ILRI is an international organisation working for better lives and better planet through livestock. ILRI’s mission emphasises the interconnections between people, animals, and the environment, aiming to improve the lives of more than 300 million people in low- and middle-income countries through livestock science that supports equitable and resilient livestock systems, ultimately contributing to food systems transformation with climate and environmental benefits. This mission is delivered through two core strategic objectives: co-designing and deploying sustainable, science-based livestock solutions, and leveraging science to inform and influence policy and investment decisions.

ILRI is a member of the CGIAR, a global research alliance that works to transform food, land and water systems in a climate crisis and is the only CGIAR centre dedicated to addressing multiple development challenges through sustainable livestock solutions.

About the Job

In alignment with the CGIAR Research Portfolio 2025–2030, ILRI contributes to the Gender Equality and Inclusion (Gender) Accelerator and the Digital Transformation Accelerator (DTA)—two cross-cutting platforms driving inclusive and sustainable transformation of food, land, and water systems. This position will support both Accelerators by contributing to digital inclusion research under the DTA and to the sub-Area of Work 2.2 under the Gender Accelerator, which focuses on leveraging evidence and strategic engagement to inform policy and implementation. The role will also lead ILRI’s contributions to the Center of Excellence on Gender and Digital Inclusion under Area of Work 4 (Enabling Environment) of the DTA. This includes designing evidence frameworks, advancing key research agendas, and fostering capacity, partnerships, and influence to promote ethical and inclusive digital transformation across CGIAR and partner organizations. In addition, the position will support ILRI’s engagement in bilateral initiatives related to digital such as the World Bank funded AICCRA-FSRP Phase 4 project as well as other emerging opportunities under the Master Card Foundation (MCF).

Key Responsibilities

This position requires a proactive, collaborative, and impact-driven individual with the skills to advance ILRI’s digital transformation agenda with a gender lens and contribute to overarching goal of leveraging digital innovations for resilience-building for communities in Asia and Africa.

• Research Leadership
  • Lead ILRI’s contributions to the CGIAR Center of Excellence on Gender and Digital Inclusion under the Digital Transformation Accelerator (DTA), including agenda setting, research design, evidence generation, and partner coordination.
  • Design and implement research on inclusive digital innovation including user design principles, gender-responsive/ transformative technologies, and responsible AI use to support the development of equitable and resilient agriculture and livestock livelihood systems across Africa and Asia.
  • Develop and apply frameworks, metrics, and benchmarking tools to assess digital inclusion, scalability, gender equity, adoption, and impacts of digital innovations.
  • Contribute to the CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator through research, evidence synthesis, and policy-relevant analysis
  • Support bilateral and strategic initiatives (e.g., AICCRA-FSRP Phase 4, Monsoon Mission III, CIS4Y, MCF) related to AI-enabled advisory systems, digital climate services, and inclusive information systems.
• Partnerships and Engagement
  • Build and manage strategic partnerships with CGIAR Centers, universities, governments, donors, private sector actors, and civil society organizations.
  • Convene stakeholder dialogues, technical workshops, learning events, and capacity-strengthening initiatives at global, regional, and national levels.
  • Collaborate with communications teams to translate research into accessible knowledge products, campaigns, and influence strategies.
  • Represent ILRI and CGIAR in relevant global and regional platforms on digital inclusion, gender equality, and responsible innovation.
• Delivery and Management
  • Manage project plans, milestones, budgets, deliverables, and reporting requirements across multiple grants and workstreams.
  • Lead or contribute to peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, policy briefs, toolkits, and donor reports.
  • Ensure quality assurance, ethical compliance, monitoring, learning, and documentation of project outcomes.
  • Support proposal development, fundraising, and strategic positioning for new opportunities in digital transformation and gender research.

Requirements

• PhD in Rural Sociology, Gender Studies, Anthropology, Feminist Economics, Development Economics, Agricultural Economics, Geography, or related fields with 3–5 years of professional experience, including a minimum of 4 years of postdoctoral experience in gender research, digital inclusion, agricultural innovation systems, or related areas.
• Strong grounding in gender theory and social equity frameworks, with demonstrated experience applying these in the Global South.
• Demonstrated experience leading or contributing to research on digital inclusion, gender-responsive innovation, digital advisory systems, or responsible AI in agriculture or development contexts.
• Strong experience in mixed-methods research design, including quantitative, qualitative, participatory, and interdisciplinary approaches.
• Proven publication record in peer-reviewed journals and production of high-quality technical, policy, and donor-facing outputs.
• Experience working with multi-stakeholder partnerships involving research institutions, governments, NGOs, private sector actors, and international development agencies.
• Track record in managing research-for-development (R4D) projects, including planning, implementation, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting.
• Demonstrated experience influencing policy, strategy, or practice through evidence generation, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge brokering.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills, with experience working in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience working in Africa and Asia on agriculture, livestock, climate resilience, gender equality, or digital development programs.

Post location: The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya

Terms of Appointment: This position is at job level HG18, and it is open to both national and international applicants. The position is a three (3) year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive international salary and benefits package which includes pension, medical insurance, life insurance and allowances for: education, housing, security, relocation, and home leave.

Applications: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV expressing their interest in the position, what they can bring to the role, and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. The applications will be addressed to the Head of People and Culture and submitted through our recruitment portal https://ilri.simplicant.com on or before 12 July 2026.

