Post-Doctoral Fellow or Associate Scientist, Agricultural Economist
CIMMYT, Zimbabwe

• Contribute to a better understanding of the extent and intensity of adoption and the distributional and heterogenous impacts of different improved agricultural technologies (including mechanization) promoted in Southern Africa.
• Contribute to better understanding of policy levers or incentives for agricultural technology adoption, both ex ante and ex post and to nuanced profitability, and economic analysis of agricultural technologies including impacts on livelihood and environmental indicators, while paying particular attention to gender and social inclusion.
• Contribute to the development and/or adaptation and application of specific ex ante and ex post analytical frameworks and protocols for agronomy and mechanization projects, including implementing survey protocols and data management for various ongoing projects in Southern Africa.
• Plan, design, and manage primary data collection through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, farm household surveys, market surveys and other innovative data collection tools and conduct related data analysis and reporting.
• Compile national and subnational statistics and review the existing literature, including peer-reviewed publications, unpublished reports, and government policy documents to support research and project implementation.
• Contribute to project reporting and preparation of scientific manuscripts to be published in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
• Strengthen the impact evaluation culture within CIMMYT and among partners through better articulation of impact pathways, ex ante/ex post impact evaluations and distributional of impacts.
• Build institutional networks and contacts for the effective functioning of current projects and for developing future collaborations.
• Contribute to mobilizing resources in support of adoption and impact evaluation in SAS.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in agricultural, environmental, natural resource or development economics, with research experience in agriculture and rural development in east and southern Africa.
• At least 3 years of Postdoctoral work experience in a developing country context, preferably in east and southern Africa around climate smart agriculture, sustainable intensification, conservation agriculture, seed systems, demand assessment, adoption, and impact assessments.
• Work experience in Southern Africa (Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi) and in Tanzania will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated skills in applied econometric analysis, experimental approaches (including RCT design and implementation, lab-in-the-field experiments) and/or spatial economics/geo-spatial analysis. Other modeling skills relevant for creative approaches to ex ante evaluations will also be considered.
• Strong experience in quantitative, qualitative or mixed-methods analytical approaches in adoption and impact evaluation backed up by peer reviewed publications and publication potential.
• Demonstrated familiarity with heterogenous impact assessments will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, manage, analyze, and prepare reports using primary and secondary data and developing analytical frameworks.
• The ability to design and implement large household surveys and economic field experiments will be an added advantage.
• Experience working in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams in international research for development setting.
• Willingness to travel to rural villages of intervention countries.
• Familiarity with some local languages in at least one or two of the countries in southern Africa will be a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to work within deadlines and deliver quality products.
• Advanced written and oral communication skills in English.
• The selected candidate should exhibit the following competencies: Client Orientation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making, Teamwork, and Communication.

Benefits

The position is for an initial fixed-term of two (2) years, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. CIMMYT’s internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, car, comprehensive health and life insurance, assistance for children’s education, paid vacation, annual home travel airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment

Job Rewards and Benefits