Job purpose

The Applied Research and Publications Manager will lead AAIN’s applied research agenda, knowledge generation activities, documentation, and publication portfolio. The role supports evidence-based decision-making, influences policy dialogue, strengthens AAIN’s incubation ecosystem, and enhances institutional visibility across Africa.

The Manager will oversee the design, management, and dissemination of high-quality research products focused on agribusiness incubation, technology commercialization, youth entrepreneurship, SME development, and innovation systems. This position plays a strategic role in transforming data into actionable insights, developing research partnerships, and ensuring all publications meet international quality standards.

Duties and Responsibilities

A. Research Strategy & Leadership

• Lead the development and implementation of AAIN’s applied research strategy aligned with its four investment pillars.
• Identify research priorities and emerging trends related to agribusiness incubation, innovation, youth entrepreneurship, and SME development.
• Oversee the design and execution of research studies, assessments, case studies, and impact evaluations across member incubators and partner programs.
• Coordinate multi-country research initiatives in collaboration with regional partners, academic institutions, and development agencies.

B. Research Management & Quality Assurance

• Develop research protocols, methodologies, data collection tools, and analytical frameworks.
• Ensure research activities adhere to ethical standards, data quality assurance measures, and methodological rigor.
• Manage research teams, consultants, enumerators, and collaborating institutions.
• Conduct advanced data analysis and interpret findings for program improvement and policy influence.

C. Documentation, Publications & Knowledge Products

• Lead the development of AAIN’s publications, including policy briefs, technical reports, annual reports, working papers, innovation profiles, manuals, toolkits, and newsletters.
• Establish and manage an editorial and peer-review process to ensure publication quality.
• Oversee layout, design, editing, and branding compliance for all knowledge products.
• Manage AAIN’s digital knowledge repository, ensuring content is updated, accessible, and well-organized.

D. Knowledge Dissemination & Thought Leadership

• Facilitate knowledge-sharing workshops, learning events, and dissemination forums targeting incubators, policymakers, and ecosystem actors.
• Present research findings at conferences, policy dialogues, and stakeholder forums across Africa.
• Support communication teams with evidence-based content for articles, media releases, infographics, and digital platforms.
• Promote AAIN’s thought leadership in agribusiness incubation and innovation ecosystems.

E. Partnerships, Resource Mobilization & Institutional Collaboration

• Establish research partnerships with universities, think tanks, development partners, and private-sector actors.
• Provide research inputs for concept notes, project proposals, and donor-funded programs.
• Contribute to fundraising efforts for research projects, surveys, and knowledge-generation initiatives.
• Engage with policy institutions to ensure research outputs inform policy and ecosystem development.

F. Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) & Impact Analytics

• Support data-driven MEL processes by designing indicators, data tools, and performance tracking mechanisms.
• Generate impact analysis of incubation programs and enterprise growth across the continent.
• Compile learning briefs, dashboards, and evidence-driven recommendations for program improvement.

G. Operational, Administrative & Supervisory Responsibilities

• Manage budgets related to research and publication activities.
• Supervise research interns, consultants, and collaborative research staff.
• Prepare periodic progress reports, annual knowledge reports, and research summaries for the Deputy CEO.
• Ensure compliance with organizational standards and donor requirements.

Minimum Job requirements

1. Academic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Research Methods, Statistics, Development Studies, Agribusiness, Economics, Innovation Studies, or related fields.
• A PhD is an added advantage, especially in fields related to applied research or agribusiness innovation.

2. Work Experience

• Minimum 5–7 years of relevant experience in applied research, publication management, or knowledge management within agribusiness, development, or innovation ecosystems.
• Proven experience conducting multi-country research, impact assessments, or large-scale surveys.
• Demonstrated experience in producing high-quality publications (reports, policy briefs, journals, toolkits, etc.).
• Experience working with academic institutions, research think tanks, incubators, or development partners.
• Experience managing research teams, external consultants, and editorial processes.
• Experience in proposal writing, research fundraising, or resource mobilization is an advantage.