The position title and reference number: REF: SGRD/2213-06/2026 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer.

More ILRI jobs

Subscribe by email to ILRI jobs alert

ILRI is an international organisation working for better lives and better planet through livestock. ILRI’s mission emphasises the interconnections between people, animals, and the environment, aiming to improve the lives of more than 300 million people in low- and middle-income countries through livestock science that supports equitable and resilient livestock systems, ultimately contributing to food systems transformation with climate and environmental benefits. This mission is delivered through two core strategic objectives: co-designing and deploying sustainable, science-based livestock solutions, and leveraging science to inform and influence policy and investment decisions.

ILRI is a member of the CGIAR, a global research alliance that works to transform food, land and water systems in a climate crisis and is the only CGIAR centre dedicated to addressing multiple development challenges through sustainable livestock solutions.

Key Responsibilities

The incumbent will catalyze the transformation of local innovation ecosystems into knowledge hubs for populations in close collaboration with youth, the private sector, governments, policy makers, and other partners.

Digital and AI-enabled Innovations in Smallholder Systems

• Lead socio-ecological systems co-design and co-engineering, leveraging precision ag, digital and AI-enabled innovations with smallholder farmers, pastoralists, youth organizations, extension services, governments and private sector partners.
• Advance the responsible, inclusive and ethical use of data, AI and automation, ensuring gender equity, youth inclusion, data sovereignty and environmental sustainability.
• Design and operationalize innovative uses of remote sensing, IoT, edge computing, machine learning and decision-support systems tailored to low-connectivity and resource-constrained farming systems
• Foster public–private partnerships, digital public infrastructure and institutional innovations that enable sustainable and equitable value creation from digital and AI technologies.
• Design, implement and refine digital services (e.g. climate information, credit, insurance, market-input-value chain linkages) that support bundled technical-market solutions that aim to derisk agriculture and pastoral livelihoods and create dignified and fulfilling jobs for youth

Digital and AI-enabled Innovations in Smallholder Systems

• Lead socio-ecological systems co-design and co-engineering, leveraging precision ag, digital and AI-enabled innovations with smallholder farmers, pastoralists, youth organizations, extension services, governments and private sector partners.
• Advance the responsible, inclusive and ethical use of data, AI and automation, ensuring gender equity, youth inclusion, data sovereignty and environmental sustainability.
• Design and operationalize innovative uses of remote sensing, IoT, edge computing, machine learning and decision-support systems tailored to low-connectivity and resource-constrained farming systems
• Foster public–private partnerships, digital public infrastructure and institutional innovations that enable sustainable and equitable value creation from digital and AI technologies.
• Design, implement and refine digital services (e.g. climate information, credit, insurance, market-input-value chain linkages) that support bundled technical-market solutions that aim to derisk agriculture and pastoral livelihoods and create dignified and fulfilling jobs for youth
• Strengthen the role that digital public infrastructure, open science, open data and pre-competitive collaboration and products may play in supporting agricultural development across regions, including smallholder-oriented contractual agriculture

Research dissemination and knowledge sharing

• Write and publish scientific papers in reputable journals, contributing to ILRI’s knowledge base on digital innovation and machine-augmented intelligence for agriculture and livestock
• Represent ILRI in conferences, workshops, and training sessions to share research findings, advocate and establish ILRI as a thought leader in this space
• Develop and contribute to blogs, communication products as well as policy briefs that promote the responsible exploitation of digital innovations and machine-augmented intelligence

Partnership Building

• Build partnerships with agtech and fintech, youth organizations, financial and academic institutions, mobile network operators, policy makers, other CGIAR centres, NGOs and investors to conceptualize, develop and implement digital innovations and machine-augmented intelligence solutions in smallholder agriculture and livestock systems
• Leverage South-South and North-South collaborations and strengthen networking with institutions of repute to bring the power of artificial intelligence to bear on the reduction of stubborn development challenges in complex smallholder systems
• Play the role of a knowledge broker and stimulate strategic linkages within the innovation ecosystem
• Lead and/or support in activities connected with developing project plans, costing, business cases and other material for optimizing new digital tool development, enhancement and maintenance
• Actively contribute to fundraising in support of ILRI and CGIAR agendas on precision agriculture, digital innovations and machine-augmented intelligence, particularly from private capital

Capacity building and mentoring

• Identify and deliver training/capacity building programs in target countries on development and maintenance of digital platforms in consultation with various stakeholders
• Co-supervise PhD and MSc students on relevant topics
• Mentor and support research technicians involved in field data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings

Requirements

• PhD in agriculture/environmental sciences/computer/geospatial sciences with over 7 years of experience in the capacity of technical project/program management and leading solution architecture development for large complex distributed systems.
• Experience in technical management roles is desirable as well as a degree in Business Administration
• Proven practical ability to design, develop and deploy digital innovations and/or machine-augmented intelligence solutions for crop-livestock and pastoral systems. Working knowledge of Generative AI and computational social sciences an advantage.
• Track record of writing and publishing scientific papers, as well as preparing and delivering presentations for conferences, workshops, and stakeholder engagements.
• Experience in creating communication products such as research and policy briefs that highlight the potential as well as pitfalls of digitalization of agriculture and livestock systems.
• Experience in grant and proposal writing, engaging with donors and stakeholders, and mobilizing resources to support ILRI’s agenda.
• Demonstrable experience in collaborating and sharing results with an interdisciplinary research team, encompassing fields such as climate science, livestock productivity, crop and soil management, socioeconomics, and gender studies.
• Experience in co-supervising students and providing mentorship to research technicians involved in data collection, field studies, and analysis.
• Deep understanding of resource poor, smallholder farming systems in developing countries, particularly within semi-arid and tropical regions, with a focus on climate adaptation and resilience.
• Prior work experience in Africa and or Asia, and a demonstrated understanding of the agricultural and environmental contexts of both.
• Demonstrated experience of active collaboration or past work and understanding of private sector business models as well as ways of working is an added advantage.
• Bilingual in English and French. Working knowledge of African languages is an added advantage.

Post location: The position will be based in Dakar, Senegal or Nairobi, Kenya

Terms of Appointment: This position is at job level HG19, and it is open to both national and international applicants. The position is a three (3) year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive international salary and benefits package which includes pension, medical insurance, life insurance and allowances for: education, housing, security, relocation, and home leave.

Applications: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV expressing their interest in the position, what they can bring to the role, and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. The applications will be addressed to the Head of People and Culture and submitted through our recruitment portal https://ilri.simplicant.com on or before 12 July 2026.

The position title and reference number: REF: SSDA/2219-06/2026 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer.

More ILRI jobs

Subscribe by email to ILRI jobs alert

ILRI is an international organisation working for better lives and better planet through livestock. ILRI’s mission emphasises the interconnections between people, animals, and the environment, aiming to improve the lives of more than 300 million people in low- and middle-income countries through livestock science that supports equitable and resilient livestock systems, ultimately contributing to food systems transformation with climate and environmental benefits. This mission is delivered through two core strategic objectives: co-designing and deploying sustainable, science-based livestock solutions, and leveraging science to inform and influence policy and investment decisions.

ILRI is a member of the CGIAR, a global research alliance that works to transform food, land and water systems in a climate crisis and is the only CGIAR centre dedicated to addressing multiple development challenges through sustainable livestock solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate events, seminars, conferences and meetings and support hosted institutions activities, including venue booking, logistics, technical support, caterer coordination and guest services
• Coordinate visitor programmes for individuals and groups, including preparation of information packages, accommodation, meeting room allocations, catering arrangements and campus support services
• Maintain and regularly update the Kenya events calendar and Google calendar to ensure accurate scheduling and visibility of all hospitality-related activities
• Liaise with internal service units such as Supply Chain, Transport, Liaison and Protocol, Security, ICT, CAKM, Engineering and outsourced Catering to ensure seamless planning and delivery of events and visitor programmes in alignment with the required standards
• Build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships to anticipate service needs and enhance client experience and revenue opportunities
• Lead daily pre-function and operational briefings with hospitality staff to review upcoming events, service requirements and operational risks
• Monitor service delivery, resolve operational issues, respond to emergencies and ensure activities are implemented according to approved plans
• Oversee hotel and conferencing front office desks, housekeeping, campus housing maintenance coordination, use of recreational facilities and overall guest services to ensure efficient, high quality and client-centric services
• Supervise hospitality staff and contribute to the performance review of the Director General’s domestic staff
• Apply effective reservation and inventory control practices to optimize facility utilization, occupancy and events revenue
• Undertake targeted client engagement and business development activities (internal and approved external clients), in consultation with the Head of Operations, to promote hospitality services within the scope of the established institutional campus guidelines
• Maintain accurate records of bookings, revenue, expenditures, client feedback, declined business, advance bookings and occupancy forecasts
• Verify contracted-service provider invoices and prepare periodic or monthly reports for review and approval
• Ensure compliance with ILRI policies on credit, billing and revenue-collection
• Provide regular updates and reports to the Head of Operations on key developments, risks, client feedback, revenue performance and service-delivery issues
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in hotel and catering management, hospitality management, business administration, or a related field
• Relevant professional certification
• Seven years’ relevant experience in hospitality, conferencing, guest services, hotel/accommodation, events management or related operations
• Strong communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and networking abilities
• Self-starter, able to work independently against agreed priorities and deliverables
• Customer-service orientation with a focus on delivering high-quality service experiences
• Good planning and coordination skills, with attention to detail
• Proficiency in revenue tracking and records management
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management capability
• Proficiency in the use of digital systems/tools for bookings, calendar management and reporting

Post location: The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Terms of Appointment

This position is at job level HG15 and it is only open to Kenyan nationals. The position is a 3-year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes pension, medical and other insurances.

How to apply: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV expressing their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to the Head of People and Culture through our recruitment portal https://ilri.simplicant.com on or before 22 June 2026. The position title and reference number REF: HC /06/2026 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

We thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

To find out more about ILRI, visit our websites at http://www.ilri.org/

More ILRI jobs

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit the Head of Internal Audit to lead the overall Internal Audit function. This is a unique opportunity to provide independent, risk-based assurance and advisory services to strengthen governance, risk management, and internal controls across the institute. The incumbent shall be responsible for the supervision and coordination of audit activities across multiple field offices in addition to operations in Kenya and Ethiopia. The role shall serve as the principal advisor to the Audit, Finance, Risk Committee (AFRC) of the Board to ensure institutional compliance.

