Research Partner for Advancing the Soil Health Agenda for Global Impact
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
Full-time Close on 20 Mar 2026
CIFOR-ICRAF
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.
Healthy soils are the foundation of productive agriculture, resilient food systems, and sustainable livelihoods. Despite their importance, soil degradation continues to reduce crop yields, harm ecosystems, and hinder progress toward national and global development goals. Investments in soil health can help address these challenges, yet soil health is often overlooked in policy, planning, and investment decisions.
In addition, many countries face gaps in reliable soil data, which limits the ability to track progress, design effective policies, and guide investments. Developing national soil health frameworks and interoperable data systems is essential to ensure decision-makers have the information needed to manage soils sustainably.
There is opportunity to build a coalition of stakeholders from governments, research institutions, civil society, farmers and farmer organizations, UN institutions, and development partners to coordinate efforts, share knowledge, and advocate for healthy soils. This assignment will support these efforts by strengthening coordination among partners, guiding the development of soil health frameworks, improving access to reliable soil information, and engaging in regional and global forums to highlight the critical role of soils in achieving resilient, sustainable food systems and broader development goals.
This assignment will provide strategic leadership, coordination, and technical guidance to advance healthy soils as a foundation for resilient food systems, regenerative agriculture, landscape restoration, and climate action across Africa and globally.
First, the role will coordinate partners and stakeholders across the NORAD-funded project, including within the Coalition of Action for Soil Health (CA4SH) to elevate the importance of healthy soils in achieving local, national, and international development goals. This includes aligning messaging, evidence, and advocacy efforts to demonstrate how soil health underpins climate adaptation and mitigation, food security, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable livelihoods. The assignment will ensure coherence across partners and strengthen collaboration to amplify impact and visibility.
Second, the assignment will coordinate engagement of partners in several international, regional, national and local events, such as UNCCD, UNFCCC, AFS, among others, highlighting the role of healthy soil to achieve the goals of the Rio Conventions as well as other commitments. Specifically, the assignment with coordinate multi-partner engagement at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), highlighting progress under the COP16 Declaration on Soil and Rangeland Health, and at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) highlighting progress on the Fertilizer Breakthrough and the Soil Health Resolution. These engagements will disseminate findings, share best practices, and foster peer learning among countries and institutions. This will involve liaising with strategic partners, research institutions, government agencies, and development organizations to ensure that soil health evidence is translated into actionable policies and scalable solutions. In addition, the assignment will coordinate engagement of partners and delivery of the UNFCCC Plan to Accelerate Action on Regenerative Agriculture for Healthy Soils and Healthy Diets. This will involve convening partners, tracking progress, synthesizing technical inputs, and supporting implementation pathways that connect soil health outcomes to nationally determined contributions (NDCs), climate finance mechanisms, and food systems transformation processes. The work will bridge science, policy, and practice to accelerate regenerative approaches at scale.
Third, the assignment will strengthen stakeholder coordination to enhance access to and use of reliable soil information. This will include advancing a roadmap for national soil health frameworks and contributing to Stage One of a comprehensive framework that integrates stakeholder input to guide soil health management policies and practices in Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania. Overall, the scope integrates partnership coordination, policy leadership, technical framework development, and high-level advocacy to accelerate soil health outcomes across priority countries and global platforms.
The individual for the assignment will report to the designated supervisor and provide periodic progress reports and deliverables as outlined in the Scope of the Assignment. All reports and deliverables shall be submitted electronically in English. Drafts shall be revised as needed based on feedback. The individual is also able to support the preparation, review, or informal translation of selected materials into French and Spanish, as needed, to facilitate stakeholder engagement and dissemination.
