ILRI MSc Graduate Fellowship: Evidence synthesis in agri-food systems and climate change

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit three MSc graduate fellows to work on evidence synthesis under the Livestock and Climate Solutions Hub. The successful fellows will be hosted by the Livestock Climate and Environment (LCE) program at ILRI.

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 Livestock Climate and Environment program’s goal is to collaborate with partners to build capacity, establish an enabling environment, and develop and deploy innovations that enable livestock-rearing communities to boost their productivity and resilience while lowering emissions, optimizing the co-benefits of climate adaptation and mitigation. Read more here: https://www.ilri.org/research/themes/livestock-climate-and-environment .

The position

The overall project aims to generate robust, actionable evidence, translate it into compelling outputs for policy, investment and practice, and strengthen ILRI’s capacity in evidence-synthesis methodologies and data-driven decision-making.

The Msc fellowship will involve working with a multidisciplinary team of researchers and external partners to synthesize literature and secondary data, generate evidence and identify knowledge gaps related to the impacts of climate change on livestock systems and the broader agri-food sector. The work will primarily consist of desk-based research and stakeholder consultation meetings. Fieldwork and travel are not anticipated.

Responsibilities

1. Conduct evidence syntheses (evidence gap maps, scoping reviews systematic reviews, meta-analyses,) on topics relevant to livestock systems, food systems, climate change, environmental or health impacts.
2. Carry out systematic literature searches, screen, upload full texts, extract data, synthesise results, and interpret findings.
3. Contribute to high-impact scientific writing for different audiences from synthesis projects ,(journal manuscripts, scientific reports, policy briefs, research briefs, stakeholder summaries)
4. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across ILRI’s programmes, and with external academic, policy and development partners.

Minimum requirements for the ideal candidates

1. Continuing Master's students in agriculture, veterinary science, food systems, public health at a recognised university.
2. Prior experience in contributing to systematic reviews, meta-analyses scoping reviews, or evidence gap maps), especially in agri-food systems, livestock, public health, gender, environment will be an added advantage.
3. Experience with evidence-synthesis workflows and specialised tools (e.g., Covidence, RevMan, Rayyan, SysRev, EPPI-Reviewer).
4. Experience with referencing softwares e.g. (Mendeley, Zotero, EndNote).
5. Proficiency in statistical analysis software and languages (e.g., R, STATA, SPSS, Python), including systematic review and meta-analysis packages and scripting.
6. Strong skills in visualising and communicating synthesis findings: data-visualisation, forest plots, network graphs, infographic creation.
7. Excellent analytical, critical-thinking, writing and editing skills; comfortable translating technical evidence into narratives for multiple audiences (scientific, policy, practice).
8. Excellent interpersonal skills and team spirit, with ability to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment.

Location: ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya.

Duration: 3 months.

Terms of appointment and stipend: ILRI will offer a competitive stipend to cover living expenses in the project location and medical insurance cover. The successful candidate will be supervised jointly by ILRI and home university scientists.

How to apply:

All applications MUST include the following (applications not containing these documents will not be considered):

• a cover letter addressed to the Senior Manager – Capacity Development ILRI, expressing interest in the internship position and the motivation. The position title and reference number (REF: ILRI MSc fellowship/GF/ILRI LCE01/2026) should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.
• CV, including names and addresses (including telephone and email) of two referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience.
• Academic qualifications and transcripts.
• Proof of university admission letter confirming release for the internship position.

Applications must be submitted by clicking on the “APPLY NOW” tab on or before 11th Nov 2026.

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.