Introduction

KickStart International is an award-winning nonprofit social enterprise with an ambitious mission to empower millions of smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa to climb out of poverty quickly, cost-effectively, and sustainably.

KickStart promotes sustainable economic development, weather resilience, and food security by designing, manufacturing, and distributing small-scale irrigation pumps. Our bold vision of income and a food-secure future in Africa is built upon a commitment to providing and advocating for equitable access to the tools and knowledge that make smallholder farming a productive and resilient enterprise. We work in 17 countries across the region with headquarters in Nairobi.

Assignment Overview

KickStart International seeks to engage an experienced Consultant to lead a research initiative on the impact of smallholder irrigation on coffee production and farmer livelihoods in Uganda.

The research will happen on smallholder farmer plots involved in coffee cooperatives, and will use KickStart's manual water pumps. The consultant will design and oversee a rigorous field study aimed at generating credible, investment-grade evidence on how manual irrigation pumps influence coffee yields, quality, income, and climate resilience.

Scope of Work

• Design a scientifically sound research framework for the coffee irrigation impact study.
• Coordinate with local partners (coffee cooperatives and SACCOs) to establish and manage field trials.
• Develop indicators and data collection tools for assessing yield, quality, income, and water-use efficiency.
• Oversee data collection, validation, and quality assurance processes.
• Analyze and synthesize data into actionable insights and reports for multiple stakeholders (investors, agribusinesses, and development partners).
• Facilitate cross-learning between this study and related coffee financing pilot projects.

Expected Deliverables

• Detailed research design and implementation plan.
• Data collection tools and field protocols.
• Periodic progress and data quality reports.
• Final analytical report and policy/investment brief.

Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced degree (MSc or PhD) in Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, or related discipline.
• Proven experience designing and managing applied agricultural research and field trials.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with experience in data analysis and synthesis.
• Deep knowledge of coffee agronomy in Uganda or East Africa.
• Demonstrated experience with irrigation, smallholder systems, and climate resilience research is an advantage.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills.

• Design a scientifically sound research framework for the coffee irrigation impact study.
• Coordinate with local partners (coffee cooperatives and SACCOs) to establish and manage field trials.
• Develop indicators and data collection tools for assessing yield, quality, income, and water-use efficiency.
• Oversee data collection, validation, and quality assurance processes.
• Analyze and synthesize data into actionable insights and reports for multiple stakeholders (investors, agribusinesses, and development partners).
• Facilitate cross-learning between this study and related coffee financing pilot projects.

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with experience in data analysis and synthesis
• Excellent communication and report writing skills

• Advanced degree (MSc or PhD) in Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, or related discipline
• Proven experience designing and managing applied agricultural research and field trials
• Deep knowledge of coffee agronomy in Uganda or East Africa
• Demonstrated experience with irrigation, smallholder systems, and climate resilience research is an advantage