Senior Researcher

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Chief of Programs and Research Officer

Contractual Agreement: 1 year contract with possibility of extension based on performance and funding

Background

The African Center for Early Childhood Development (AfC-ECD) is dedicated to advancing knowledge, policy, and practice that support the developmental outcomes of children across Africa.

To strengthen the AfC-ECD’s research agenda, we seek to appoint a Senior Researcher a highly accomplished academic with at least 6–10 years’ experience as a faculty member at a recognized research or higher education institution, and with a strong track record of peer-reviewed publications. This individual will play a central role in shaping and coordinating the AfC-ECD’s research portfolio, ensuring methodological rigor, cultural relevance, and actionable outputs that influence policy and practice.

The Senior Researcher is not expected to resign from his or her faculty post but must be able to devote significant time to the AfC-ECD’s activities in a manner that is complementary to his or her university obligations. The candidate shall be required to provide an official letter of commitment from his or her institution confirming the allocation of adequate time and institutional support to fulfil these responsibilities.

Objectives of the Position

• To design, coordinate, and oversee the research agenda of the AfC-ECD in alignment with strategic priorities.
• To ensure research outputs are methodologically sound, culturally informed, and policy relevant.
• To participate in the commissioning of strategic, world class early childhood development research in an Ethiopian and African context.
• To facilitate effective collaboration between the AfC-ECD, Ethiopian universities, research institutions, and other stakeholders.
• To support the development of evidence-based interventions that improve early childhood outcomes.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

The Senior Researcher will:

1. Research Agenda & Strategy
   • Develop and manage a comprehensive Early Childhood Development (ECD) research agenda guided by the broader research and innovation strategy of the African Center for Early Childhood Development.
   • Build a network of ECD researchers in Ethiopia and the region whose expertise can be drawn upon to advance the research agenda.
   • Prioritize ECD research that could be reported at peer reviewed journals and inform policy decision, high quality implementation and smart investment.
   • Participate in the design of panels, conferences and presentations that highlight relevant and impactful research.
2. Research Project Management
   • Coordinate and organize the research component of the AfC-ECD programs and initiatives.
   • Identify opportunities for commissioning research that advance the AfC-ECD’s research strategy.
   • Drawing on the researcher network, select and vet researchers or research vendors; evaluate and score research proposals based on methodological quality, relevance, and feasibility.
   • Oversee the design, commissioning, and execution of surveys, research papers and human development studies.
   • Ensure quality control, ethical compliance, and timely delivery of research outputs.
   • As needed, lead empirical research in ECD or review literature in the space and translate the findings into scientific publications and policy brief.
3. Research Development & Collaboration
   • Collaborate with universities, local and international research institutions, and cross-sectoral teams on joint studies.
   • Develop reliable, actionable research on ECD issues, both directly and through the researcher network.
   • Facilitate knowledge-sharing and dissemination of findings to inform policy and practice.
   • Identify opportunities for participation in presentations, conferences and workshops by the Center’s team and researchers in the researcher network.

Key Deliverables

1. Strategic Research Framework
   • Finalized ECD research agenda for Ethiopia, endorsed by AfC-ECD stakeholders.
   • Functional research archive and database for Ethiopia’s ECD studies.
   • Active facilitation of the 5 Thematic Technical Working Groups, including meeting agendas, minutes, and action plans.
2. Research Outputs
   • Produce one peer-reviewed academic papers on priority ECD topics within 12 months of employment.
   • Indigenous ECD Practices in Ethiopia Report: coordinate, manage and review a research report incorporating desk research, oral histories, video documentation, and photographs highlighting culturally appropriate practices within 3 months of employment.
   • Mapping of mothers and children in difficult living conditions: commission, manage and review proposal, commissioned survey, and analytical report to the Addis Ababa City Administration, including quantification of the issue and recommended interventions within 3 months of employment.
   • Spur research papers form the research network based on data from baseline ECD surveys in Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Oromia, Amhara, Sidama and Central Ethiopia.
3. Stakeholder Engagement
   • Build network of Ethiopian ECD researchers who can be drawn on to advance research topics.
   • Evidence-sharing events, workshops, and policy dialogues to promote uptake of research findings.
   • Regularly review and synthesise international, continental, and local research on parental wellbeing and early childhood development to strengthen engagement with the broader research community.

Salary

• Negotiable based on experience

Key Requirements

• Master’s or PhD Degree in education, health, economics or related fields, with demonstrated focus on and proven expertise in early childhood development.
• Practical experience in leading or conducting research and reporting the findings in internationally reputable journals.
• Familiarity with the landscape of early childhood development researchers in Ethiopia, including at universities and research institutes.
• A track record of conducting research that translated into policy and practice.
• End-to-end research knowledge and skills from research design, field work, data analysis, report/manuscript writing and dissemination.
• Applicants may continue to work both at their University and the African Center for Early Childhood Development.