ILRI is an international organisation working for better lives and better planet through livestock. ILRI’s mission emphasises the interconnections between people, animals, and the environment, aiming to improve the lives of more than 300 million people in low- and middle-income countries through livestock science that supports equitable and resilient livestock systems, ultimately contributing to food systems transformation with climate and environmental benefits. This mission is delivered through two core strategic objectives: co-designing and deploying sustainable, science-based livestock solutions, and leveraging science to inform and influence policy and investment decisions.

ILRI is a member of the CGIAR, a global research alliance that works to transform food, land and water systems in a climate crisis and is the only CGIAR centre dedicated to addressing multiple development challenges through sustainable livestock solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and approval of the risk‑based annual and multi‑year audit plans covering internal and partnership audits, forming the basis for determining the scope of internal controls testing for review and approval by the AFRC.
• Provide independent insights and recommendations on emerging institutional risks, regulatory developments, donor compliance, and global trends in alignment with governance expectations.
• Develop and maintain audit policies, procedures, good practices and standard operating procedures to evaluate effectiveness of controls of the institute’s processes.
• Provide strategic oversight of audit execution across all audit cycles ensuring alignment with the approved audit plan, institutional risk priorities and quality standards.
• Oversee the establishment, implementation and effectiveness of governance systems for tracking audit actions and remedial outcomes, through the adoption of digital auditing tools, data analytics, automation, and technology-enabled assurance methodologies.
• Provide independent advisory to the AFRC and the Director General on matters relating to governance effectiveness, institutional accountability, risk exposure, and internal control frameworks.
• Ensure timely escalation of high‑risk issues and control deficiencies through the established mechanisms, provide periodic monitoring and reporting on implementation of remedial actions, and strengthen closure through formal accountability and defined timelines.
• Align internal audit priorities with ILRI’s strategic objectives, institutional risk appetite, enterprise risk registers, and emerging operational risks.
• Ensure institutional preparedness, resilience, and business continuity arrangements to support operational sustainability and crisis response capability through the evaluation of the adequacy of risk management practices across operational, financial, compliance, cybersecurity, and other reputational risk domains.
• Provide strategic leadership of the Internal Audit function, setting direction, priorities and capability requirements while fostering a high-performance and independent assurance culture.
• Oversee the design and delivery of periodic training programmes to strengthen awareness of internal controls and policy changes that will support institutional effectiveness.
• Direct special audit reviews ensuring appropriate scope, independence and reporting to the Board or the Director General.
• Oversee capacity development of the team and promote risk management, in cooperation with the Risk Management Committee, ensuring a culture of effective risk assessment and management across the institute.
• Oversee and ensure effective and efficient use of financial and other resources of the function.
• Safeguard the independence and objectivity of the Internal Audit function in line with IIA standards and best practice.
• Collaborate and foster strong working relationships with all relevant stakeholders across CGIAR to strengthen coordinated assurance and knowledge sharing.
• Perform any other related duties as may be required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in accounting, finance, commerce, business administration or relevant field
• Relevant professional certification (e.g., CIA, CPA, CISA, or equivalent)
• Be a member with good standing status in the relevant professional body(ies)
• Minimum 12 years relevant experience
• Demonstrated expertise in quality assurance and the application of risk-based auditing methodologies
• Solid experience in ethics and fraud investigations, audit finance, governance, risk management and internal control frameworks
• Experience in a senior leadership/internal audit management role
• Experience in multicultural donor-funded or development/research institutions
• Extensive analytical capability with strong attention to detail and advance report writing skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior levels
• Sound knowledge of regulatory frameworks, legal principles and economic environments relevant to internal audit
• Strong ability to interpret and apply institutional policies, procedures, and governance frameworks, with the capability to quickly analyze, decipher, and operationalize complex policy information in a dynamic environment
• Proficiency in auditing-related information technology systems and digital audit tools.
• Strategic thinking and enterprise risk foresight

Post location: The position will be based in either Addis Ababa, Ethiopia or Nairobi, Kenya.

Terms of Appointment: This position is at job level HG 19, and it is open to both national and international applicants. The position is a three (3) year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive international salary and benefits package which includes pension, medical insurance, life insurance and allowances for: education, housing, security, relocation, and home leave.

Applications: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV expressing their interest in the position, what they can bring to the role, and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. The applications will be addressed to the Head of People and Culture and submitted through our recruitment portal https://ilri.simplicant.com on or before 2 July 2026.

The position title and reference number: HIA/06/2026 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer.

More ILRI jobs

Subscribe by email to ILRI jobs alert

ILRI is an international organisation working for better lives and better planet through livestock. ILRI’s mission emphasises the interconnections between people, animals, and the environment, aiming to improve the lives of more than 300 million people in low- and middle-income countries through livestock science that supports equitable and resilient livestock systems, ultimately contributing to food systems transformation with climate and environmental benefits. This mission is delivered through two core strategic objectives: co-designing and deploying sustainable, science-based livestock solutions, and leveraging science to inform and influence policy and investment decisions.

