Senior Policy Expert

Background

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (www.ciat.cgiar.org) works to reduce hunger and poverty, and improve human health in the tropics through research aimed at increasing the eco-efficiency of agriculture. CIAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org), a global research partnership working many partners for a food secure future. The Center’s research focuses on improving key crops (cassava, common bean, rice, and tropical forages); reversing soil and land degradation; and using information to foster better decisions about issues such as climate change and environmental management. Headquartered near Cali, Colombia, CIAT has regional offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Hanoi, Vietnam, with staff posted in other developing countries as well.

This position will take on a leadership role on policy analysis and turning science evidence into policy influence globally. The candidate will strengthen and lead the Policy Expert Group in the Decision and Policy Analysis (DAPA) research area of CIAT. The DAPA group is a growing research area of CIAT that works towards CIAT’s mission of eco-efficient agriculture for the tropics by ensuring improved decision making by a range of stakeholders on the themes of climate change, linking farmers to markets and ecosystem services. See http://dapa.ciat.cgiar.org for more details on DAPA.

The Policy Expert Group in DAPA is focused on identifying, designing, conducting and communicating scientific analysis such that DAPA’s research outcomes serve as an input for improved decision-making at local, national and regional levels and thus contribute to reducing hunger and poverty in the tropics. DAPAs Policy Group is focused on policy incidence, and in collaboration with the Impact and Strategic Studies group provides a feedback loop on policy analysis through ex-ante and ex-post policy impact assessment that will guide the improvement of the policy incidence strategies.

We are looking for a candidate who can understand, engage and influence multiple 'policy environments' at the country or regional level through targeted policy analysis and strategic policy influencing activities. We envisage the successful candidate to have a proven track record in generating a network of multiple actors who influence policy and decision-making in a given topic / geography.

Responsibilities

 Consolidate a policy analysis- and influence- strategy for the DAPA research area across the three regions that CIAT works in (Latin America, Africa and South East Asia). This includes a well-defined action plan for each region, in order to make sure that the outputs of the Policy expert group (policy analyses and briefs, etc.) are addressed in key decision-making processes.

 Lead cutting edge policy analysis, in support of DAPA's research themes on linking farmers to markets, ecosystem services and climate change, and publish findings in high quality scientific outlets

 Strengthen and lead a policy analysis community of practice within DAPA, incorporating staff from different disciplines with a view to generating a process that serves to link evidence to policy ecosystems in key DAPA topics and geographies, and cultivate partnerships with other policy groups across the CGIAR.

 Generate partnerships and platforms and maintain close working contacts with relevant stakeholders (academia, public authorities, community leaders, private sector, civil society, etc) that enable CIAT to effectively influence policy and achieve desired development outcomes.

 Engage in applied policy analysis to fill critical gaps in knowledge on the part of public and private policy makers.

 Maintain up-to-date knowledge of reform processes in the agricultural and environmental sector in the regions of interest (Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean) and integrate information in policy analyses and influence activities.

 Participate in existing activities of diverse DAPA projects that are oriented to influence policy, providing recommended actions to enhance likelihood of policy impact

 Lead in the crafting of policy messages and recommendations for high profile outputs of the DAPA research area.

 Prepare analytical reports, briefs, background papers, summaries, etc.

 Engage in grant proposal writing, together with colleagues from the other research themes and expert groups in DAPA

Requirements

 PhD in economics, political sciences or related field

 At least 5 years professional experience in policy related activities

 Exceptional networker, with experience in dialoguing with public and private policy makers in developing countries

 Track record in policy analysis, including knowledge in both quantitative and qualitative methods for policy analysis.

 Sound knowledge of recent national and regional reform processes in the agricultural and environmental sector in at least one of the three focus regions

 Demonstrated ability to prepare well written and researched policy documents

 Experience in DAPA’s primary research themes preferable i.e. linking farmers to markets, climate change, ecosystem services

 Strong communication skills - both written and oral, in English and Spanish. Strong drafting and presentation skills

 Good inter-personal and teamwork skills, ability to work in a multicultural environment.

 Ability to undertake field travel in order to achieve objectives

Terms of employment

The position is internationally recruited and based at CIAT Offices in Cali - Colombia. The initial contract will be for two (2) years, subject to a probation period of three (3) months, and is renewable depending

on performance and availability of resources. CIAT offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits; we believe that the diversity of our staff contributes to excellence. CIAT is an equal opportunity employer, and strives for staff diversity in gender and nationality.

Applications

Applicants are invited to send a cover letter illustrating their suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications, competencies, skills together with a detailed curriculum vitae, including names and addresses of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. All correspondence should be addressed to the CIAT Human Resources Office to Isabella Botero (i.botero@cgiar.org) and should clearly indicate “Senior Policy Expert”.

The position is open until filled

We invite you to learn more about us at: http://www.ciat.cgiar.org