IFPRI is seeking an individual consultant to support an analysis of role of social protection in mediating the effects of climate variability and extremes on health, nutrition, and agriculture in Malawi.
Background:
Climate change is hitting the most vulnerable populations in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) hardest and is exacerbating social inequalities especially in contexts where exposure to the harmful impacts of climate change is high, where large shares of the population depend on natural resource-based livelihoods, and where gender inequalities are large. Climate change also has serious impacts on the health and nutrition of vulnerable populations including pregnant women and young children. Multi-sector platforms including social assistance programs (SAPs) have enormous potential to protect low-income, vulnerable populations in LMICs from the worst impacts of climate change. By targeting cash, food, or vouchers to people who are poor and nutritionally at-risk, SAP are inherently nutrition sensitive. However, evidence on optimal design (and their role in preventing or offsetting negative effects of climate-related health risks) to inform decision- makers is still scarce. This study will leverage 3 rounds of household survey data from a cluster Randomized Controlled Trial [cRCT] evaluating the effectiveness of a nutrition-sensitive cash transfer intervention in the Central and Southern Regions of Malawi, which are prone to a variety of climate shocks including drought, heavy rains, and cyclones.
This research will address the following questions:
ยท How do rainfall and temperature variability and extremes affect womenโs health and nutrition outcomes in Malawi?
ยท Can SAPs prevent or offset the impact of rainfall and temperature variability and extremes on womenโs health and nutrition outcomes in Malawi?
ยท How do rainfall and temperature variability and extremes affect household agricultural practices and output?
ยท Can SAPs prevent or offset the impact of rainfall and temperature variability and extremes on household agricultural practices, including the adoption of climate smart practices, and output in Malawi?
Scope of Work:
The Gender, Climate Change, and Nutrition Integration Initiative (GCAN) is seeking a consultant to work with team of researchers at IFPRI who are analyzing the effects of climate variability and extremes on health, food security, nutrition, and agricultural outcomes among vulnerable populations in Malawi and the extent to which social assistance programs can mediate the negative impacts. Specifically, the consultant will undertake the analysis of the climate data in Malawi. The collaborator should have extensive experience working at the climate change and health nexus using advanced quantitative and analytical methods. In particular, the collaborator should have experience and expertise in processing, understanding, and preparing climate data for epidemiological applications, including data sources, processing methods, appropriate resolution of source and output data, and understanding of how data will be used.
The consultant will engage in the following activities:
ยท Climate data preparation and provision. Climate data to include temperature and rainfall data, linked to household survey data
ยท Model building and analysis
ยท Work with the IFPRI team to develop a draft paper on the results
ยท Give a brown bag presentation on the results of the analysis
Deliverables:
1. Climate data prepared and provided to IFPRI team (by end of August 2025)
2. Draft results from analysis provided to IFPRI team (by mid-November 2025)
3. Draft paper (by December mid-2025)
4. Brown bag presentation (December 2025 or January 2026)
Duration: Receipt of signed contract โ January 30, 2026
Qualifications Needed:
โข Demonstrated experience working at the climate change and health nexus using advanced quantitative and analytical methods
โข Extensive experience and expertise in processing, understanding, and preparing climate data
โข Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams
โข Track record of producing high quality publications, particularly related to climate change and health
ยท PhD in climate, environmental, and/or health/medical sciences or a related field
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
ยท Recognized for contributions to research on climate change and health (e.g. served on expert committees, invitation to public conferences, awards and fellowships)
ยท Experience leading or working on projects related to climate and health
Application Deadline: July 26, 2025
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Note: We are unable to respond to every applicant individually; only the selected candidate will be contacted.