Applied Socio-economist - vacancy

Job title: Applied Socio-economist (Post-Doctoral Fellow),
 Location:Bangladesh
Deadline: Friday, 05 July 2013
Description:    
We are seeking an experienced and resourceful Applied Socio-economist to join a new USAID-funded agricultural R4D project focused on efficient surface water irrigation, scale-appropriate mechanization, and conservation agriculture, to sustainably intensify cropping systems in Southern Bangladesh. The five-year, > $12 million project activities are being implemented in collaboration with International Development Enterprises (iDE), and will integrate and build upon synergies created with the already operational Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) in Bangladesh project.

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT®, is a not-for-profit research and training organization with partners in over 100 countries. Please refer to our website for more information: www.cimmyt.org

The selected candidate will work as a member of CIMMYT's Socio-Economics Program (SEP) in CSISA Bangladesh and support the multi-institutional and interdisciplinary team that coordinates the CSISA in Bangladesh. CSISA is a collaborative R4D program launched in 2010 with funding from USAID. It combines the strengths of several members of CGIAR (IRRI, CIMMYT, and WorldFish) in collaboration with public and private sector partners.
The overall goal of CSISA is to increase household food and income security in Bangladesh through the accelerated development and inclusive deployment of new varieties, sustainable and productive management technologies, and innovative policies. CSISA also endeavors to place technologies in the context of markets, risk, and other barriers that, without complementary strategies, can constrain advances in production and improvements in livelihoods. CSISA-MI represents new and distinct project activities within CSISA.

CSISA-MI will intensify dry season cropping in the impoverished regions of Southern Bangladesh by facilitating broad access to low-cost and efficient surface water irrigation combined with innovative agronomy and business models, and by researching, perfecting, extending and commercializing scale-appropriate agricultural machineries and associated services at scale.

The selected candidate will be based at CIMMYT Dhaka Office, Bangladesh, but will travel frequently; including to other regions where CIMMYT is involved is similar projects (Africa, Mexico, Bangladesh, India, Nepal). Travel to the field in Bangladesh will be frequent.

Specific duties of this position include:

•     Assess the prospects and potential enhancements to sustainably intensify agricultural production in Southern-Bangladesh through surface water irrigation supplied by local service providers.
•     Assess and enhance options for efficient and resource-conserving agricultural mechanization provided by local service providers.
•     Identify and strengthen new models for public and private partnerships for effective irrigation and mechanization service provider markets and associated capacity building.
•     Build an exciting research-for-development portfolio around the above three intervention areas, including targeting options and tools; technological and institutional innovations; business models and development strategies; empirical evidence particularly in relation to adaptation, adoption and impact; practical recommendations and rigorous documentation.
•     Assist the project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) team by providing advice on rapid monitoring, surveying, and interpretation of results.
•     Contribute to project reports to USAID and other partners, with an emphasis on M&E
•     Provide support for project monitoring and evaluation.
•     Publish findings in international peer reviewed journals.
•     Assist project and CIMMYT-Bangladesh management in any other matters as and when required.
• We are seeking candidates with the following academic qualifications, skills and attitudes:
•     PhD in agricultural/development economics, rural development, agribusiness, geography or a related field from a recognized institution.
•     2-3 years of applied and relevant research-for-development experience during PhD and earlier career/studies.
•     Experience with local agricultural service providers and associated market analysis and development.
•     Experience with public-private partnerships.
•     Familiarity with small-scale agricultural machinery, irrigation, sustainable intensification and smallholder agriculture (preferably in South Asia).
•     Good partnership skills, including the ability to moderate meetings with partners.
•     Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
•     A high degree of personal organization and the ability to multi-task and work under pressure, as well as travel extensively.
•     Ability to work with people of different nationalities, disciplines, and education levels as a member of a diverse work team.
•     Promising publication record.
• We will offer an initial contract for two years, which may be renewable subject to continued need and funding for the position and performance of the staff member. Our internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, car, comprehensive health and life insurance, assistance for children's education, paid vacation, annual airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment.
• CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.

How to apply:
To apply for this position, please email cover letter and CV no later than Friday, 5 July, 2013 to Human Resources, CIMMYT (Email: irsrecruitment@cgiar.org / Please indicate Position Reference number: 12317 in the header of your email).

For further information on the selection process, please contact Guillermo Flores, Staffing Specialist, at g.flores@cgiar.org.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.