Senior Research Assistant/Research Analyst

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is one of the international agricultural research institutes organized under the umbrella of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The mandate of IFPRI is to identify and analyze alternative national and international strategies and policies for meeting world food needs in ways that conserve the natural resource base, with emphasis on low income and on the poorer groups in the countries.

Position Overview:

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks a qualified candidate to serve as a Senior Research Assistant/Research Analyst for its HarvestChoice team in the Environment and Production Technology Division (EPTD). The SRA/RA will devote work time according to these approximate proportions: 50% household-level data analysis relevant to Monitoring & Evaluation; 40% research; 10% outreach. Travels to sub-Saharan African countries (particularly Ghana, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Tanzania, and Zambia) may be required for this position.

This is a 1 year, exempt, fixed term, renewable appointment based at IFPRI Headquarters in Washington, DC. Final Grade and title will be determined based on experience.

About HarvestChoice:

HarvestChoice is jointly implemented with the Center for International Science and Technology Policy and Practice (InSTePP) at the University of Minnesota. The goals and outputs of HarvestChoice form part of the overall Strategic Foresight capacity within the CGIAR Consortium's Policies, Institutions and Markets Research Program (CRP2).

The SRA/RA will make use of household survey data holdings to apply and extend relevant HarvestChoice data, methods and concepts to his/her assignment. The successful candidate will work closely with both the team leader and the economist within IFPRI's HarvestChoice team in conducting a work program agreed and monitored by IFPRI and by USAID.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will:

• Provide household-level analysis for the Strategic Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) component of sub-Saharan Africa Sustainable Intensification (SI) of USAID's Feed the Future (FTF) research strategy, which HarvestChoice has been contracted to deliver. The team has recently expanded its regional spatial framework to encompass nationally representative household survey data in addition to its rich biophysical, production, market, demography and infrastructure data holdings. These elements will form the basis on which the successful candidate will develop and support spatially disaggregated analysis of target farming sub-systems, mixed crop-livestock system, households and key ecosystem services.
• The data and information system the SRA/RA will work on would complement a suite of modeling tools and spatially-disaggregated indicators already accessible to HarvestChoice, which the SRA/RA, HarvestChoice team member, and M&E partners will analyze and interpret. Particular emphasis will be placed on impact evaluation of sustainable intensification practices in the Sudano-Sahelian zone, the Ethiopian Highlands, and in the maize- and rice-based systems of Eastern and Southern Africa.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in international development, development economics, agricultural and applied economics or a very closely related field
• At the Research Analyst level, Master's degree plus a minimum of 2-3 years' relevant work experience.
• Significant experience in conducting quantitative household-level analysis in a development context, preferably on the agriculture development sector
• Experienced in survey methodologies, data management, analysis and compilation
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Demonstrated strong writing skills and capacity to analyze complex phenomena and publish findings in various forms
• Professional engagement with recognized peers in the field
• Advanced knowledge of statistical software packages (in particular STATA), good econometric skills and strong familiarity with data production processes.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated experience in effective interactions and negotiations in a multi-cultural environment setting with researchers
• Willingness to travel as required, especially to sub-Saharan African countries (particularly Ghana, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Tanzania, and Zambia)
• Ability of work independently
• Good organizational skills, to be able to meet deadlines satisfactorily

Preferred Qualifications:

• Good knowledge of the agriculture and livestock sector in sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience with techniques of deriving statistically robust typologies or clusters of households
• Experience with methods of analysis of spatially-disaggregated data (i.e. mapping)
• Significant periods of travel to and work in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in one or more of these countries: Ghana, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Tanzania, and Zambia
• Working knowledge of a second language of relevance to the geographic areas of research focus (e.g., French, Swahili, Amharic, Chichewa)

To Apply:

Go to IFPRI, Click on "Careers" and then click on "Research" to link you to Position #12-162 -Senior Research Assistant/Research Analyst, EPTD. Please complete on-line application, including a complete resume and a detailed letter of interest. Also complete section providing 3 references.