The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International & International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

The Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

About the position

The Research Team lead for Climate Action and Digital Agriculture will be responsible for advancing climate resilience and digital innovation across Southern Africa. This multidisciplinary role requires a strategic leader with a strong understanding of climate adaptation, mitigation strategies, and the integration of digital tools to enhance agronomic practices and food systems. The successful candidate will also be responsible for building and mentoring high-performing teams, expanding the organization’s presence and influence in the region. Building on a strong foundation in Zambia and Malawi, the role will expand to include collaboration with regional stakeholders, aligning efforts across borders while integrating with global Alliance teams to ensure cohesive and impactful interventions. This position will serve as a bridge between the Alliance’s Southern Africa operations and broader regional and global initiatives, ensuring the seamless flow of knowledge, strategies, and resources.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects, including extensive experience working with national governments, development agencies, donors as well as private sector actors. The role will involve designing and scaling impactful solutions, fostering partnerships, and driving the growth of a diverse project portfolio. As part of a research-for-development organization, the candidate will contribute to both scientific inquiry and practical outcomes, ensuring that project interventions are evidence-based and deliver sustainable development impacts.

Key Responsibilities include:

Leadership and Implementation (30%):

• Lead and implement climate action projects in Southern Africa, with a focus on integrating digital innovation to enhance climate resilience in agriculture.
• Oversee project execution, ensuring alignment with national policies, donor requirements, and the organization’s research-for-development goals.
• Develop and implement cross-sectoral strategies that address climate risks and drive sustainable agricultural transformation.

Portfolio Development and Growth (30%):

• Identify new funding opportunities and lead the development of high-quality proposals to expand the portfolio of climate and digital agriculture initiatives.
• Cultivate partnerships with donors, government institutions, and private sector actors to secure resources and foster innovation.
• Build and mentor a dynamic team, providing strategic guidance to ensure the effective delivery of the organization’s mission in Zambia and Southern Africa.

Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building (20%):

• Strengthen relationships with government agencies in Zambia and other Southern African countries, aligning projects with national and regional priorities.
• Engage with private sector partners to scale innovations and drive market-based solutions for smallholder farmers.
• Design and deliver capacity-building programs for local institutions and stakeholders, ensuring knowledge transfer and long-term impact.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (10%):

• Establish and oversee robust monitoring and evaluation systems to track project outcomes, capture lessons learned, and inform future project design.
• Contribute to the organization’s knowledge base by sharing best practices, publishing reports, and presenting findings at regional and global forums.

Requirements

Required qualifications and experience

• PhD or master’s degree in Climate Change, Agronomy, Environmental Science, International Development, or a related field.
• 7-10 years of experience managing multidisciplinary projects focused on climate resilience, digital agriculture, and sustainable food systems.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of local languages in Zambia or Southern Africa is an advantage
• Demonstrated expertise in climate adaptation and mitigation, with a strong understanding of the role of digital tools in agricultural development.
• Extensive experience working with national governments, donors, and private sector stakeholders.
• Proven ability to secure funding from major donors such as USAID, GIZ, World Bank, and GCF, and to manage large, complex portfolios.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills, with a history of growing teams and expanding organizational impact.
• Excellent project management skills, including strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and results-based monitoring and evaluation.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to represent the organization in high-level forums and build partnerships across sectors.
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams, Interest and experience working in a fast-paced team within a large research institution.
• Analyzed and provided recommendations on climate finance for national governments in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Terms of employment

This position is an internationally recruited based in Lusaka, Zambia. The initial contract will be for two years subject to a probation period of six months and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.

This position is graded at BG09 level, with a minimum basic salary of USD55,317 per annum, on a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to insurance, retirement plan, staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working arrangements.

The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications

Applicants are invited to visit https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number RFP300169 – Research Team lead – Climate Action and Digital Agriculture as the position applied for. Cover letter and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate’s last name, first name for ease of sorting. The Alliance collects and process personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Applications closing date: Monday, 20^th January 2025

Please note that email applications will not be considered.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about us at:

        http://alliancebioversityciat.org

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements