Overall Purpose of the Job

Provide strategic, technical and managerial leadership for icipe’s Integrated Data and Analytics Platform, one of icipe’s four platforms, positioning the Centre as a leader in insect-related databases, digital research and tools, and delivery of timely, data-driven decision-making and inclusive solutions. The position combines data management, modeling, remote sensing, socioeconomic analytics, digital tools, monitoring, evaluation, learning and assessment functions into a unified platform that generates foresight and impact evidence, builds decision-support systems, and embeds gender and social inclusion and policy insights across all of icipe’s research for development work, enhancing institutional performance and impact. Within the Platform, the incumbent will develop his/her own research agenda in the space of socio-economics and impact evaluations, while backstopping socioeconomic aspects through his/her expertise across the Centre, including leadership in Centre-wide monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL).

Specific Duties

Strategic leadership to the Integrated Data and Analytics Platform

• Provide strategic guidance of the Platform, aligned with icipe’s Vision and Strategy 2026-2030 framework.
• Lead the development and regular review of the Platform’s annual workplans and operational frameworks.
• Manage staffing, budget and performance throughout the Platform by promoting a culture of teamwork, innovation, accountability, gender equity and safeguarding.
• Foster strong collaboration with icipe’s other Platforms, Themes and Directorates.
• Build strong partnerships with key stakeholders to leverage icipe’s integrated data and analytics services and research.
• Position icipe as a continental leader in foresight, analytics and evidence generation for insectbased innovations.

Scientific leadership in socio-economic research

• Lead the design and implementation of a strong socio-economic research agenda (qualitative and quantitative; ex-ante and ex-post; micro and macro).
• Develop conceptual frameworks and practical methodologies for MEL and impact/livelihood/gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) analyses for icipe’s flagship projects.
• Integrate socio-economic analyses into multidisciplinary research programs related to agri-food systems, global health, environment and biodiversity, and climate change mitigation and adaptation, including bioeconomic modelling of insect-based innovations.
• Produce peer-reviewed publications and other high-quality outputs (reports, policy briefs, impact studies).

Scientific leadership in data science, modelling and geo-information

• Lead the development and implementation of advanced data science and modelling approaches to address complex agricultural, ecological, and socio-environmental challenges.
• Provide strategic direction for geospatial analytics, Earth observation, biostatistics, and spatial data management systems.
• Lead the integration of climate, ecological, biological, socio-economic, and remote sensing datasets into unified analytical pipelines and data platforms for informed decision making.
• Lead the design and deployment of scalable, data-driven digital advisory tools that integrate near-real-time geo-referenced datasets, predictive modelling, and artificial intelligence to deliver actionable, context-specific recommendations for researchers, policymakers, and end users.

Centre-wide MEL

• Lead the implementation of the Centre-wide result framework to assess annual and multi-year performance against established key performance indicators.
• Guide development and maintenance of digital tools, dashboards, data platforms and advisory systems.
• Ensure seamless integration of socio-economic data with other analytics to produce rigorous, multidimensional impact evidence for policy and investment decisions.
• Strengthen institutional learning, adaptive management, and evidence uptake across the Centre.

Resource mobilization and partnerships

• Lead in the contribution of the Integrated Data and Analytics Platform towards proposal development and resource mobilization.
• Establish and sustain strategic partnerships with key partners, including governments, donors, universities, regional organizations and the private sector.
• Represent icipe at scientific, policy and donor forums.

Requirements/Qualifications

• PhD in Agricultural Economics, Data Science, Modelling, Geo-information or a related field.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant professional postdoctoral experience, including senior leadership roles.
• Demonstrated expertise in agricultural socioeconomics, including econometrics, qualitative and quantitative research methods, ranging from micro to macro-level.
• Demonstrated expertise in data and geo-information sciences, including remote sensing, Earth observation, and geo-statistics applied to agricultural (agro-natural), environmental, and health systems.
• Demonstrated experience in analytics, modelling, MEL, impact assessment, and digital decision-support systems.
• Experience in research-for-development settings, preferably in Africa.
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and modeling skills.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and partnership engagement skills.
• Proven track record in resource mobilization and managing donor relationships.
• Core Competencies and Attributes
• High integrity, strategic thinker, proactive doer, and strong problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to gender equity, youth inclusion, safeguarding, and ethical evidence collection.
• Ability to lead diverse teams and oversee complex programs.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Deputy Director General, Research for Development.