We are currently looking for a Research Manager to lead our Markets and Livelihoods Research Unit in  Afghanistan.

Position:                           Research Manager

Contract duration:           6 months with possibility of extension

Starting Date:                   1 June 2025

Location:                           Kabul, Afghanistan

COUNTRY PROFILE

Afghanistan has endured 40 years of complex crisis, characterized by conflict, insecurity, regime change, and climate disasters. After the Taliban took over in 2021, the country was further affected by a collapsing economy and uncertainty about the future. The economic situation has stabilized in the years since but remains fragile – humanitarian assistance still provides much needed help for large population groups across the country.

IMPACT has been active in Afghanistan since 2016, launching its flagship REACH and AGORA initiatives in 2018. Working across all 34 provinces, the Afghanistan team’s research supports and facilitates emergency response efforts immediately following conflict or natural disaster as well as more long-term oriented humanitarian planning, prioritization, resilience and recovery activities. IMPACT Afghanistan has three main research portfolios that focus on programming in each of these areas: one portfolio involves research around food, markets and livelihoods to inform the humanitarian cash response as well as economic livelihoods  and food programming, the second focuses on inter-sectoral research that feeds directly into emergency humanitarian planning and prioritization, and the third uses area-based assessments and community-based research to support local solutions and accountability to affected populations in Afghanistan.

IMPACT Afghanistan’s Markets and Livelihoods Research Unit includes several portfolios to support food security, cash, markets, and livelihoods actors across the nexus in Afghanistan – meaning delivering research that can inform both humanitarian and development actors. This research unit includes one of IMPACT’s flagship research programs, the Joint Market Monitoring Initiative, which provides information that helps the Cash Working Group to set the value for its Minimum Expenditure Basket, as well as informing dozens of actors for their cash based programming. The unit also includes mapping initiatives looking at basic service units that can inform socio-economic planning for large actors such as the World Food Progamme, and livelihoods zones mapping to support other food security actors. As Afghanistan continues to stabilize economically while still being marked by fragility, this unit will be well positioned to lead new research portfolios exploring existing data as well as new opportunities in markets and economic analysis.

IMPACT Afghanistan is looking for a dynamic Research Manager with excellent research skills to head the MLRU, managing

existing research cycles and driving its strategic direction.

REQUIREMENTS

Excellent academic qualifications, including a master’s degree in a relevant discipline;

At least 4 years of relevant working experience in a humanitarian or development setting, such as program management, assessments, evaluation – better if background is economics;

Excellent quantitative and qualitative research design, data collection, and data analysis experience required;

Demonstrated team management skills, including remote management;

Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting and reviewing;

Demonstrated ability to engage with donors and senior coordination-level partners;

Prior experience with humanitarian or development coordination forums such as CWG, Food Sec cluster, or other relevant coordinating body, preferred;

Prior knowledge of the region an asset;

Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility and working independently, as well an ability to think creatively.

Ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel required.

Ability to operate Adobe Suite preferred.

Skills in SPSS, R or related statistical software are considered an asset.

Fluency in English required.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

For this position, salary between 2’900€ and 3’100€ monthly (before income tax), etc as well as a monthly living allowance of 500 USD
NB – IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education of staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied as a recognition that some staff are required to work in difficult places where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.

Accommodation and food provided in a guesthouse. IMPACT is hosted by ACTED in this country

Enrolment in Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approx. 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance

This base is not a family duty station

Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and professional expenses are fully covered)

R&R after 2-3 months (flight ticket up to 500$ + 200$ of living allowance) if duty station allows

Contribution to the luggage transportation: between 20 and 100 kgs, depending on the length of the contract (+ luggage and personal property insurance)

Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Family/compassionate leave when applicable.

Predeparture induction – 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives’ HQ in Geneva + one week pre-departure training in ACTED HQ in Paris, including a 4-day in situ security training;

Enrolment in IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Program within the first 3 months from the start of contract.

IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff, and the health insurance provided covers, among others, up to 1000 € per year of psychosocial counselling fees.

HOW TO APPLY

Submit your application using the form below. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
In case you encounter challenges using the application form, please contact us via [email protected]