ILRI is a member of the CGIAR, a global research alliance that works to transform food, land and water systems in a climate crisis and is the only CGIAR centre dedicated to addressing multiple development challenges through sustainable livestock solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide logistical support for field activities, including sampling and processing
• Support laboratory operations and the establishment of primary cell line cultures
• Maintain and monitor stem cell cultures and biobanked cell lines to ensure quality and viability
• Perform organoid differentiation in line with established protocols
• Conduct biobanking activities, including cryopreservation and sample storage
• Conduct molecular biology analyses and support cellular characterization processes
• Maintain accurate data records and support data management and Digital Sequence Information (DSI) processes
• Ensure compliance with project documentation requirements, laboratory biosafety standards, and quality assurance protocols
• Support capacity building initiatives and collaborate effectively with WorldFish and NARS project partners
• Support stakeholder engagement activities, including training sessions and outreach initiatives
• Implement and promote adherence to biosafety and ethical research protocols
• Contribution to manuscripts and publications drafting
• Perform any other related duties as may be required

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in molecular biology, biotechnology, animal science, cell biology, genetics, biomedical sciences, veterinary sciences, aquatic biology or related disciplines
• Two years of relevant experience with a degree or four years of relevant experience with a diploma
• Strong laboratory experience in molecular biology and biotechnology workflows
• Experience in sterile tissue culture techniques
• Knowledge of molecular biology methods (PCR, nucleic acid extraction, gel electrophoresis)
• Experience handling biological samples and laboratory equipment
• Ability to maintain detailed laboratory records
• Good understanding of biosafety and laboratory quality systems
• Experience with stem cell culture or organoid systems
• Experience in cryopreservation and biobanking
• Familiarity with livestock or aquatic genetic resources
• Knowledge of genomics or sequencing workflows
• Experience with laboratory information management systems (LIMS)
• Familiarity with ABS, DSI, or biodiversity governance frameworks

Post location: The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya

Terms of Appointment

This position is at job level HG11 and it is only open to Kenyan nationals. The position is on a 1 (one) Year contract. ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes pension, medical, and other insurances.

How to apply: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV expressing their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to the Head of People and Culture through our recruitment portal https://ilri.simplicant.com on or before 11 June 2026. The position title and reference number REF: LGNFR/5/2026 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

We thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

To find out more about ILRI, visit our websites at http://www.ilri.org/

More ILRI jobs

This position will design and implement evidence-based communication and engagement strategies that encourage the adoption of livestock and climate-smart technologies among farmers, extension agents, and local institutions. The officer will also lead efforts to engage with local influencers and media, and foster community-driven change processes that strengthen trust in science and innovation.

The position will support all the components of ILRI’s livestock transformation portfolio which includes projects around stage gating climate technologies, novel feed and forage, vaccine scaling and scaling of improved dairy breeds.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy & Design

• Carry out audience research and segmentation (e.g., farmers, youth, women, pastoralists, policymakers) to inform message design and identify best bet delivery channels (local leaders, social media, radio, TV etc
• Based on analysis, design localized campaigns that address behavioural and institutional barriers to technology adoption with different components of the portfolio
• Collaborate with scientists and communication specialists to co-create tailored messages for different audiences (farmers, youth, women, policymakers)

2. Implementation, trust building and engagement

• Coordinate field-level campaigns using a mix of media (radio, social media, community theatre, local influencers, farmer groups).
• Build partnerships with local media, local influencers, civil society organizations, and county government communication offices.
• Support participatory community dialogues to address social norms and beliefs influencing livestock and climate practices.
• Develop and apply M&E frameworks to assess communication reach, behavioural outcomes, and campaign effectiveness.
• Work with project teams to design indicators and data collection tools that capture behavioural and attitudinal change.
• Monitor and analyse misinformation and disinformation related to livestock and agricultural innovations.
• Develop rapid response communication materials and evidence-based narratives to counter misinformation.
• Support media training, influencer engagement, and knowledge sharing on science-based livestock communication.

3. Capacity Building & Learning

• Support project teams in integrating SBCC approaches into design and implementation.
• Build the capacity of local partners, youth networks, and extension workers on effective communication and behaviour change principles.
• Document lessons and best practices to inform ILRI and CGIAR’s broader work on scaling and adoption.

4. Communication support to the portfolio

• Develop a set of materials, messages and stories that emanate from the livestock portfolio to ensure visibility of the program
• Provide regular updates on activities through ILRI social media channels
• Oversee the production of stories and communication products from the portfolio

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communication, Development Communication, Behavioural Science, or related field.
• Seven years of professional experience designing and implementing local SBCC programs in agriculture, health, or climate/environment sectors.
• Proven experience conducting stakeholder analysis, audience segmentation, and formative research to inform campaign design.
• Demonstrated experience working with local media, government, and influencers.
• Knowledge of M&E tools and approaches for communication and behaviour change
• Strong understanding of participatory communication, gender and inclusion, and digital/social media strategies.
• Demonstrated experience translating technical or scientific research into clear, engaging content for diverse audiences, including policymakers, donors, and the public.
• Proven track record in developing communication products for use by local stakeholders
• Experience working with the media, social media influencers and other local leaders.
• Fluency in English, Kiswahili and other local languages is preferable
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to communicate complex scientific ideas in clear, accessible, and engaging language.
• A positive can-do attitude and ability to work in a complex environment.
• Strong interpersonal and intercultural communication abilities, with experience working in diverse, multicultural teams.
• Results-oriented and proactive, with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strategic and creative thinking, with the ability to plan, execute, and evaluate effective local communication and outreach strategies

Position Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Terms of Appointment

This position is at job level HG15 and it is only open to Kenyan nationals. The position is a 3-year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes pension, medical and other insurances.

How to apply: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV expressing their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to the Head of People and Culture through our recruitment portal https://ilri.simplicant.com on or before 8 June 2026. The position title and reference number REF: CKAM/2202/2026 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

We thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

To find out more about ILRI visit our websites at http://www.ilri.org

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer

More ILRI jobs

Subscribe by email to ILRI jobs alert

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to improve people’s lives in low- and middle-income countries through livestock science that contributes to equitable and resilient livestock systems to deliver food systems transformation with climate and environmental benefits. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centers dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. www.ilri.org

The Health program’s goal is to enhance the health and welfare of farmed livestock, improve human well-being, and protect the shared environment by strengthening control measures for animal and agriculture-associated health risks. The program adopts a One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. By addressing disease risks at this interface, the program aims to prevent the spread of zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases that threaten public health and food security. Read more here: https://www.ilri.org/index.php/research/themes/health

The position

ILRI and the Genomic Pathogen Analysis Platform (GPAP) at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) are advancing next-generation approaches for pathogen surveillance by integrating genomics, epidemiology, and artificial intelligence. A key focus is the development of agentic AI tools capable of automating complex analytical workflows, from metagenomic data processing to actionable public health insights.

Building on a large-scale wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) initiative with longitudinal metagenomic sequencing data from 30 urban sites, this PhD project will integrate environmental genomic data with clinical surveillance data. The project will leverage GPAP’s infrastructure to develop AI-driven, semi-autonomous (“agentic”) analytical pipelines and interactive dashboards that translate complex data streams into real-time decision-support tools for public health systems.

Terms of reference

1. Lead the harmonization and integration of clinical infectious disease and AMR datasets with wastewater metagenomic data.
2. Map and align spatial and temporal dynamics between sewer catchment populations and health facility data.
3. Conduct epidemiological and statistical analyses to identify associations between wastewater-derived pathogen/AMR signals and clinical outcomes.
4. Collaborate in the design and application of agentic AI tools within GPAP to:
   1. Automate data ingestion, cleaning, and analysis workflows
   2. Detect anomalies, trends, and early warning signals
   3. Generate interpretable summaries for public health users
5. Contribute to the development of interactive dashboards and visualization tools for real-time surveillance, including:
   1. Pathogen and AMR trend monitoring
   2. Outbreak early warning indicators
   3. Spatial risk mapping
6. Evaluate the predictive performance and operational utility of GPAP tools in real-world public health scenarios.
7. Engage with public health stakeholders to co-develop user-centered outputs and ensure policy relevance.
8. Contribute to implementation frameworks for integrating WBE and AI-enabled analytics into national surveillance systems.
   1. Produce scientific publications, policy briefs, and technical documentation.

Minimum requirements for the ideal candidate

1. Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, Global Health, Biostatistics, or a related field.
2. Proficiency in Python and/or R programming for data manipulation and statistical analysis, including libraries such as pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch or Tensorflow.
3. Strong experience in epidemiological analysis and surveillance systems.
4. Proficiency with cloud platforms (AWS) and deployment of AI/ML models.
5. Experience with agentic frameworks
6. Proficiency in version control and collaboration Git and Github
7. Familiarity with infectious disease epidemiology and AMR.
8. Exposure to data visualization tools (e.g., R Shiny, Dash, Tableau, Power BI) is desirable.
9. Interest in or experience with AI/ML applications in public health is an advantage.

Location: ILRI Kenya.

Duration: 3 Years.

Terms of appointment and stipend: ILRI will offer a competitive stipend to cover living expenses in the project location, medical cover, tuition costs and research expenses. The successful candidate will be supervised jointly by ILRI scientists and an academic supervisor.

All applications MUST include the following (applications without the below documents will not be considered):

• a cover letter expressing their interest in the fellowship position and what they can bring to the fellowship.
• CV including names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience.
• academic qualification certificates/transcripts.

Applications should be made to the Senior Manager, Capacity Development, through our recruitment portal http://ilri.simplicant.com/ on or before 03/06/2026. The position title and reference number ILRI PhD GF/Health/02/2026 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to improve people’s lives in low- and middle-income countries through livestock science that contributes to equitable and resilient livestock systems to deliver food systems transformation with climate and environmental benefits. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centers dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. www.ilri.org

The Health program’s goal is to enhance the health and welfare of farmed livestock, improve human well-being, and protect the shared environment by strengthening control measures for animal and agriculture-associated health risks. The program adopts a One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. By addressing disease risks at this interface, the program aims to prevent the spread of zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases that threaten public health and food security. Read more here: https://www.ilri.org/index.php/research/themes/health

The position

Advances in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) and metagenomic sequencing are transforming how population-level pathogen dynamics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are monitored. This project builds on a large-scale longitudinal dataset generated from 30 urban wastewater sampling sites, capturing high-resolution microbial and resistome profiles over time.

While these datasets provide rich biological insights, their true value lies in their ability to inform timely public health action. Integrating genomic signals from wastewater with clinical surveillance data presents a unique opportunity to develop data-driven predictive, genomic-informed models that can detect emerging threats, anticipate outbreaks, and guide intervention strategies.

This PhD will focus on developing genomic data-driven modelling frameworks that translate complex metagenomic and clinical datasets into actionable intelligence for public health response systems.

Terms of reference

1. Curate, preprocess, and harmonize large-scale metagenomic (pathogen and resistome) and clinical datasets.
2. Develop genomic-informed predictive models that link pathogen abundance and AMR gene dynamics to public health indicators such as disease incidence/prevalence.
3. Apply and compare AI/ML and statistical modelling approaches (e.g., time-series models, LSTM, Bayesian hierarchical models, random forests).
4. Identify genomic signatures and covariates (environmental, socioeconomic, wastewater-derived, epidemiological factors) that provide early signals of outbreaks or AMR shifts.
5. Model spatiotemporal dynamics of pathogen transmission using integrated environmental and clinical data.
6. Evaluate the public health utility of models, including sensitivity, timeliness, and interpretability for decision-making.
7. Translate modelling outputs into operational insights, including thresholds, alerts, and risk indicators usable by public health agencies.
8. Collaborate with epidemiologists and public health stakeholders to ensure policy relevance and usability of model outputs.
9. Contribute to the development of reproducible analytical pipelines for genomic data modelling.
10. Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to policy briefs and technical guidance.

Minimum requirements for the ideal candidate

1. Master’s degree in bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Data Science, Genomics, or related field.
2. Proficiency in Python and/or R programming for data manipulation and statistical analysis, including libraries such as pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch or Tensorflow.
3. Experience with model evaluation techniques including cross-validation, performance metrics (RMSE, AUC, precision/recall) and statistical testing.
4. Proficiency with workflow orchestration and scheduling software (e.g Nextflow, Slurm, Snakemake, WDL).
5. Experience with containerization systems such as Docker and Apptainer/Singularity.
6. Proficiency in version control and collaboration Git and Github
7. Experience with genomic or metagenomic data analysis.
8. Demonstrated experience with machine learning or statistical modelling.
9. Understanding of infectious disease dynamics or epidemiological modelling is an advantage.

Location: ILRI Kenya.

Duration: 3 Years.

Terms of appointment and stipend: ILRI will offer a competitive stipend to cover living expenses in the project location, medical cover, tuition costs and research expenses. The successful candidate will be supervised jointly by ILRI scientists and an academic supervisor.

All applications MUST include the following (applications without the below documents will not be considered):

• a cover letter expressing their interest in the fellowship position and what they can bring to the fellowship.
• CV including names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience.
• academic qualification certificates/transcripts.

Applications should be made to the Senior Manager, Capacity Development, through our recruitment portal http://ilri.simplicant.com/ on or before 03/06/2026. The position title and reference number ILRI PhD GF/Health/01/2026 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

ILRI is an international organization working for better lives and better planet through livestock. ILRI’s mission emphasizes the interconnections between people, animals, and the environment, aiming to improve the lives of more than 300 million people in low- and middle-income countries through livestock science that supports equitable and resilient livestock systems, ultimately contributing to food systems transformation with climate and environmental benefits. This mission is delivered through two core strategic objectives: co-designing and deploying sustainable, science-based livestock solutions, and leveraging science to inform and influence policy and investment decisions.

ILRI is a member of the CGIAR, a global research alliance that works to transform food, land and water systems in a climate crisis and is the only CGIAR centre dedicated to addressing multiple development challenges through sustainable livestock solutions.

WorldFish is an international research organization working to transform aquatic food systems to reduce hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. It collaborates with international, regional, and national partners to co-develop and deliver scientific innovations, evidence for policy and knowledge to enable equitable and inclusive impact for millions who depend on fish and other aquatic foods for their livelihoods and nutrition. Our work in countries advances progress on multiple 2030 Sustainable Development Goals through science and innovation, with a vision of healthy people, healthy planet and shared prosperity.    Headquartered in Penang, Malaysia, WorldFish has offices in 11 countries, and is part of CGIAR, the world’s largest agricultural research and innovation consortium. For more information, please visit https://www.worldfishcenter.org.

Key Responsibilities

This role supports the coordination of research and development projects by ensuring the timely and efficient delivery of project and administrative services, while strengthening operational effectiveness through continuous monitoring of workflows, resolution of day-to-day operational issues, and support for procurement, requisitions, and risk management processes.  Specifically, the incumbent will:

• Maintain updated service level agreements
• Support day-to-day project implementation by monitoring work plans, tracking deliverables and milestones, coordinating activities across teams, and maintaining project documentation, technical reports, dashboards, and donor submissions.
• Support project budgeting, financial monitoring, audit requirements, proposal development, and coordination with administrative units of WorldFish HQ and Finance teams, while contributing to monitoring, evaluation, documentation of results, lessons learned, and process improvements.
• Provide project management support to research and development activities by planning and monitoring schedule, cost and quality
• Assist in documenting risk assessments including implementation plans, and follow-ups;
• Provide internal communication to campus users in Nairobi and Mombasa about administrative processes, policies, initiatives, activities and performance by developing and/or delivering various communication materials
• Facilitate the procurement of goods, including office supplies and services
• Coordinate and manage logistics for meetings, workshops prepare the necessary documentation and participate as applicable
• Prepare and review general correspondence, cheques and other documentation and ensure dispatch of the same
• Raise requisitions in ILRI OCS systems and WorldFish OCS systems for staff and service providers
• Develop and oversee filing systems and databases as may be required
• Set up and follow up on appointments, attend to visitors, telephone calls and other inquiries
• Provide orientation to new staff joining the Nairobi and Mombasa offices and follow up with ILRI liaison office all the necessary documentation to facilitate the work of international staff and work with ILRI HR and ICT offices to provide the services needed by staff to function properly in the role they have been assigned to do
• Participate in systems improvement efforts by observing, documenting and reviewing current workflows, audit findings, collecting and analysing feedback from stakeholders, propose revised systems, and develop and monitor implementation plans
• Troubleshoot and resolve day-to-day matters through to completion and escalate any unresolved issues appropriately
• Perform any other related duties as may be required

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field, such Business Management, Program Management with a minimum of two years relevant experience Or Diploma in relevant field with five years of relevant experience
• Work experience in an office environment, preferably with some experience in an international, non-profit or multinational organization.
• Do you have experience in project or program management, preferably within research, or donor-funded environments
• Demonstrated experience in accounting
• Experience in providing administrative and operational support in a fast-paced, multicultural organization, including coordination of logistics, onboarding, and office services.
• Good working knowledge of standard office ICT tools, including Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with administrative or procurement systems.
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to prepare clear internal communications and correspondence.
• Well-organized with the ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, and follow through to completion.
• Experience in maintaining records, filing systems, and databases with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Able to work independently, handle day-to-day operational matters, and escalate issues when required.
• Comfortable working with diverse teams and building positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Good interpersonal skills with a service-oriented approach when dealing with staff, visitors, and service providers.
• Exposure to process improvement efforts, including reviewing workflows and supporting implementation of improved practices.
• Familiarity with administrative systems and process improvement approaches to support efficient workflows.
• Basic project coordination skills, including tracking tasks, timelines, and documentation.
• Knowledge of procurement processes and ability to adapt to organizational systems and tools would be an added advantage.

Terms of Appointment

This position is at job level HG 12 and it is only open to Kenyan nationals.

The position is a 2 years contract. ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes pension, medical and other insurances.

How to apply: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV expressing their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to the Head of People and Culture through our recruitment portal https://ilri.simplicant.com on or before 3 June 2026. The position title and reference number REF: WF/05/2026 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

We thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

To find out more about ILRI, visit our websites at http://www.ilri.org/

 ILRI is an equal-opportunity employer.

More ILRI jobs

Subscribe by email to ILRI jobs alert

About the Fellowship

The Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH) hosted at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) programme on Cellular Resources, Functional Genomics and Assisted Reproductive Technology is seeking three (3) highly motivated fellows  to support cutting-edge livestock research in induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) biology and Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs), with a focus on indigenous pigs and cattle.

This fellowship  is designed to provide hands-on research training, mentorship, and capacity development in advanced livestock conservation and reproductive biotechnologies. The successful fellows  will work closely with experienced researchers and laboratory technicians, contributing to ongoing research projects in the following areas:

• Livestock stem cell derivation and culture
• In vitro fertilization (IVF), embryo culture and transfer
• Embryo manipulation and cryopreservation
• Genetic and molecular characterization of embryos and stem cells
• Reproductive biotechnology for livestock improvement

This fellowship  offers a unique opportunity for Fellows to gain hands-on laboratory experience, enhance their research competencies, and actively contribute to innovative livestock biotechnology solutions relevant to Africa and Asia.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of a Research Scientist, the intern will contribute to:

• Design and implementation of laboratory experiments related to stem cell biology and embryo technologies
• Support sample collection, preparation, handling, and processing in accordance with established protocols
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date laboratory records, and contribute to data entry, management, and basic analysis
• Literature reviews, journal clubs, and research team meetings
• Documentation of experimental procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and preparation of technical reports
• Contribute to laboratory organization, inventory management, and ensure adherence to biosafety and quality standards

Eligibility requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements at the time of application:

• MUST be either citizens of Uganda or India.
• Be affiliated with a recognized livestock breeding or research institution in Uganda, or India
• Be an early-career practitioner in stem cell biology, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), or a closely related field
• Demonstrate a strong interest in livestock biotechnology and reproductive technologies
• Possess basic laboratory skills in molecular biology, cell culture, embryology, or related techniques (an added advantage)
• Show clear motivation and commitment to applying acquired knowledge and skills within their national research or development context
• Demonstrate proficiency in English language(reading, writing, and speaking)
• Have working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Terms of Appointment

The fellowship  is offered under the Cellular Resources, Functional Genomics and Biotechnology Programme of the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) framework and is designed as a short-term professional training placement to complement ongoing national professional development programmes. Fellows  will typically engage on a full-time basis (five days per week) under the supervision of an assigned staff mentor for the duration of the placement. The internship package includes:

• International travel and visa costs, where applicable
• Coverage of research-related costs directly associated with the fellowships activities
• A monthly stipend to support basic living expenses during the internship period
• Medical insurance for the duration of the internship
• Dedicated mentorship by ILRI scientists and collaborating partners, including access to professional development and networking opportunities
• Provision of hosting support, including workspace, laboratory access, and ICT services

How to Apply

• A one-page cover letter outlining the applicant’s research interests and motivation for applying to the internship
• A one-page statement describing how the fellowship will contribute to the applicant’s career development and support ongoing livestock breeding programmes within their national institution
• An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• A valid professional certificate or official document authorizing the applicant to perform veterinary or related professional services in their home country
• A support/recommendation letter from a representative of the applicant’s institution, confirming authorization to participate in the fellowship for its full duration
• Contact details of two professional referees

Applicants are encouraged to ensure that all documents are clearly labeled and submitted as a single application package, where possible.

For any issue related to the application, please contact Christian Tiambo at c.tiambo@cgiar.org. Applications must be submitted through our portal https://ilri.simplicant.com on or before 26^th May 2026.

We thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

To find out more about ILRI visit our websites at http://www.ilri.org

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer.