Research Officer (Critical Minerals and Green Industrialisation)

Nigeria has set an ambitious pathway to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, reflected in its Energy Transition Plan, Climate Change Act, NDC and National Industrial Policy. Delivering this vision requires a sustainability-driven economic transformation that advances green industrialisation without compromising national development ambitions.

This makes the strategic development of Nigeria’s critical minerals sector increasingly important, not only as essential inputs for clean-energy technologies, but also as assets for economic diversification, domestic value addition, job creation, high-value manufacturing and geopolitical competitiveness. Alongside this, Nigeria’s push for local clean-technology manufacturing and resilient, inclusive value chains will be central to a just and development-oriented transition.

This project will provide research, evidence-based analysis, technical assistance, institutional strengthening and coordination support for Nigeria’s critical minerals sector, particularly its links to green industrialisation, national climate planning and industrial strategy. It will work closely with key government institutions, private sector actors, civil society and community organisations across Nigeria’s minerals and climate governance landscape.

Important: please only submit your application via the Google Form.

The Research Officer will provide evidence-based research, technical assistance, data analysis and geopolitical insights to support the integration of critical minerals into Nigeria’s climate planning, green industrialisation and economic diversification agenda.

The role will involve working closely with the National Council on Climate Change and other key government institutions to strengthen institutional capacity, improve coordination across MDAs, subnational actors and stakeholders, and support greater policy coherence across relevant national frameworks and reforms.

The Officer will also organise a high-level stakeholder convening involving government, private sector, development partners, civil society and community actors, and produce high-quality analytical outputs to inform Nigeria’s critical minerals landscape and its contribution to a fair and equitable transition.

Key Responsibilities

Research, Analysis and Knowledge Products

• Provide research, technical and analytical support on Nigeria’s critical minerals sector, particularly its links to green industrialisation, climate planning, economic diversification and industrial strategy.

• Track and analyse relevant policy, regulatory, institutional and geopolitical developments affecting Nigeria’s critical minerals landscape, including domestic reforms, regional dynamics and global clean-energy supply chains.

• Prepare high-quality briefing notes, policy summaries, talking points, research memos, meeting notes, internal updates and analytical outputs for government and stakeholder audiences.

• Support the synthesis of project outputs, stakeholder inputs, workshop findings and policy evidence into clear recommendations for government, private sector and development partners.

• Support the NCCC and relevant MDAs to strengthen institutional capacity on critical minerals, green industrialisation and climate-aligned economic diversification.

• Identify gaps, overlaps and opportunities for better alignment across climate policy, industrial policy, energy transition planning, solid minerals development and clean-technology manufacturing.

• Support coordination between relevant institutions, including the NCCC, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Environment, NGSA, SMDF and other key actors.

• Help translate research and project findings into practical institutional priorities, coordination processes and policy recommendations.

• Support stakeholder mapping and engagement across government, private sector, development partners, civil society, academia, community actors and industry associations.

• Coordinate preparations for the project’s high-level stakeholder convening, including agenda development, participant coordination, background materials, documentation and follow-up actions.

• Facilitate communication and coordination between APRI, the NCCC and other project stakeholders to ensure activities remain aligned with institutional priorities and project objectives.

• Document stakeholder consultations, meetings and workshops, ensuring that key insights, decisions and action points are captured and integrated into project outputs.

• Master’s degree or equivalent in public policy, economics, political economy, environmental studies, natural resource governance, international development, energy policy, industrial policy or a related field.

• Minimum of four years of relevant professional experience in policy research, technical advisory, programme coordination, stakeholder engagement or government-facing work.

• Good understanding of Nigeria’s climate governance architecture, energy transition agenda, industrial policy landscape, or critical minerals and extractives sector.

• Experience working with or alongside government institutions, with the ability to operate effectively, professionally and discreetly in an embedded or public-sector environment.

• Strong applied policy research skills, including the ability to synthesise technical material into clear briefings, summaries, talking points, reports and recommendations for senior audiences.

• Strong coordination and operational skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams, track progress and communicate effectively across stakeholders.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including the ability to prepare concise notes, correspondence, reports and research-based outputs to a high standard.

Interested candidates should submit the following during the application. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a competency-based interview.

• CV (maximum 4 pages)

APRI is an equal opportunity employer. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. APRI reserves the right to close this recruitment process early if a suitable candidate is identified.

APRI - Africa Policy Research Institute is an independent, nonpartisan institute researching key policy issues affecting the African continent. Its goals are to provide input to the German and EU policy-making processes on Africa and options on key policy issues to African stakeholders.

To achieve this, APRI taps into the expertise of African intellectuals, scholars, and networks, collaborating with a wide range of organizations at home and abroad to conduct policy research that looks beyond prevailing narratives and transcends disciplinary hegemonies to center Africa. Its outputs include reports, policy briefs, and short analyses, with the goal of expanding to other innovative ways of disseminating its work.