Post Doctoral Fellow – Gender and Development

WorldFish, a leading international research organization dedicated to transforming aquatic food systems, is seeking a Post-Doctoral Fellow in Gender and Development to be based in Nairobi, Kenya. This internationally recruited position sits at the intersection of rigorous social science research and real-world development impact, contributing to CGIAR's Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Food Systems (SAAF) and Multifunctional Landscapes Science Programs, as well as the Gender Accelerator and Climate Adaptation and Sustainability of Aquatic Systems (CASA) project.

The Fellow will generate cutting-edge evidence on gender equality, women's empowerment, and social inclusion within aquatic and food systems across Africa, Asia, and beyond. Working under the supervision of the Social and Economic Inclusion Lead, you will collaborate with a richly multidisciplinary team — including data scientists, aquaculture specialists, nutritionists, climate change experts, and science communicators — to design and deliver research that meaningfully shapes policy and practice for the 800 million people who depend on small-scale fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods.

• Co-design, co-lead, and publish innovative strategic research on gender-inclusive and pro-poor value chains and markets in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
• Examine how gender norms and power relations influence access to resources, technologies, markets, climate adaptation strategies, and decision-making processes.
• Lay the conceptual and empirical foundation for WorldFish's work on women's empowerment in the fisheries sector.
• Develop and test gender-transformative solutions that enhance livelihoods, resilience, and equitable development outcomes.
• Unpack and critically analyse community-based natural resource management strategies with a gender and social inclusion lens.
• Investigate the role and importance of social networks within the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of research under CGIAR's SAAF, Multifunctional Landscapes, Gender Accelerator, and CASA initiatives.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across data science, rural development, production systems, bioprocesses, and science communication.
• Translate research findings into policy briefs, peer-reviewed publications, and knowledge products accessible to diverse audiences.
• Mentor and support junior researchers and contribute to building internal gender research capacity at WorldFish.

• Hold a PhD in Gender Studies, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Agricultural Economics, or a closely related field completed within the last five years.
• Demonstrate a track record of publishing peer-reviewed research on gender equality, women's empowerment, or social inclusion in food, agricultural, or aquatic systems.
• Apply mixed-methods research approaches — including qualitative, quantitative, and participatory methods — to complex development questions.
• Engage meaningfully with intersectional frameworks that link gender with class, ethnicity, and climate vulnerability in low- and middle-income country contexts.
• Collaborate effectively across disciplines, integrating social science perspectives with natural science research teams.
• Communicate research findings clearly to policy audiences, development practitioners, and community stakeholders.
• Manage multiple research workstreams simultaneously, meeting publication and project delivery deadlines.
• Demonstrate experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa or South/Southeast Asia on gender and development programmes — field research experience strongly preferred.
• Use statistical software (e.g., STATA, R, SPSS) and qualitative analysis tools (e.g., NVivo, ATLAS.ti) proficiently.

WorldFish offers a competitive internationally benchmarked remuneration package commensurate with qualifications and experience. Estimated monthly compensation for this role ranges from KES 300,000 to KES 500,000, reflecting the international recruitment scope and postdoctoral seniority level. The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and includes a comprehensive benefits package typical of CGIAR-affiliated research centres, which may include medical cover, housing or relocation support, and annual leave entitlements. Specific terms will be confirmed during the offer stage.

This role is ideal for an early-career researcher who has recently completed their PhD and is eager to bridge rigorous academic inquiry with large-scale development impact. You thrive in collaborative, cross-cultural environments, are passionate about gender justice in food systems, and want to influence global policy through evidence-based research. You are comfortable working across Africa and Asia, engaging both in the field and with high-level institutional partners.

This role is not suitable for candidates without a completed PhD, those without documented experience in gender or social inclusion research, or applicants seeking a purely desk-based or policy-advisory role with no research responsibilities.

• Visit the WorldFish careers portal at worldfishcenter.org/careers to access the official application link for this position.
• Prepare and upload your updated CV, a cover letter detailing your relevant research experience and motivation, and two or three samples of published or working papers.
• Provide contact details for at least two professional referees familiar with your research work.
• Ensure your application is submitted before the closing date of 11 July 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.