Consultancy for Individual to Design and Implement Cooperation Game for Experiential Learning, Kenya

Cooperation game in Netlogo for experiential learning, Kenya
Nature-Positive Solutions for Shifting Agrifood Systems to more Resilient and Sustainable Pathways (Nature+)

IFPRI is seeking an individual consultant for designing and implementing cooperation game in Netlogo for experiential learning in Kenya. This consultancy is open only to individuals.

Background:

The CGIAR Initiative on Nature-Positive Solutions aims to re-imagine, co-create and implement nature-positive solutions-based agri-food systems that equitably support food and livelihoods while ensuring that agriculture is a net positive contributor to biodiversity and nature. One of the activities, led by Work Package 5 under the International Food Policy Research Institute, aims to engage key actors in creating an enabling environment for nature-positive solutions by a) researching the cost of food, including the hidden costs of women’s labor and b) valuing and shaping different incentives, and c) supporting capacity strengthening and learning for mainstreaming implementation and scaling.

This consultancy will design and implement a group game in two western counties in Kenya. The game design will capture stylized sharable inputs and their movements among farmer participants of aggregated farms to balance socioeconomic and environmental outcomes. The objectives of the research are twofold: 1) to advance research on framed experiments (group dynamic games) in socio-ecological systems space by testing hypotheses based on within-game and between-game treatments, and 2) to assess the potential for game-induced experiential learning about collective action and cooperation.

The collaborator’s main activities include:

· Lead the design of the game and associated survey instruments, data analysis, and writing of one research paper, in collaboration with the Nature+ Work Package 5 research team:

v Deliverables:1) game design coded in Netlogo [draft version for field testing and training) and final version for implementation) and survey instruments coded in ODK, 2) implementation protocol for institutional review board application, and 3) one journal manuscript (with other IFPRI co-authors)

· Contribute to the in-person training in Kenya and field testing

v Deliverable 4): One report from the visit to the study site in Kenya to train the local implementation team (facilitators, field assistants, and local collaborators) and test the draft game, survey instruments and implementation protocol in the field

· Contribute to communication and outreach

v Deliverable 5): Input provided to communication and outreach activities (e.g., presentation and blog)

Level of effort and contract period:

25-30 days from receipt of signed contract to December 31, 2024.

Required qualifications:

· PhD in agricultural economics, economics or natural resource management

· At least 5 years of experience with developing computer-based game experiments or similar methods

· Proven track record in leading on publications on these topics

· Experience with implementing behavioral experiment research in rural, field settings and in Kenya

· Familiarity with human-environment coordination dilemmas

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*We are unable to respond to every applicant individually; only the selected applicant will be contacted*