The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) is a regional non-profit research and policy Institute established in 2010 to help bridge the gaps between research, policy and practice in development efforts in Africa. Our primary purpose is to contribute to sustainable development through the use of evidence and advocacy to strengthen political commitment and resource allocation for development issues; informing the design and implementation of effective interventions; and strengthening governance and accountability structures for tracking development challenges in Africa. AFIDEP is registered as a Non-Governmental Organisation in both Kenya and Malawi (where it has offices) and as a non-profit institution in the USA with 501(c)3 status. For further details about AFIDEP and its work refer to www.afidep.org.

AFIDEP is looking for a Research Officer – Economist to coordinate implementation of research and capacity development programmes on various development policy and programmatic issues relevant to AFIDEP’s work, and contribute to research studies including undertaking systematic literature reviews, primary data collection, and data analysis. Immediate work will focus on supporting African countries to operationalize the link between women’s economic empowerment and macroeconomic policy. The position will be based at AFIDEP’s Nairobi office.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate the planning and implementation of research and capacity strengthening projects.
• Contribute to different types of economic analyses and modelling on various development policy and programmatic issues that AFIDEP works on to generate critical insights for informing policy and programmatic reforms
• Conduct systematic literature reviews of existing research and produce research reports and policy publications.
• Conduct primary data collection and collation of data to contribute to research studies.
• Write policy briefs, research briefs, and contribute to the writing of scientific journal papers.
• Support the planning and organization of policy dialogues with relevant government officials and other stakeholders at regional and national levels to research findings to facilitate their uptake in policy decision-making.
• Support the implementation of capacity development activities to strengthen the generation and use of research and other types of evidence in decision-making.
• Support the management of critical partnerships with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to ensure ownership and support for the research work you are involved in.
• Conduct monitoring, learning and evaluation of research and capacity strengthening projects.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Masters’ degree in Economics or Development Economics. Candidates with a Masters’ degree in Economics or Development Economics, with specialization in gender equity and economic empowerment of women, will have an added advantage.
• At least three years’ experience in research and advocacy on gender and development.
• Demonstrated knowledge of key concepts/issues relating to gender and macroeconomic policy.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and quantitative skills, including attention to detail and experience in modeling using relevant statistical softwares.
• Strong communication skills, including preparation and delivery of compelling technical presentations, reports and other documents.
• Effective interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to build strong professional relationships with a range of stakeholders, and excellent organizational skills.
• Proven ability to coordinate and manage multi-stakeholder and multi-country research projects and timelines.
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, and handle multiple tasks concurrently.

TO APPLY: 

Please submit a detailed CV and cover letter to recruitment@afidep.org including the position title as the subject of the email by 15^th November 2025. In your cover letter, please highlight your relevant experience and qualifications, and explain why you are interested in this position. Your CV should include three relevant referees. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Click here to download job description

AFIDEP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.