The Organization
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) deliver research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people's lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.
The Alliance works with local, national, and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.
With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis.
The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.
https://alliancebioversityciat.org/ www.cgiar.org
About the position
The Performance, Innovation and Strategic Analysis for Impact (PISA4 Impact) Program is currently searching for a Senior Scientist, Spatial and Climate Change Economics who will lead the development of an integrated spatially explicit applied economic research agenda of relevance to the Alliance.
This research agenda includes:
(1) A methodological component focused on developing spatially explicit estimates of socioeconomic characteristics of rural populations from nationally representative household survey data.
(2) A thematic component focused on key questions such as how farm structure changes and other drivers affect the future of food system transformation.
The Senior Scientist will facilitate the integration of spatially explicit microeconomic modeling with macro-oriented economic modeling approaches, aiming to inform the policy agenda regarding food system transformation. This includes both spatially explicit and traditional (non-spatial) econometric methods. This role will also lead and coordinate research efforts to bridge the gap between biophysical modeling and socio-economic approaches in agricultural and climate change-related areas.
The position will be based in Rome, Italy at the Alliance Headquarters with frequent visits to the Alliance's hubs in Cali, Colombia and Nairobi, Kenya, under the supervision of the Director Land Resources Economics Unit & PISA4 Impact Program Leader.
Responsibilities
- Lead research efforts to integrate non-spatial applied microeconomic research (e.g., on the evolution of land institutions and farm size distributions in developing regions) with spatial modeling approaches and link these with foresight and spatial targeting/prioritization related activities.
- Identify and bridge the gap between the biophysical and socioeconomic modeling approaches for various agricultural and climate change related research areas.
- Design and conduct relevant research on applied microeconomic analysis of rural transformations, with thematic relevance to the Alliance's mandate for strategic analysis.
- Conduct research on the economic impacts of climate change, using appropriate methodologies to identify causal mechanisms and assess the trade-offs and opportunity costs of different mitigation and adaptation options.
- Design and implement impact evaluations such as experimental and quasi-experimental methods, provide training and support to research units on these methods, and collaborate with research units to analyze and interpret impact evaluation results.
- Establish tools and approaches based on geospatial data and other datasets to generate policy-informing tools for non-technical decision-makers.
- Mobilize resources in support of this research agenda, broadening support beyond the current One CGIAR initiative funding to include new bilateral projects.
- Supervise and mentor an interdisciplinary research team of research staff, particularly economists and social scientists.
- Contribute to the development of partnerships/collaborations, work plans, and the preparation of workshops.
- Lead and contribute to the writing of project proposals and the securing of new projects.
- Communicate the findings of research to policymakers and other stakeholders in a clear and concise manner to inform decision-making.
- Produce scientific outputs for peer-reviewed journals and technical reports.
- Represent the Performance, Innovation and Strategic Analysis for Impact program in key workshops, conferences, and different regional and global events.
Requirements
Essential Requirements
- PhD in Environmental/Agricultural Economics or related field with economic modeling expertise.
- Previous relevant professional experience.
- Extended expertise in substantive work providing strategic direction to a research area, designing, and implementing scientific processes. Substantial people management (post-doc and/or scientists and senior scientists).
- Recognized internationally as a thought leader and an authoritative voice in their field of expertise.
- Extensive track record of publications in ISI journals with at least 40 peer-reviewed publications.
- Leadership experience of at least four (4) funded research projects. Significant contributions to at least two other proposals.
- Well-developed skills in teamwork, interpersonal and communication; courtesy, tact, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different cultural and national backgrounds.
- Highly developed skills with personal organization and priority setting.
- Ability to work with a high degree of independence within assigned areas complemented by sound judgment and initiative, and the ability to maintain structured and ad hoc communications with supervisors and colleagues to seek guidance.
- Willingness and enthusiasm to learn and practice new technologies as needed.
Desirable Requirements
- Experience designing and implementing primary data collection efforts, such as household and farm surveys.
- Experience designing and implementing RCTs and other experimental approaches to ex-post impact evaluation.
- Research experience with the impact evaluation of digital decision support tools for farmers.
- Field experience in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.
- Experience with interdisciplinary research.
- Fluency in Spanish language skills.
Benefits
Terms of employment
This is an internationally recruited position based in Rome, Italy. The salary level is level 11, on a scale of 14 levels, with level 14 being the highest. The Alliance offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary, non-contributory retirement plan, medical insurance, housing allowance and leave provisions. All benefits are denominated and paid in US Dollars. The initial contract will be for a period of 2 years subject to a probationary period of six months and is renewable based on performance and availability of funds.
Applications
Please apply online through the website ( https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers ) no later than 9 February 2024, attaching a curriculum vitae, motivation letter (illustrating your suitability for the above mentioned position against the listed qualifications, competencies, skills), both in English, and contact information (e.g. names, email address) of at least three references (knowledgeable about your professional qualifications and work experience). Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Closing date for applications: 9 February 2024
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