Scientist I - Gender Research Gender Equality, Digital Inclusion, Gender-Responsive AI

IRRI in alignment with the CGIAR Research Portfolio 2025–2030, 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. These efforts harness research, partnerships, and innovative tools across CGIAR Centers to catalyze evidence-based solutions and impact at scale.

This Scientist I for Gender Research will contribute scientific and strategic leadership across IRRI’s engagement with both Accelerators, including digital inclusion research under DTA and Sub-AoW 2.2 of the Gender Accelerator, which focuses on leveraging evidence and strategic engagement to inform policy and implementation. The role will also lead and advance IRRI’s contributions to the Center of Excellence on Gender and Digital Inclusion under Area of Work 4 (Enabling Environment) within DTA. This includes designing evidence frameworks, methodologies and institutional approaches, 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 role will support IRRI’s engagement in bilateral and strategic initiatives on gender-responsive AI, digital advisory systems, and inclusive digital transformation, including the Generative AI for Agriculture (GAIA) project — a collaboration with IFPRI aimed at developing equitable, responsible, and gender-responsive digital advisory systems for smallholder farmers.

The Scientist I – Gender Research will provide scientific and strategic leadership in designing, implementing, and communicating gender and digital inclusion research across CGIAR and bilateral projects, to advance genderresponsive digital transformation for women, youth, and socially excluded groups in the Global South.

This position will be based at the IRRI Hyderabad Office, India and is open for international applications.

• Lead IRRI’s contributions to the Center of Excellence on Gender and Digital Inclusion under Area of Work 4 (Enabling Environment) of the DTA: set the agenda, design the research, generate and synthesize evidence, and coordinate assigned components with partners.
• Design, conduct and evaluate research on gender-responsive and responsible AI enabled advisory systems, including benchmarking, bias and fairness assessment, participatory validation, and responsible data practices.
• Conduct cross-CGIAR evidence synthesis on gender and digital transformation; develop related frameworks, tools, and guidelines and provide methodological and technical guidance to research teams and partners on integrating gender and inclusion across digital and AI research.
• Contribute to proposal development and resource mobilization for IRRI's digital inclusion and gender research area, identifying opportunities and preparing technical inputs with partners.
• Contribute to AoW 2 under the Gender Accelerator on leveraging evidence and engagement to inform policy, ensuring alignment with IRRI’s research priorities.
• Build and sustain partnerships with CGIAR Centers, academic institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and private sector actors working on digital inclusion and gender-transformative research.
• Collaborate with CGIAR and non-CGIAR partners for evidence generation, benchmarking and strategic dissemination of insights on digital transformation and gender equality.
• Organize and facilitate stakeholder consultations, workshops, and capacity-strengthening events at global, regional, and national levels.
• Engage closely with communications teams to develop and amplify research outputs through the CGIAR Accelerator communication and IRRI channels, including resource hubs.
• Design and implement participatory approaches for co-creation with farmers and local partners, ensuring engagement of women, youth, and socially excluded groups.
• Plan research work, set milestones, track deliverables and take part in project management meetings, ensuring timely outputs, ethical compliance, and sound documentation and reporting.
• Monitor and review the progress of research activities, ensuring high-quality outputs and adherence to CGIAR and IRRI standards.
• Coordinate evidence synthesis and benchmarking efforts on digital transformation and gender; lead the development of associated frameworks, guidelines, and knowledge products.
• Author or co-author peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and policy briefs; represent IRRI and CGIAR at international conferences and high-level dialogues.
• Support resource mobilization efforts through proposal development, donor engagement, and responsive reporting on digital inclusion research activities.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of training programs, workshops, and participatory co-creation processes with farmers and local partners, ensuring inclusive engagement of women, youth, and socially excluded groups.

• PhD in Rural Sociology, Gender Studies, Anthropology, Feminist Economics, Development Economics, Agricultural Economics, Geography, or related fields.
• 2-3 years’ experience at Post-doctoral Fellow level in IRRI /
• 2-5 years post PhD relevant work experience for external candidates
• Preferably with experience in gender research, digital inclusion, agricultural innovation systems, or related areas.

Mandatory

• Deep grounding in theoretical and analytical frameworks related to gender and social equity, especially in the Global South.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing mixed-methods research, including quantitative and/or qualitative approaches and participatory methodologies.
• Strong publication record in international peer-reviewed journals, with additional documented contributions to high-quality knowledge outputs.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders including CGIAR centers, research institutions, government agencies, nonprofits, and private sector partners.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with capacities for producing scientific reports, donor proposals, and communication materials for diverse audiences.
• Experience managing R4D projects, including work planning, budgeting, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and reporting.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with demonstrated success working in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred

• Experience working on gender research-for-development (R4D) in Asia or Africa
• Familiarity with CGIAR research programs, platforms, or accelerators.
• Knowledge of gender-transformative approaches, intersectionality, and digital inclusion frameworks.
• Experience with digital tools and responsible AI, especially in advisory systems and agricultural innovation.
• Proven involvement in grant development, proposal writing, and resource mobilization efforts.

IRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances.

Join our team and be part of our story!

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
This position will remain open until filled.