Terms of Reference (TOR)

Call for MSc Graduate Fellow - Institute for Research, Impact & Development (IRID)

Background

The Institute for Research, Impact & Development (IRID) is an applied research and policy institute working to strengthen climate science, and environmental sustainability, in Somalia/land and the wider Horn of Africa. IRID collaborates with national institutions, development partners, and global research organizations to generate actionable research and support informed decision-making. 

Capacity development is a central component of IRID’s mandate and is integrated across all its research, analytics, and field programs. As part of this commitment, IRID offers structured Graduate Fellowships designed to nurture early-career researchers in Somalia and strengthen national research.

IRID Thematic Areas of Expertise

IRID’s work is structured across three core thematic areas:

1. Climate Science and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

• Climate policy development and programming support 
• Climate risk and vulnerability assessment (CRVA) 
• Early warning systems (EWS) and anticipatory action 
• Greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting 
• Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems 
• Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) advisory 
• Climate finance and carbon markets (regulatory and voluntary) advisory

1. Environmental Sustainability

• Rangeland management, rehabilitation, and monitoring 
• Rangeland carbon project development

1. Institutional Capacity Strengthening

• Capacity development and technical advisory services across the above thematic areas

The MSc Graduate Fellowship is a short-term, learning-oriented placement offered to graduate students who wish to gain practical research experience relevant to their academic training. Fellows join IRID for a defined period of six (6) months as part of their academic requirements and are expected to resume their studies upon completion of the fellowship. IRID is explicitly seeking Master’s students enrolled in prestigious universities in Somalia, the region, and globally, who have completed their coursework and are now entering the research phase of their Master’s programme.

The fellowship aims to help students apply academic knowledge to real-world development challenges in climate resilience, agriculture, environment, and related fields. Fellows work five days per week and operate under the supervision and mentorship of IRID research director. Fellows based outside Somalia, who are already placed at their respective universities, may undertake the fellowship remotely.

Scope of Work and Responsibilities

The Fellow will contribute to applied research, data analytics, and evidence generation across IRID’s thematic pillars. The Fellow will support the following:

• Conducting literature reviews and background research across IRID thematic areas.
• Supporting design of research tools, questionnaires, and analytical frameworks.
• Assisting with fieldwork, including interviews, surveys, and community consultations.
• Cleaning, organizing, and analyzing datasets using standard statistical software.
• Drafting technical notes, field summaries, and sections of analytical reports.
• Supporting stakeholder meetings, workshops, and project events.
• Prepare an output to share findings with the community (e.g. poster, one page brief, small talk).
• Providing technical support across IRID projects as assigned.

Learning Objectives

The fellowship aims to:

• Strengthen applied research and analytical skills 
• Build experience in climate and development programming 
• Enhance scientific writing and policy translation skills 
• Provide exposure to real-world project implementation

Expected Outputs

The Fellow is expected to produce the following:

• Monthly activity and learning progress updates.
• At least one publishable-quality research output (e.g., thesis chapter, working paper, technical brief).
• Clean datasets, field documentation, and metadata.
• Contributions to IRID project reports and donor deliverables.
• A final fellowship completion report summarizing learning achievements.

Eligibility Criteria

• MSc students in the fields of: climate change, environmental studies, agriculture, natural resource management, or other closely related fields.
• Completed MSc coursework at a recognized university and currently starting the research phase of their Master’s program.
• Language: Fluent in English and Somali 
• Work Experience: Up to 2 years of relevant experience (preferred)
• Domain Experience: Experience in livestock, agriculture, environmental management, or climate change-related topics.
• Research Skills: Experience in collecting qualitative data and/or scientific writing.

Location: Somalia and Somaliland (Remote work is possible for Fellows already based outside the country at their university location)

Terms of Appointment and Offers

IRID will provide:

• The fellowship provides a basic monthly stipend to support living expenses in the project location, along with coverage of research-related expenses.
• The fellow will be assigned with a Senior Scientist to supervise his/her work, along with the Academic Supervisor from the fellow’s university.
• The fellow will also have access to IRID’s resources, including office space, ICT facilities, and an official IRID email account.
• IRID provides guidance on producing research reports, policy briefs, and academic papers, including support for publication fees.
• Capacity Building & Mentorship: Exposure to professional mentorship, technical workshops, seminars, and training sessions organized by IRID.
• Offer of reference: Opportunity to receive references or letters of recommendation from IRID for future academic or professional opportunities.

Required Application Documents

Applications missing any of the documents below will not be considered.

1. Cover letter expressing interest in the fellowship and explaining why he is the right fit for this role.
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) including names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of three referees familiar with the candidate’s qualifications and experience.
3. Full Admission Letter from the university confirming enrollment in the MSc program.
4. Confirmation Letter: Letter from his/her supervisor that the incumbent has finished his course work and about to start research work.

Selection Process

• Shortlisting based on qualifications, experience and conditions attached to the TOR.
• Interview (technical + motivation) 
• Final selection based on merit and alignment with IRID’s work

https://iridinstitute.org/terms-of-reference-tor-call-for-msc-graduate-fellow/

APPLY on or before 18th April, 2026. The position title and reference number IRID MSc II/15012026 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email. IRID is an equal opportunity organization committed to diversity and inclusion. Women and candidates from underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted**.** IRID does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). IRID also does not concern itself with information on applicants” bank accounts. To find out more about IRID, visit our websites at  http://www.iridinstitute.org/