Job Summary
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks a qualified candidate to serve as a Research Analyst I in its Development Strategies and Governance Unit. This position is a one-year, renewable appointment, based at IFPRIโs office in Khartoum, Sudan. The successful candidate will be contracted through IFPRIโs host institution in Sudan, the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), and will follow AOADโs employment policies, benefits, and compensation structure. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated early-career researcher to work with leading international scholars on policy-relevant research in agriculture, food systems, resilience, urban and rural livelihoods, humanitarian response, and economic recovery. The Research Analyst will work closely with senior researchers and global teams to support: Large-scale data collection and field research, Advanced data analysis (micro, spatial, and economywide), Impact evaluations, including RCTs, Policy-oriented research and communication, Coordination with Sudanese and international partners. The role requires strong analytical skills, initiative, and the ability to work in a dynamic research and policy environment. Interested applicants must have work authorization to work in Sudan.
Essential Duties:
Specific tasks include, but are not limited to:
Empirical Research and Data Work
Designing and implementing farmers, household, enterprise, and market surveys
Supporting field supervision, enumerator training, and data quality protocols
Assist with cleaning complex datasets from multiple sources
Conducting quantitative, qualitative, spatial, and satellite-based analyses
Impact Evaluation and Modeling
Supporting impact evaluations and Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Contributing to economywide modeling and policy simulations
Undertaking political economy and market systems analysis
Social Protection and Resilience
Mapping and analyzing Sudanโs social protection systems
Supporting research on livelihood resilience, displacement, and conflict
Knowledge Products and Outreach
Assist in drafting reports, policy briefs, research papers, and presentations
Supporting capacity-building activities and partner engagement
Assisting in organizing IFPRI events (seminars, workshops, launches)
Contributing to IFPRI Sudanโs visibility, including web content and media engagement
Coordination and Administrative Support
Coordinating with IFPRI colleagues, donors, and implementing partners
Supporting project administration, logistics, and communication
Representing IFPRI Sudan in meetings and stakeholder engagements
Required Qualifications:
Research Analyst I: Bachelorโs degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies/Economics, Econometrics, Statistics or a closely related field plus two years of professional experience or Masterโs degree.
Strong understanding of Sudanโs socio-economic and agricultural context, including conflict and displacement dynamics
Excellent knowledge of micro/macro-economics and quantitative research methods
Strong skills in STATA (required); experience with GAMS, R, or Python is an advantage
Proven analytical and writing skills
Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken)
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural, team-oriented environment
Ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and maintain high accuracy
Ability to work independently and proactively
Willingness and ability to travel within Sudan
Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with research on agriculture, food systems, poverty reduction, nutrition, or economic development
Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in research, academia, development, data analysis, or impact evaluation
Experience with impact evaluations, social protection research, or humanitarian programs
Experience with GIS/ARC-GIS, spatial analysis, remote sensing, or satellite imagery
Experience in policy communication, outreach, or managing web content
Physical Demands and Work Environment
Employee will sit in an upright position for a long period of time.
Employee will lift between 0-10 pounds.
Employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform activities such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing computer terminal; extensive reading.