Key Skills and competencies

• Strong background in qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Proficiency in statistical and analytical software (SPSS, STATA, R, NVivo, etc.).
• Excellent writing, editing, and academic publishing skills.
• Strong understanding of agribusiness ecosystems, innovation systems, youth entrepreneurship, and incubation models.
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable insights.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to design and lead a continental research agenda that influences policy and practice.
• Communication & Presentation: Excellent ability to communicate research findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Leadership & Team Management: Strong supervisory and coordination skills for research teams and contributors.
• Innovation & Analytical Thinking: Ability to conceptualize new research ideas and solutions.
• High-level competence in research design, data analytics, and publication management.
• Skilled in knowledge management systems and digital research repositories.
• Strong editorial and peer-review competency.
• Understanding of impact measurement, incubation performance indicators, and ecosystem analytics.
• High integrity, confidentiality, and professional ethics.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work across diverse African contexts.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and results-driven.
• Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills.

• Lead the development and implementation of AAIN’s applied research strategy aligned with its four investment pillars.
• Identify research priorities and emerging trends related to agribusiness incubation, innovation, youth entrepreneurship, and SME development.
• Oversee the design and execution of research studies, assessments, case studies, and impact evaluations across member incubators and partner programs.
• Coordinate multi-country research initiatives in collaboration with regional partners, academic institutions, and development agencies.
• Develop research protocols, methodologies, data collection tools, and analytical frameworks.
• Ensure research activities adhere to ethical standards, data quality assurance measures, and methodological rigor.
• Manage research teams, consultants, enumerators, and collaborating institutions.
• Conduct advanced data analysis and interpret findings for program improvement and policy influence.
• Lead the development of AAIN’s publications, including policy briefs, technical reports, annual reports, working papers, innovation profiles, manuals, toolkits, and newsletters.
• Establish and manage an editorial and peer-review process to ensure publication quality.
• Oversee layout, design, editing, and branding compliance for all knowledge products.
• Manage AAIN’s digital knowledge repository, ensuring content is updated, accessible, and well-organized.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing workshops, learning events, and dissemination forums targeting incubators, policymakers, and ecosystem actors.
• Present research findings at conferences, policy dialogues, and stakeholder forums across Africa.
• Support communication teams with evidence-based content for articles, media releases, infographics, and digital platforms.
• Promote AAIN’s thought leadership in agribusiness incubation and innovation ecosystems.
• Establish research partnerships with universities, think tanks, development partners, and private-sector actors.
• Provide research inputs for concept notes, project proposals, and donor-funded programs.
• Contribute to fundraising efforts for research projects, surveys, and knowledge-generation initiatives.
• Engage with policy institutions to ensure research outputs inform policy and ecosystem development.
• Support data-driven MEL processes by designing indicators, data tools, and performance tracking mechanisms.
• Generate impact analysis of incubation programs and enterprise growth across the continent.
• Compile learning briefs, dashboards, and evidence-driven recommendations for program improvement.
• Manage budgets related to research and publication activities.
• Supervise research interns, consultants, and collaborative research staff.
• Prepare periodic progress reports, annual knowledge reports, and research summaries for the Deputy CEO.
• Ensure compliance with organizational standards and donor requirements.

• Strong background in qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Proficiency in statistical and analytical software (SPSS, STATA, R, NVivo, etc.).
• Excellent writing, editing, and academic publishing skills.
• Strong understanding of agribusiness ecosystems, innovation systems, youth entrepreneurship, and incubation models.
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable insights.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to design and lead a continental research agenda that influences policy and practice.
• Communication & Presentation: Excellent ability to communicate research findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Leadership & Team Management: Strong supervisory and coordination skills for research teams and contributors.
• Innovation & Analytical Thinking: Ability to conceptualize new research ideas and solutions.
• High-level competence in research design, data analytics, and publication management.
• Skilled in knowledge management systems and digital research repositories.
• Strong editorial and peer-review competency.
• Understanding of impact measurement, incubation performance indicators, and ecosystem analytics.
• High integrity, confidentiality, and professional ethics.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work across diverse African contexts.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and results-driven.
• Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills.

• Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Research Methods, Statistics, Development Studies, Agribusiness, Economics, Innovation Studies, or related fields.
• A PhD is an added advantage, especially in fields related to applied research or agribusiness innovation.
• Minimum 5–7 years of relevant experience in applied research, publication management, or knowledge management within agribusiness, development, or innovation ecosystems.
• Proven experience conducting multi-country research, impact assessments, or large-scale surveys.
• Demonstrated experience in producing high-quality publications (reports, policy briefs, journals, toolkits, etc.).
• Experience working with academic institutions, research think tanks, incubators, or development partners.
• Experience managing research teams, external consultants, and editorial processes.
• Experience in proposal writing, research fundraising, or resource mobilization is an advantage.