Senior Associate for Food Systems, Agriculture & Climate Resilience

Busara Is Hiring a Senior Associate for Food Systems, Agriculture & Climate Resilience: A Unique Opportunity for Behavioral Science Professionals

As global food systems face increasing pressure from climate change, market instability, and evolving social dynamics, organizations are searching for innovative ways to design solutions that work in real-world contexts. One organization leading this effort is Busara, which has announced an opening for a Senior Associate – Food Systems, Agriculture and Climate Resilience Management (FaRM).

The role offers an opportunity for experienced professionals to work at the intersection of behavioral science, agricultural development, climate resilience, and research advisory services, supporting projects across the Global South. 

About Busara
Founded in 2014, Busara Center for Behavioral Economics has grown from a behavioral science laboratory in Nairobi into an internationally recognized research and advisory organization. The organization works across more than 50 countries, helping governments, NGOs, donors, and private-sector organizations apply behavioral science to solve complex development challenges. 
Busara's work spans sectors including:

• Agriculture

• Climate resilience

• Health

• Governance

• Financial inclusion

• Economic development

Its mission centers on using evidence-based behavioral insights to improve outcomes for underserved populations worldwide.

The Role: Senior Associate – Food Systems, Agriculture and Climate Resilience Management
The position sits within Busara's Food Systems, Agriculture & Climate Resilience Management (FaRM) Team, which applies behavioral science to some of the most pressing challenges affecting smallholder farmers and agricultural systems.
According to Busara, the organization is looking for someone who understands that agricultural challenges are not experienced in isolation. Farmers operate within systems shaped by:

• Climate risks

• Markets and value chains

• Social norms

• Institutional structures

• Community dynamics

The successful candidate will help design practical solutions that are not only evidence-based but also applicable within real-world agricultural environments. 

Why This Position Stands Out
Many agriculture and climate-related jobs focus primarily on technical agricultural expertise. This role is different.
Busara is specifically seeking a professional who can combine:

• Strong field experience

• Behavioral science knowledge

• Qualitative research expertise

• Strategic advisory skills

• Stakeholder management capabilities

The organization emphasizes that this is not a generalist role. Instead, it is designed for someone who has spent significant time working directly with agricultural communities and understands the realities facing smallholder farmers. 

What the Senior Associate Will Do
The selected candidate will lead research and advisory engagements across the Global South while collaborating with governments, donors, NGOs, research institutions, and private-sector actors.
Key responsibilities include:

1. Client and Advisory Leadership
The Senior Associate will:

• Manage client relationships throughout project lifecycles

• Lead conversations with donors and senior stakeholders

• Develop proposals and concept notes

• Support business development efforts

• Represent Busara at conferences and technical events

• Translate complex client questions into actionable research agendas

The role requires both technical expertise and the ability to communicate effectively with decision-makers across multiple sectors. 

2. Qualitative Research and Behavioral Science
A major component of the role involves designing and leading research activities such as:

• In-depth interviews (IDIs)

• Focus group discussions (FGDs)

• Ethnographic observation

• Participatory research methods

The successful candidate will analyze behavioral drivers that influence agricultural decision-making and climate adaptation among farming communities. 
Busara specifically highlights the importance of applying behavioral science frameworks to food systems and climate resilience challenges. 

3. Project and Team Management
Beyond research, the Senior Associate will oversee project execution by:

• Managing timelines and budgets

• Coordinating multidisciplinary teams

• Mentoring analysts and project staff

• Ensuring quality across research outputs

• Managing risks and stakeholder expectations

This makes the position suitable for professionals who have progressed beyond technical implementation and are ready to take ownership of large, complex engagements.

The Growing Importance of Behavioral Science in Agriculture
Behavioral science has become increasingly important in agricultural development because many farming decisions are influenced by factors beyond access to information or technology.
Farmer behavior is often shaped by:

• Social norms

• Risk perception

• Financial constraints

• Trust in institutions

• Community influences

• Climate uncertainty

Organizations are increasingly recognizing that sustainable agricultural transformation requires understanding how people make decisions within complex systems. This is particularly relevant in climate-smart agriculture, where adoption of new practices depends heavily on behavioral and social factors. 

Busara's FaRM team works directly within this space, helping organizations design interventions that align with real-world farmer behavior rather than relying solely on theoretical assumptions. 

Who Should Consider Applying?
This opportunity may be particularly attractive to professionals with backgrounds in:

• Agricultural economics

• Food systems development

• Climate resilience programming

• Rural development

• Behavioral science

• Qualitative research

• International development

• Policy advisory services

The organization is looking for candidates with approximately 5–8 years of relevant experience, particularly within food systems, agriculture, and climate resilience contexts. Strong qualitative research skills and field experience are heavily emphasized. 

Skills That Will Be Valuable
Based on the job description, competitive candidates are likely to demonstrate experience in:

• Stakeholder engagement

• Research design

• Behavioral science applications

• Project management

• Agricultural value chains

• Climate adaptation programming

• Report writing

• Team leadership

• Proposal development

• Evidence synthesis

The role also requires confidence engaging with senior government officials, donors, and development partners while maintaining the humility and contextual understanding that comes from fieldwork.

 
Why This Role Matters
Food systems across Africa, Asia, and Latin America are undergoing significant transformation due to climate pressures, population growth, and changing market dynamics.

Organizations increasingly need professionals who can bridge the gap between:

• Research and implementation

• Evidence and practice

• Policy and behavior

• Climate adaptation and livelihoods

This Busara opportunity reflects a broader shift within international development toward solutions that are not only technically sound but also behaviorally informed and locally relevant. 

How to Apply
Interested candidates can review the full position details and submit their applications through Busara's official careers page. Apply Here

Final Thoughts
For professionals passionate about agriculture, climate resilience, and behavioral science, this role offers a rare opportunity to work on high-impact projects across the Global South while influencing how development programs are designed and implemented.

As food systems continue to evolve under climate pressure, organizations like Busara are demonstrating that understanding human behavior may be just as important as understanding agricultural technologies.

This position places successful candidates at the center of that transformation, helping shape solutions that are rigorous, practical, and capable of delivering meaningful impact for farming communities worldwide.