Post Doctoral Scientist – Production, Value Chain Economics and Impact Assessment, Burkina Faso

Vacancy Number: PVCEIAPD/BF/01/2013
Humidtropics
Location: Ougadougou, Burkina Faso
Duration: 2 years with the possibility of renewal

Competitive International Salary and Benefits Package.
Salary negotiable dependent on skills and experience.

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to enhance the roles livestock play in pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a global research partnership of 15 centres working with many partners for a food-secure future. ILRI has two main campuses in East Africa and other hubs in East, West and southern Africa and South, Southeast and East Asia. www.ilri.org.

CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by 15 research centres that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. www.cgiar.org.

Humidtropics, a CGIAR Research Program (CRP), seeks to transform the lives of the rural poor in tropical Americas, Asia and Africa. Innovative integrated systems research in the humid tropics will help poor farm families, often led by women, boost their agricultural productivity while preserving the land for future generations. ILRI is heavily engaged in the Humidtropics, leading Strategic Research Theme (SRT) 1 on Systems Analysis and Global Synthesis with strong inputs into other SRT’s. Further information is available at:http://humidtropics.org/

The Position: ILRI seeks to recruit a post-doctoral fellow with knowledge of production economics or agrifood marketing, drivers of technology uptake and experience in designing and implementing impact assessment studies. S/he should have good understanding of farm economics in mixed systems in developing countries, previous experience in designing, conducting and analysing household level surveys and an understanding of value chain analysis.

Responsibilities:

• Contributing to the design and implementation of surveys and experimental work to characterise agricultural production and marketing systems at different level across action sites in that region;
• Leading analysis of household livelihood indicators and farm level performance;
• Assessing the profitability of different farm enterprises through farm level partial budgeting approaches;
• Evaluating the sustainability and efficiency of the business models of producers’ organizations, hubs and commodity associations set up by the Humidtropics Program;
• Contributing to strengthening partnerships with research and development organisations in the region;
• Publishing the results of research in high quality peer-reviewed international journals;
• Contributing to the development of new research proposals;
• Working with and building the capacity of students.

Essential Skills and Qualifications will include:

• PhD in agricultural economics, agrifood chain marketing or related field, (PhD must have been attained within the last 3 years);
• Experience in conducting agricultural household surveys in developing countries;
• Practical experience in running econometric analysis or other modelling techniques (e.g. dynamic simulation);
• Knowledge of value chain analysis;
• Knowledge of French and Spanish will be considered assets (French is a mandatory requirement for the position based in Burkina Faso)
• Experience in gender analysis will be considered assets;
• Some experience working or studying in developing countries in Africa, Asia or Latin America
• Track record of publishing in peer reviewed publications.

Post location: This position is based in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso.

Position level: Post-doctoral Scientist (4A).

Duration: 2 years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and continued funding.

Terms of appointment: ILRI offers a competitive international remuneration and benefits package which includes:  Medical insurance for staff and dependents, Life insurance, Education allowance for children, Housing allowance, Baggage Allowance, Home leave, Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days+public holidays.

*Remuneration and benefits are tax free subject to compliance with tax regulations of country of citizenship.

Applications:

Applicants should send a cover letter indicating their salary expectations for this position together with a CV which includes a full list of publications and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Email your application to the Human Resources Office: ilri-PVCEIAPDBF@cgiar.org on or before 21 June 2013. The position title and reference number: PVCEIAPD/BF/01/2013 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the online application.

To find out more about ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org

To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/ilricrowd/

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer.