About One Acre Fund
Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund equips 5.5 million smallholder farmers to make their farms more productive. Across nine countries that together are home to two-thirds of Africa's farmers, we provide high-quality farm supplies, tree seedlings, accessible credit, modern agronomic training, and a wide range of other agricultural services. On average, this model enables any farmer to increase their income and assets on supported land by more than 35 percent, while permanently improving their resilience. This is all made possible by our team of 9,000+ full-time staff, drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. To learn more, please see our Why Work Here blog post.
Our Burundi program, established in 2011, operates under the local brand Tubura. We are a rapidly growing organization with over 1,000 employees nationwide. As of 2024, we serve over 340,000 unique farmers in 7 provinces; Muramvya, Gitega, Kayanza, Mwaro, Ngozi, Muyinga, and Ruyigi. To learn more about our work, look at our Burundi program blog.
About the Role
We seek a Qualitative Research and Insights Specialist to lead the use of applied qualitative research methodologies to improve One Acre Fund's program design, marketing strategies, training tools, and field implementation. The Specialist will conduct research that informs farmer-centric solutions, ensuring that interventions are grounded in farmer needs, behaviors, and lived realities.
You will lead end-to-end research processes—from study design, piloting, and field execution to insight synthesis and recommendation development. You will work with teams across Product Innovation, Field Operations, Ag Trainers and Global Agriculture, and support local staff capacity building in qualitative tools and participatory approaches.
You will report to the Product Innovations Lead.
Responsibilities
Project Design and Coordination
- Coordinate the qualitative research pipeline in collaboration with local and global teams.
- Design tools and protocols drawing from ethnographic, participatory, and behavioral approaches (e.g., Focal group Discussions, In-depth Interviews, observation).
- Pilot research methods and lead staff training on their use, ensuring high levels of understanding and quality execution.
- Manage logistics for field implementation including calendar planning, participant recruitment and incentives, venue booking, and transport coordination.
Field Research Execution
- Conduct or supervise in-field qualitative research activities to ensure data integrity and adherence to protocols.
- Implement rigorous quality control checks and troubleshoot issues as they arise during data collection.
- Facilitate or guide workshops, interviews, co-design sessions, and validation meetings with farmers and staff.
Data Analysis & Insight Generation
Capacity Building & Knowledge Management
- Mentor junior team members and field staff in qualitative research methodologies and synthesis.
- Facilitate learning sessions to disseminate best practices and cross-team insights.
- Manage a structured archive of tools, transcripts, reports, and other research outputs for institutional memory.
Career Growth and Development
We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.
Qualifications
Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:
- Bachelor's degree in social sciences, anthropology, psychology, development studies, or related field.
- Minimum 2 years of experience in qualitative research.
- Experience developing products/services based using human-centered design approaches is a plus.
- Demonstrated experience leading interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), or participatory workshops.
- Excel required, Stata/R preferred.
- Familiarity with tools like CommCare, KoboToolbox, Figma, or Excel (can maintain complex spreadsheets).
- Experience with co-design, storyboarding, or SBCC methodologies.
- Comfort working across multiple teams in a multicultural environment.
- Experience working in or with rural communities.
- Fluent in Kirundi, French, and English.
Preferred Start Date
As soon as possible
Job Location
Muramvya, Burundi
Benefits
Health insurance, paid time off
Contract Duration:
3 Years
Eligibility
This role is only open to citizens or permanent residents of Burundi.
Application Deadline
13 October 2025. Please note that we hire on a rolling basis which means that applications are reviewed and processed on a continuous basis until a hire is made.
One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here (globalhotline@oneacrefund.org), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization’s mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.
We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
