Position: Background and Responsibilities
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) seeks an agricultural economist to lead a program of research and capacity building on impact assessment and value chains focusing on cassava and maize under the SARD-SC project—Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa. As part of the larger SARD-SC project and under the guidance of a senior agricultural economist, the successful candidate will lead and coordinate technology adoption and impact assessment studies in the respective target countries for cassava (D.R. Congo, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zambia) and maize (Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, and Zambia) interventions. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) (the Executing Agency) and its partners Africa Rice Centre and the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (the Implementing Agencies) has received a grant from the African Development Fund (ADF) to finance the Multinational-CGIAR Project on Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC). The overall objective of SARD-SC is to enhance food and nutrition security and contribute to poverty reduction in Bank’s low income Regional Member Countries (RMCs). Its specific objective is to enhance the productivity and income of four CAADP’s priority value chains (cassava, maize, rice, and wheat) on a sustainable basis. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, the Executing Agency for the SARD-SC, wishes to use a portion of the grant to engage the services of an Agricultural Economist. The successful candidate will report to: The SARD-SC Project Coordinator Position Responsibilities: The Agricultural Economist will undertake the following activities: • Design and lead cross-country impact studies for tracking the adoption, outcomes, and impacts of production technologies and related innovations. • Assemble secondary data on experimental yields and related parameters for a range of technology options promoted by the project which are needed for measuring and attributing impacts on crop yields and incomes. • Assess the extent, determinants, and pathways of adoption of improved technologies. • Develop and apply innovative methods for quantifying the impacts of improved technologies on food security and poverty reduction. • Undertake strategic/ex-ante economic analyses of technology options for better targeting and priority setting of project interventions in the target countries and beyond. • Develop and operationalize a mechanism for regular sharing of research results and other critical feedback information with project management and partners involved in technology development and dissemination. • Translate research findings into recommendations for policy action for greater technology adoption and impacts. • Publish research findings in international peer reviewed journals. • Contribute to capacity strengthening of national partners; and • Participate actively in annual review and planning meetings and resource mobilization.
Qualification and Experience
The candidate should have a PhD in agricultural economics, economics, or development economics from a highly recognized university. Core Competencies: • Demonstrated experience with impact evaluation of agricultural technologies, market or sub-sector studies, or value chain analysis. • Knowledge of innovation systems, innovation platforms, and social network mapping. • Proficiency with econometric modeling methods and software (e.g. Stata). • Knowledge of data collection tools and analytical methods for adoption and impact assessment as well as for value chain analysis. • Demonstrated experience with large-scale technology adoption and impact surveys. • A high degree of personal organization and ability to multi-task and work under pressure. • Demonstrated ability to write and publish journal articles. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (knowledge of French is an advantage); and • Ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary and multi-cultural environment.
General Information
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive fringe benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.
Duty station: Abuja, Nigeria General information: The contract will be for an initial period of two years with possibility of renewal based on performance and continued availability of funding. IITA offers internationally competitive remuneration package paid in U.S. Dollars. Applications: Applications must include covering letter which should address how the candidate’s background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Head, Human Resources Service. Please complete our online application form using this link: http://www.iita.org/careers Closing Date: The position will remain open to June 26, 2015
Method of Application:
Interested applicants should forward their applications with detailed curriculum vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include either the Head of applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior officer at work and evidence of current remuneration package to IITA website.
IITA is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from female candidates.
Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted