Closing date: 15 Apr 2026

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) is offering one MSc research project on "Assessing the effects of agroecological practice bundling on dietary diversity and household food security in East Africa"

 

The MSc position is part of the Regional Multi-Actor Research Network on Agroecology in East Africa (RMRN-EA), a project funded by the European Commission.

 

Summary of the Project

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), in collaboration with regional and international partners, invites applications for an MSc research placement in agroecological food systems, dietary diversity, and household food security. The RMRN-EA project supports the transformation of agri-food systems in East Africa through research, policy engagement, and the participatory development and validation of agroecological innovations.

Agricultural systems in East Africa face compounding pressures from climate variability, land degradation, low productivity, and limited policy support for sustainable food systems. While agroecological practice bundles, coordinated sets of complementary innovations such as intercropping, integrated pest management, agroforestry, and soil health management — have demonstrated agronomic promise, their linkages to dietary diversity and household food security remain insufficiently documented. The selected MSc candidate will generate rigorous empirical evidence on this understudied nexus, contributing to the RMRN-EA's broader mission of scaling agroecological innovations across East Africa.

 

Research Focus

The MSc candidate will conduct focused research on the linkages between agroecological practice bundles and household food and nutrition security, organized around the following thematic areas:

 

1. Agroecological Practice Bundling: Characterization and Adoption

·       Conduct a targeted literature review on the adoption and dietary or nutritional impacts of bundled agroecological practices in Sub-Saharan Africa.

·       Use participatory and survey methods to inventory practice bundles adopted by smallholder farmers across selected agroecological zones in East Africa.

 

2. Dietary Diversity and Food Security Outcomes

·       Measure household dietary diversity and food security using validated tools such as the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), and the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) among adopting and non-adopting households.

·       Analyze pathways through which agroecological bundles influence dietary quality, including production diversity, income effects, and market access.

·       Conduct quantitative (econometric) analysis to assess the association between bundle adoption and dietary outcomes, controlling for household and contextual characteristics.

 

3. Gender and Equity Dimensions

·       Examine differential effects of bundle adoption across gender and socioeconomic strata.

·       Explore women's agency in agroecological practice decisions and its relationship to household dietary quality.

 

Key Responsibilities

• ·       Design and implement household surveys and participatory field assessments in collaboration with RMRN-EA country teams.
• ·       Collect, manage, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data on agroecological practices, dietary diversity, and food security.
• ·       Implement KAP surveys and socioeconomic assessments on agroecological innovations.
• ·       Contribute to the preparation of research reports, policy briefs, and at least one peer-reviewed manuscript.
• ·       Participate in RMRN-EA network activities including multi-actor workshops, stakeholder engagements, and capacity-building events.
• ·       Present research progress and findings at project meetings and, where appropriate, academic conferences.
• ·       Commit full-time to the MSc research placement for its entire duration.
• ·       Willing and capable of conducting field work in remote areas in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda., for extended period.

 

Eligibility Criteria

• ·       An MSc student enrolled in Agricultural and Food Economics, Rural Development, Environmental Science, or a closely related field
• ·       Successfully completed all coursework requirements for the first year of their programme, including all required courses, and has fulfilled all associated financial obligations such as tuition and examination fees.
• ·       A strong research background in agroecology, food systems, agricultural policy analysis, or rural development.
• ·       Experience with participatory research methods, stakeholder engagement, and fieldwork.
• ·       Proficiency in at least one statistical or data analysis software package such as STATA and/or R.
• ·       Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to articulate research findings and prepare detailed reports in English.
• ·       Willingness and ability to undertake extensive fieldwork in rural East African settings.
• ·       Willingness to commit full-time to the MSc research placement programme.
• ·       National of Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania.
• ·       Candidates who are staff members of a public university, or considered for university teaching or research staff recruitment, are encouraged to apply.
• ·       Qualified female candidates and candidates from less privileged regions or groups as well as candidates with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Desirable Qualifications

•     Prior experience with household surveys or dietary assessment tools such as HDDS, FIES, or HFIAS.

•     Familiarity with agroecological principles, farming systems research, or participatory action research methodologies.

•     Familiarity with gender-responsive research design and data collection.

•     Previous experience in policy research and quantitative modelling.

•     Strong analytical skills in socioeconomic and environmental assessments.

•     Demonstrated capacity for independent research, including a strong MSc coursework record or equivalent research output.

•     Knowledge of machine learning or artificial intelligence methods applied to agricultural or food systems data is an asset.

•     Knowledge of at least one relevant East African language is an asset.

 

MSc Position: Duration, Supervision, and Funding

The MSc position is based at icipe's Duduville Campus in Nairobi, Kenya, but with extended periods in the field across selected East African sites.

 

The position is structured as a nine-to-twelve-month full-time research placement, commencing in July 2025. The candidate will be jointly supervised by senior researchers from the RMRN-EA project consortium at icipe and affiliated partner institutions, ensuring interdisciplinary mentorship spanning agroecology, agricultural economics, and food systems science.

 

The position provides full financial support for the research placement period. Shortlisted candidates will be called for interviews and a written assessment by 1 May 2026.

 

MSc Fellowship and Benefits

The fellowship covers:

•     Monthly stipend for the duration of the research placement.

•     Research costs, including fieldwork and data collection expenses.

•     Registration and examination fees for the research placement period.

•     Access to icipe's state-of-the-art research facilities, data resources, and institutional library at the Duduville Campus.

•     International and regional travel costs associated with the project.

•     Mentorship and training in scientific writing, data analysis, grant writing, and research communication.

•     Participation in RMRN-EA multi-actor events and capacity-building workshops.

 

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted up to 15 April 2026.

 

Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

1.      Application abstract (max. 750 words, excluding references): A well-written research abstract describing the candidate's proposed approach to investigating the link between agroecological practice bundling and dietary diversity or food security outcomes, drawing on the background information provided above.

2.      Curriculum Vitae (CV): A detailed CV including academic qualifications and professional or research experience.

3.      Motivation letter (max. 1 page): Outlining research interests, relevant background, and alignment with the stated research themes.

4.      Certified copies of academic transcripts and certificates: Including copies of BSc and MSc (year one) transcripts indicating all courses taken and grades obtained.

5.      Contact details of at least two referees: Preferably academic supervisors or research mentors who can speak to the candidate's research capacity.

6.      Recommendation letter

 

Please note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates are subject to an interview and a written assessment.

 

Timeline

•     Application deadline: 15 April 20256

•     Shortlisting and interview notification: By 30 April 2026

•     Placement start date: 01 May 2026

 

Questions

For further inquiries about the MSc project, please contact Dr. Kibrom Sibhatu (ksibhatu@icipe.org) with a copy to Dr. Frank Chidawanyika (fchidawanyika@icipe.org).

 

For inquiries regarding the RMRN-EA programme or your application to icipe, please contact Ms. Vivian Atieno, Capacity Building Officer, icipe: vatieno@icipe.org.

Join us in generating evidence for sustainable agroecological food systems in East Africa!