Adoption and Impact Assessment Economist – Scientist or Senior Scientist

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) seeks a highly qualified agricultural economist to join our international team of scientists working on improving the livelihoods of maize and wheat farmers in the developing world. As a member of the CIMMYT Socioeconomics Program and in collaboration with public, private, local and international partners, you will undertake strategic adoption and impact studies across target regions. You will lead the targeting of innovations and analysis of adoption and impacts of various interventions at the global level, and preferably be based at the CIMMYT office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Posting at any of the other major CIMMYT locations in India, Nepal, Mexico or Zimbabwe is negotiable.

The job will require that you:

• Generate knowledge about the drivers of adoption, and databases on the patterns of diffusion of technological and institutional innovations, most relevant to CIMMYT’s mission and research agenda.
• Develop approaches to effectively assess the social, economic and environmental impacts of adoption of technological and institutional innovations and build capacity of partners through training and research.
• Work with other scientists and evaluate the multidimensional impacts of priority interventions, including their distributional effects especially on the livelihoods of resource poor farmers, consumers and women.
• Develop strategies, policy options and recommendations to set research priorities, guide policy decisions, and stimulate widespread adoption of new varieties and practices.
• Strengthen the impact culture within CIMMYT and beyond through better articulation of impact pathways and ex ante and ex post evaluation of impacts of targeted interventions.
• Contribute to priority setting, strategy and project definition through ex ante impact studies.
• Publish and communicate your research findings and participate in center-wide strategy development and priority setting.

We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

• PhD in Agricultural Economics or related discipline from a highly recognized university and
• Relevant postdoctoral experience of at least 5 years (scientist) or 8 years (senior scientist).
• Demonstrated contributions to applied agricultural economics through relevant publications in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Strong background in combining applied quantitative agricultural economics with qualitative methods for impact assessment.
• Extensive knowledge of statistical analysis and modeling methods and software (e.g. STATA, GAMS, etc) for impact studies at micro and macro levels. Knowledge of spatial analysis tools (e.g. GIS) will be an addition.
• Good understanding of the challenges of technology adoption and agricultural transformation in developing countries.
• An effective innovative and energetic team player with the ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multi-cultural environment which may involve extensive travel and interaction with farmers.
• Excellent oral communication and writing skills in English to express complex concepts in simple terms.

CIMMYT is an internationally funded, non-profit research and training organization affiliated with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR, www.cgiar.org) and has an annual budget of approximately US$ 70 million. CIMMYT’s mission is to sustainably increase the productivity of maize and wheat systems to ensure global food security and reduce poverty. The center is a global leader in scientific research and training related to maize and wheat, and in biotechnology, socioeconomics, and natural resource management research. These activities are conducted in partnership with national agricultural research systems, non-governmental organizations, and advanced research institutions, both public and private, in globally focused projects and programs. CIMMYT employs about 650 permanent staff and operates through decentralized partnership, with staff in 14 countries and projects and networks in many more.

The position is for an initial fixed-term of three years, renewable based on performance and availability of funds. CIMMYT offers an attractive remuneration package paid in US dollars, with a range of benefits including housing allowance, life and health insurance, education allowance (to Grade 12), home leave, retirement fund, and relocation shipping assistance.

CIMMYT is an equal-opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity in gender and nationality.

Apply for the position online the position will remain open until filled and please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted

For further information, contact Dr. Bekele Shiferaw, Director, Socioeconomics Program, b.shiferaw@cgiar.org, or the Human Resources Office, jobs-cimmyt@cgiar.org