The incumbent will provide critical support in designing, executing, and disseminating research initiatives that drive evidence-based decision-making and inform AECF’s programs and strategic initiatives. The role holder will focus on analyzing data, monitoring market trends, and generating insights to enhance AECF’s interventions across sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, and climate resilience in sub-Saharan Africa.

Key Responsibilities

Research and knowledge management

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative analyses on investment trends, impact investing ecosystems, and innovative financing mechanisms aligned with AECF’s thematic focus areas.
• Support the development of research outputs that contribute to AECF’s knowledge management objectives, particularly in advancing solutions for agriculture, renewable energy, and inclusive finance.
• Contribute to implementing knowledge-sharing activities, including drafting briefs, case studies, and reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide support for research and data collection related to financing strategies and private sector development in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Contribute to AECF’s knowledge management initiatives by developing and maintaining a repository of research materials.

Collaboration and stakeholder engagement

• Work closely with program teams to integrate research findings into program development and execution.
• Build partnerships with research institutions, donors, and other stakeholders to enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Represent AECF at workshops, conferences, and other forums to share research outcomes.

Administrative and logistical support

• Coordinate travel arrangements, venue bookings, and other logistical details to ensure seamless workshops, training sessions, and conference implementation.
• Provide organizational support for AECF-hosted events, including identifying and securing venues, managing event invitations, participant registration, and liaising with speakers and attendees.

Required qualifications, experience and competencies

Qualifications and experience

• A bachelor’s degree in Economics, Development Studies, Statistics, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in research, data analysis, and impact evaluation, preferably in development programs.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools such as SPSS, Stata, R, or similar software.
• Strong understanding of development challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, with expertise in agriculture, renewable energy, climate change, or gender inclusion being a plus.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex data and insights clearly and concisely.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural teams.

Competency

• Analytical thinking and problem-solving.
• Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy in data analysis.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

If you believe you can clearly demonstrate your abilities to meet the relevant criteria for the role, register and apply on: https://recruitment.aecfafrica.org . To be considered, your application must be received by: 21st March 2025

Duration: 6 months

The AI for Good Research Lab uses AI and data to address some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. We are headquartered in Redmond, WA, and have an office in Nairobi, Kenya. We work on issues that will improve societies and environments with a focus on food and water security, disaster response and early warning, biodiversity and conservation. Our technical specialties are in areas as diverse as geospatial imagery, computer vision, bioacoustics, and language models. If you have experience in large language models, computer vision, statistics, and artificial intelligence, you have a fantastic opportunity to join the AI for Good team that is led by Microsoft’s Chief Data Scientist.

Responsibilities

Interns put inquiry and theory into practice. Alongside fellow doctoral candidates and some of the world’s best researchers, interns learn, collaborate, and network for life. Interns not only advance their own careers, but they also contribute to exciting research and development strides. Interns are paired with mentors and expected to collaborate with other interns and researchers, present findings, and contribute to the vibrant life of the community.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be currently enrolled in a PhD program in Computer Science or a related STEM field.
• Must have at least 2 years of experience with modeling in Python.
• Must have at least 2 years of experience with deep learning models.

Preffered Requirements

Experience with PyTorch or TensorFlow, particularly computer vision models.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.

ILRI works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centres 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.

Capacity development is an important part of the institute’s mandate and cuts across all its research and development areas.

The Position:

Internships are short-term academic training for young professionals who join ILRI for a short period (usually 3 months or less but can be up to 6 months in length) as part of their academic curriculum and are expected to resume their studies upon completion of their internship. The internship aims at helping students connect theory to practice, as well as nurturing young minds into livestock agriculture.

Interns work five days per week under the supervision and mentorship of a staff member in the department or program to which they are assigned.

Requirements:

Applicants must at the time of application meet the following requirements:

•   Be enrolled for an undergraduate university degree program, with at least one full semester to completion. Through strategic partnerships, ILRI also provides internship opportunities to students enrolled for diploma and certificate programs, as well as senior high school students.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Proficiency in English.

Terms of appointment: ILRI offers a stipend to cover living expenses as well as insurance.

Interested candidates who meet the criteria above are encouraged to submit their application letter, detailed CV, motivation letter and university internship request letters. Applications should be addressed to the Head of Capacity Development.

We thank all applicants for the interest in taking their internship at ILRI. Due to the large volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, on a continuous basis, as opportunities arise within ILRI programs.

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/