The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, is seeking a dynamic and multi-skilled candidate to join as a Postdoctoral Fellow: Scaling Climate-Smart Agriculture and Climate Information Services. This position will be based in Lusaka, Zambia, and hosted by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
The successful candidate will be responsible for providing technical expertise for activities associated with the science and practice of scaling water solutions and conducting applied, transdisciplinary scientific research in this domain. The postdoc will collaborate with multiple teams within IWMI and relevant public sector stakeholders and development partners to develop scaling strategies for Climate Information Services (CIS) and Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) innovations using appropriate research methods, tools, and field experiences.
Under the leadership of the AICCRA Project and in close collaboration with the AICCRA project team, the incumbent will initiate, suggest, and monitor various CSA/CIS innovation bundles. The incumbent will also promote private and public sector investments and interventions in climate-smart agriculture in Zambia as part of the AICCRA, Ukama Ustawi, ClimBer, and AID-I projects.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
CSA/CIS Innovation Scaling Research
Conduct field data and secondary data collection, literature syntheses, interviews, and other research activities related to scaling climate-smart agricultural practices, such as adaptive scaling of solar irrigation, drought-tolerant seed varieties, smart water management, etc., as well as extension and climate advisory service delivery and communication technologies for smallholder agriculture. Analyze CSA value chains, irrigation supply chains, and financing modalities to identify opportunities for enhancing access to CSA and CIS practices/technologies in bottom-of-the-pyramid markets. Perform adoption studies, tracer studies, and affordability surveys to assess the innovation scaling potential of various CSA/CIS practices in East and Southern Africa. Analyze the scaling ecosystem, enabling environment, and blocking mechanisms to enhance the scaling of water and agricultural innovations, including digital agriculture. Develop analytical frameworks using quantitative and qualitative methods for assessing the impact of project interventions, including monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive project management. Collaborate on data collection and analysis and monitor and evaluate solar irrigation scaling pathways to document and present lessons learned. Analyze data and draft scientific publications, policy briefs, and technical reports in the domains of scaling innovations in the climate-water-agricultural sector within both the public and private sectors. Undertake additional project and research related tasks as required.Scaling Partnerships
Identify potential partnerships, policies, and institutional prerequisites for testing approaches, technologies, and investment propositions with significant scaling potential. Foster collaboration among partners and researchers to pilot novel technical, institutional, or financial solutions to incentivize uptake sustainably and equitably. Facilitate, coordinate, and engage in outreach efforts associated with Scaling SSI partnerships. Devise grants for innovation and acceleration within the scaling partnership to stimulate innovations in research, private, and public sector settings.Multi-stakeholder Engagement
Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues involving public and private sector stakeholders, and oversee the creation and distribution of consistent communications (including communication materials and outputs) aimed at participants in the MSD space. Establish and maintain CSA & CIS scaling dialogue platforms and procedures with local and regional stakeholders, as well as research partners, including those from the private sector. Manage the execution of an internship/program, including coordinating placements with collaborating institutions. Organize partner deliberations on CIS in relation to digital platforms.Requirements
MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
PhD in water resources management, agricultural development, agricultural innovation systems, or a related discipline. Demonstrated experience of at least 3 years in scaling climate-smart agricultural innovations, ICT4Agricultural development, value chain development, or agricultural market systems in Africa, specifically within Zambia. Proven proficiency and capability in effectively employing a blend of qualitative and quantitative research methods and participatory research approaches to design and conduct field research activities across diverse problem domains, including: Analysis of agricultural value chains and market studies. Establishing innovation scaling partnerships, pathways, and processes. Utilizing digital platforms and other digital technologies to enhance CIS delivery. Implementing demand-driven interactive learning for capacity building. Proficiency and experience in developing and employing analytical frameworks and qualitative and quantitative data analysis to conduct assessments in areas such as: Digital climate information services. Examination of enabling environments, encompassing formal and informal institutions. Exploration of innovation scaling, addressing systemic barriers, business models, and financial modalities. Analysis of organization and governance within scaling partnerships. Extensive experience and ability to engage with a diverse array of stakeholders in Zambia and/or Southern Africa, encompassing: Interaction with businesses, governmental bodies, and individuals regarding scaling irrigation and agricultural water management innovations. Facilitation and maintenance of robust multi-stakeholder partnerships within agribusiness and market systems in Zambia, including active engagement with the private sector. Effective collaboration with both academic and non-academic stakeholders. Application of technical, economic, and institutional reasoning to innovation scaling and policy matters, critically assessing challenges. Demonstrated scientific competence and a history of: Publishing peer-reviewed articles in reputable scientific journals. Effectively communicating research findings through international conferences, diverse platforms, and media channels. Transforming research outputs into knowledge products for outreach and impact within Zambia, thereby influencing broader developmental policies and practices.KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED:
Essential
Proficiency in conducting research within the domains of CSA and CIS innovation scaling, social inclusion, and agricultural value chains. Skill in fostering and sustaining robust partnerships with a diverse array of stakeholders within agri-business and irrigation sectors in Zambia, including active engagement with private sector entities. Capability to employ technical, economic, and institutional theories to critically analyze innovation scaling and policy concerns. Demonstrated track record of effective collaboration and engagement with stakeholders from both academic and non-academic spheres. Possess an open mindset and a strong aptitude for continuous learning. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment, with sensitivity and respect for diversity. Excellent oral and written language skills in English, including effective listening and strong verbal and written communication abilities.Desirable
Excellent communication proficiency in local languages within Zambia, coupled with the capability to articulate complex issues with clarity. Sound grasp of GIS/remote sensing, along with its practical application to digital innovation platforms for CSA/CIS.TRAVEL OBLIGATIONS:
Frequent international travel.Benefits
What we are offering:
This is an internationally recruited position with a competitive salary, comprehensive international health insurance, life insurance accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability coverage. Internationally recruited staff who are employed at a duty station outside of their home base/country of nationality will also receive relocation assistance, a housing allowance, home-leave plane tickets for self and eligible dependents and education assistance for eligible dependents. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period of two years.
HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) on August 17, 2023 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include a CV, cover letter, and three (3) references, which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.