Post-Doctoral Fellow-Agricultural Economics

ICRISAT seeks a Post-Doctoral Fellow (PDF) to undertake applied economics research in relation to improving the productivity and market competitiveness of dryland legumes (groundnuts, chickpea and pigeonpea) in collaboration with a team of scientists. The PDF will be based at ICRISAT’s Regional Program for Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) based in Nairobi, Kenya.

ICRISAT is a non-profit, apolitical, international organization for science-based agricultural development. Established in 1972, it is one of the 15 Centers of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and is supported by more than 48 governments, foundations, and development banks. To reduce poverty, enhance crop productivity and food security and to protect the environment, ICRISAT research adopts an integrated genetic and natural resource management approach focusing on farming systems and crop improvement, management and utilization of sorghum, pearl millet, pigeonpea, chickpea, and groundnut in the semi-arid tropics along with enabling policies and institutional mechanisms. ICRISAT Headquarters is located at Patancheru near Hyderabad, India with regional centers and research teams in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT’s regional program for ESA also has country offices in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique. For further details please see ICRISAT’s Website: WWW.ICRISAT.ORG.

The Job: Carry out baseline studies for project monitoring and evaluation, adoption and impact studies, input and output market analysis for strengthening market linkages, and designing effective and sustainable seed delivery systems. Evaluate market-led technological and institutional innovations to revitalize semi-arid agriculture and increase smallholder competitiveness, income growth and diversification. He/She should be capable of understanding the key constraints for enhancing agricultural productivity and articulating a strong vision of the opportunities for developing smallholder agriculture in ESA's semi-arid topics, and should be able to translate this vision into a consistent and productive research offering a significant array of international public goods.

The Person: PhD in Agricultural Economics or related discipline in economics with over one year of experience in quantitative agricultural and development economics, and good knowledge of methods for analysis of agricultural markets and the capacity to translate findings of applied research into policy recommendations. A proven record of experience in field surveys, statistical analysis of survey data and knowledge of standard econometrics software (e.g. STATA) is strongly desirable. Experience in multi-disciplinary research and good knowledge of methods for adoption and impact assessment would be an added advantage. Knowledge of farming systems in ESA will be an advantage. Applicants should have excellent communication skills in spoken and written English, including a record of international peer-reviewed publications. The successful candidate should have an ability to perform in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment.

Duration and Remuneration: The Fellowship will be for a period of two years. ICRISAT offers an internationally competitive stipend and benefits package (payable in US dollars) that includes international health insurance, housing and car allowances, and appropriate relocation assistance.

Please submit your application with curriculum vitae, current contact details, and names and addresses of three referees to Philip Ndungu (ICRISAT-Nairobi, PO Box 39063-00623, Nairobi, Kenya; Fax: +254 20 7224001, e-mail: P.Ndungu@cgiar.org). Applications will be received until 31 July 2008, or until the position is filled. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.