Vacancy: Lead Economist & Science Domain Leader – Markets, Value chains and Institutions
About the organization: The World Agroforestry Centre is an independent research institution which generates science-based knowledge about the complex role trees play in agricultural landscapes and rural livelihoods.
As part of the Centre’s work to bring tree-based solutions to bear on poverty and environmental problems, researchers – working in close collaboration with partners – are developing new technologies, tools and policy recommendations for increased food security and ecosystem health.
The Centre’s headquarters are located in Nairobi, Kenya, and research is conducted in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
We are supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and receive funding from over 50 different donors.
Main purpose of the job: ICRAF’s Science Domain on Markets, Value chains and Institutions seeks answers to critical questions related to the organization of value chains for agroforestry products, the capacities of smallholders to effectively participate in these chains, and the opportunities for achieving greater impact and scale through market-related interventions.
In particular, our research focuses on:
- Small and medium enterprise development
- Costs and benefits of agroforestry production
- International and regional trade in agroforestry products
- Business environment and access to services and inputs
- Local food networks and implications for consumers and producers
- Gender empowerment through market participation
- Value chain analysis & design of competitive strategies.
- Land tenure and property rights
- Sustainable supply chain management
- Certification and implications for smallholders and landscapes
ICRAF’s six Science Domains assure the Centre of thematic alignment, coherence and interdependence of its research agenda, and across teams of researchers in five regions and over 30 countries.
In addition to leading research in their own Domains, the Leaders constitute a leadership team in their own right, under ICRAF’s DDG Research, to assure overall coherence and impact of the Centre’s research portfolio.
As Lead Economist, the incumbent will be expected to play a 2 guiding role across all the other Science Domains and Mega-Projects to ensure the highest standards of research with respect to economics.
ICRAF’s Science Domains are focused, in the main, on the production of global public goods and building robust evidence for improved investment and policy.
Additionally, they support regional teams in the development and delivery of actionable knowledge and capacity development.
Finally, the Science Domains reinforce ICRAF’s focus on innovation and gender advancement, as well as wider public appreciation of the agroforestry arena.
Responsibilities:
1. Lead research focusing on the following themes:
- Small and medium enterprise development
- Costs and benefits of agroforestry production
- International and regional trade in agroforestry products
- Business environment and access to services and inputs
- Local food networks and implications for consumers and producers
- Gender empowerment through market participation
- Value chain analysis & design of competitive strategies.
- Land tenure and property rights
- Sustainable supply chain management
- Certification and implications for smallholders and landscapes
The research should be of global value leading to generation of new knowledge, methods, policies and capacity
2. Lead research in other relevant areas of production and enterprise economics of agroforestry systems as well as private sector engagement in public-private partnerships
3. Provide leadership for ICRAF’s contributions to the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets.
4. Supporting functions for all the above:
- Guide and build ICRAF’s capacity to carry out such research in all its regions.
- Guide/supervise thesis research students
- Initiate and manage partnerships with different national and international stakeholders (government agencies, private companies, donor agencies, NGOs, among others)
- Interact with other senior staff to ensure useful incorporation of the activities mentioned above into other aspects of the Centre’s work
- Project development and implementation and fundraising.
- Contribute to the attainment of the Centre’s strategic goals and the CGIAR Consortium’s Strategic Research Framework
5. Carry out any other activities related to the Program as directed by ICRAF DDG-R.
Qualifications and experience:
- PhD in agricultural/natural resources economics, a related social science, business management, or a related discipline
- Strong publications record, including peer-reviewed journal articles
- Research experience in developing countries
- Experience with research themes that are prioritized in SD2
- 10 years with minimum of 5 years postdoctoral experience
Skills and Competencies:
- Skills in research design and quantitative and qualitative data analysis
- Strong track record in managing collaborative relationships with a range of partners, including the private sector, in the agricultural or natural resource management sectors
- Demonstrated fundraising and proposal writing experience
- Familiarity with international agricultural and environmental research
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, fluency in English and, ideally, French and/or Spanish
- Ability to flourish in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams
- Strong capacity to mentor young scientists/students
- Willingness to travel frequently internationally
Terms of Offer: We offer a collegial, diverse and gender-sensitive working environment, and we strongly encourage applications from qualified women.
This position is remunerated on International terms.
The appointment will be for an initial period of three (3) years, subject to a six (6) months’ probation period.
How to Apply:
Applications will be considered until 31st October 2015 or until position is filled.
Please note that only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.