challenges and provide creative solutions
• Ability to work with diverse groups/individuals

Experience:

• Experience with research using both quantitative and qualitive methodologies, in policy analysis, political economy, food/nutrition or a related field. Experience should encompass design of research methodologies, analysis of data, and reporting of results.
• Hands-on experience doing programmatically relevant research in Nigeria, independently, and in collaboration with local research counterparts
• Demonstrated experience in critical analysis skills to support with evidence generation and reporting
• Experience writing reports and other technical outputs and giving presentations
• Track record of publication(s) in peer reviewed journals would be an asset
• Experience with data management and analysis tools/software
• Experience supporting research project management tasks
• Experience supporting coordination with diverse partners and stakeholders and with ensuring effective stakeholder participation and consensus building

Other requirements:

• Fluency in English (written and spoken).
• Must be willing and able to travel domestically regularly, and occasionally internationally.

Benefits

• A competitive renumeration package.
• Flexible working hours through hybrid working opportunities.
• Friendly working environment
• Professional development opportunities
• The chance to make a lasting contribution to reducing global malnutrition.

Application Closing Date
11th July, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online