Research Assistant

Reference number: 202631

Job status: In-progress

Job category: Local Position

Duty station: Kiambu, Kenya

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Landscape Alliance

Landscape Alliance transforms science into action, unlocking the power of trees, forests and agroforestry landscapes to
advance planetary health and human well-being. Landscape Alliance is the operating name of the Center for International
Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the International Centre for Research on Agroforestry (ICRAF). CIFOR and ICRAF are
independent International Organizations and CGIAR Research Centers.

Landscape Alliance is looking for a

Research Assistant

Overview

The main aim of this position is to support the implementation of Clean Cooking and Agroforestry project in Kiambu County.

Duties and responsibilities

Stakeholder & Community Engagement

  • Build and
    maintain trust-based relationships with community members, local leaders, and
    project participants.

  • Support
    community mobilisation and sensitisation around project objectives and
    activities.

  • Facilitate
    community meetings, focus group discussions, and participatory workshops,
    ensuring inclusive participation of women, youth, and marginalised groups.

  • Liaise with local government, extension
    services, and NGOs to coordinate field activities and build local partnerships.

  • Act as a key
    point of contact between the project team and field communities, ensuring
    feedback is captured and reported

Research Support & Data
Collection:

  • Coordinate data collection in field sites, including household
    surveys, interviews, and observational assessments on cooking energy use,
    dietary practices, and agroforestry.

  • Ensure data quality and adherence to ethical protocols throughout
    all data collection.

  • Support data entry, cleaning, and basic analysis, and contribute
    to field reports and research outputs.

  • Maintain accurate and organized field records and documentation.

Intervention activities (Implementation & Monitoring)

  • Support the planning and coordination
    of field activities, including training sessions, demonstration plots, and
    cooking energy trials.

  • Conduct regular monitoring and
    recording of indoor air pollutants in selected kitchens across participating
    households in Kiambu County, specifically measuring Carbon monoxide (CO) and
    carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations, Particulate matter (PM 2.5) levels, Black
    carbon.

  • Operate,
    calibrate, maintain and ensure safety of the air quality
    monitoring equipment and computers as per project
    protocol.

  • Monitor field activities against
    workplans and report on progress, challenges, and lessons learned.

Education, knowledge and experience

  • A bachelor’s degree in forestry, Management of Agroecosystems and Environment (MAE), Environmental science, Natural resource management or a related field.
  • At least 5 years of experience in field-based research or project implementation, preferably in food systems, agroforestry, or energy access contexts
  • Experience in primary data collection using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
  • Familiarity with mobile data collection tools (e.g. KoBoToolbox, ODK)
  • Strong community engagement and facilitation skills
  • Ability to work independently in the field, manage time effectively, and meet deadlines

Terms and conditions

  • This is a Locally Recruited Position (LRS). CIFOR-ICRAF offers competitive remuneration in local currency commensurate with skills and experience.
  • The initial appointment will be for two (2) years, with a six-month probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
  • The position is based in Kiambu County and the candidate will be expected to work closely with Kiambu County Officials and project partners during implementation

Application process

The application deadline is 31 Aug 2026.

We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.