Scientist-Bioeconomy
Nairobi, Kenya
Posted on Jul 8, 2026
About Us
CIFOR & ICRAF in action
Landscape Alliance transforms science into action, unlocking the power of trees, forests and agroforestry landscapes to advance planetary health and human well-being. It is the shared operating name of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), two independent International Organizations and CGIAR Research Centers working together through a common strategy, governance and leadership structure.
CIFOR and ICRAF bring together decades of scientific leadership in forests, trees, agroforestry, biodiversity, climate, food systems and livelihoods. CIFOR, headquartered in Bogor, Indonesia, advances research on forests and landscape management to inform policies and practices that improve human well-being, protect the environment and increase equity. ICRAF, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, harnesses the benefits of trees for people and the environment, generating knowledge that helps governments, development partners and farmers make farming and livelihoods more sustainable.
Overview
The position will support design and implementation of projects within the CIFOR-ICRAF Sustainable Value Chains and Investments (SVCI) Team’s on: (i) viable landscapes solutions; (ii) green and inclusive value chains; and (iii) transformative business and market ecosystems. The position will focus specifically on strengthening private sector engagement, unlocking alternative sourcing of institutional funding, and fostering conditions within landscapes that crowd-in investments and incubate new enterprises that support inclusive regenerative transitions. These actions should focus on and contribute to expanding and strengthening CIFOR-ICRAF’s bioeconomy portfolio and strategic direction.
Job Description
- Design and implement stakeholder engagement strategies linking research institutions, private companies, and government;
- Develop and operationalize matchmaking between Northern and Southern businesses in the bio-economy;
- Produce high-quality outputs for targeted audiences, including policy briefs, guidance notes, platform content, and practitioner-oriented tools on sustainable value chains and bio-economy;
- Provide leadership on design of methods and frameworks related to sustainable value chains, responsible sourcing and investment, bio-economy, and private sector engagement;
- Lead and co-author at least 3 peer-reviewed publications, as well as technical reports, and knowledge products linked to the project research agendas;
- Translate scientific evidence into actionable insights for policy, private-sector practice, and investment decision-making;
- Identify policy and regulatory mechanisms that support producer countries attract and enhance the social and environmental performance of investments in the agricultural, forestry and associated bio-economy;
- Supervise and mentor junior researchers, enhancing their capacity to conduct high-quality research independently;
- Contribute to the design of various types of capacity development initiatives (e.g., trainings, workshops, round-tables, peer learning) within the bio-economy that enhance the capacity of the private sector that enhances corporate social and environmental performance;
- Enhance the internal visibility and uptake of improved methods and approaches on value chain development and integrated landscape management;
- Disseminate research findings through high profile international conferences and policy fora;
- Represent CIFOR-ICRAF in national, and international workshops, dialogues, and industry-facing events related to sustainable value chains and investment;
- Coordinate and/or contribute to the policy-science dialogue in producer countries in Asia and Africa on sustainable value chain development and the bio-economy through organization of round tables, workshops, and policy dialogues;
- Coordinate and/or contribute to communications activities targeted at policy makers (including workshops, website and policy briefs) of relevant projects;
- Translate research findings into practical policy tools and frameworks and disseminate them through strategic networks and platforms;
- Support identification of strategic opportunities, themes, and donors to guide SVCI fund-raising activities and related CIFOR-ICRAF strategies, especially within the research-for-development space;
- Lead the development of at least 2 research proposals per year (>1m USD) aligned with CIFOR-ICRAF’s sustainable value chains, bio-economy, and private-sector engagement strategies;
- Build relations with donor agencies, foundations, and investors to explore and unlock innovative new funding opportunities that support development of a more programmatic approach and the development of co-investment platforms;
- Cultivate and maintain partnerships with research institutions, government agencies, private companies, investors, and development partners across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe that support the team and institutional strategy;
- Contribute to the development and implementation of an institutional bio-economy strategy;
- Foster improved coordination between themes and regions, identifying actionable avenues for knowledge sharing, joint project implementation, and synergies.
Requirements
- A PhD in development studies, environmental policy, natural resource management, or a related field.
- At least 10 years of experience in applied research on sustainable value chains.
- Demonstrated experience working with research institutions, policymakers, and/or private companies on value-chain development or innovation partnerships.
- Experience working on sustainable sourcing and standard development as well as multi-stakeholder roundtables and partnership facilitation involving government, private companies, and research institutions at the global level.
- Experience in project management, including large and multi-country budgets, and facilitating and managing partnerships.
- Experience designing and implementing engagement strategies to accelerate development and research impact.
- Experience supervising or mentoring staff and consultants across different regions.
- Strong communication skills, and excellent written and spoken English; additional languages are an asset.
Education, Experience and Technical skills
1. A PhD in development studies, environmental policy, natural resource management, or a related field. 2. At least 10 years of experience in applied research on sustainable value chains. 3. Demonstrated experience working with research institutions, policymakers, and/or private companies on value-chain development or innovation partnerships.
Terms and conditions
1.This is a Globally Recruited Position (GRS). CIFOR-ICRAF offers competitive remuneration commensurate with skills and experience. 2. 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. 3. The duty station will be in Nairobi, Kenya CIFOR-ICRAF Offices
