Scientist -Gender Responsive Digital Transformation

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Gender Scientist to work on Digital Transformation thus ensuring that ILRI continues to drive digital innovation in a gender inclusive and responsible way and becomes a thought leader in this space.

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 by clicking on Apply Now 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.

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