Job ID:HQ00994
LocationTanzania
Closing Date30-Apr-2019

About IRRI

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world’s premier research organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.
Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.

Job Purpose

The Accelerated Genetic Gain in Rice Alliance (AGGRi) project of IRRI aims to catalyze a globally aligned, modernized, rice breeding ‘community of practice,’ unified by a set of jointly developed standards for making breeding decisions consistent with the demands of regional farmers, consumers, and processors, and including empowerment of women in the value chain. This position will contribute to achieving two primary outcomes in the project (a) ensure that the products delivered by NARES-IRRI breeding networks are consistent with the demands of regional farmers, consumers, and processors and empower women within the rice value chain and (b) increase the rate of varietal turnover and delivery of genetic gain to farmers’ fields through the systematic identification of superior products, generating demand for those products, and targeting dissemination plans to bring those products to the most vulnerable populations in a gender-equitable way.
Under the minimum supervision of the Senior Scientist, the postdoctoral fellow will design and conduct gender and youth related research studies related to AGGRi and, publish and communicate results. The incumbent will use mixed methods approaches choosing appropriate tools and methods to generate and validate data to inform development of gender-responsive product profiles; assess opportunities for engagement of women, youth and their collectives in rice value chains with a particular focus on seed entrepreneurship and advisory services provision; context-specific strategies for dissemination to provide preferential access of breeding products to women farmers. The position will contribute to supporting processes as outlined in Project Outcome 2 for development of gender-responsive product profiles through consultations with national partners and value chain actors. It will also contribute to development and deployment of gender-integrated monitoring, learning and evaluation frameworks and tools to assess effectiveness of various strategies and generate learning across geographic and socio-cultural contexts in Africa and Asia.
This position will be based at the IRRI Tanzania Office and is open to international applicants.

Roles and Responsibilities

Purpose

• Work with the AGGRi project management team and specialists to ensure strong integration of gender, with a coherent approach to achieving the strategic objectives of the project
• Lead the planning, designing and implementation of mixed methods research and other activities related to Gender Research in AGGRi and associated initiatives with a focus on generating data/evidence to infom:
• development of gender-responsive product profiles
• assessment of opportunities for engagement of women, youth and their collectives in rice value chains with a particular focus on seed entrepreneurship and advisory services provision
• development of context-specific strategies for dissemination to provide preferential access of breeding products to women farmers.
• Perform and guide data analysis using the most appropriate and advanced statistical tools to support gender research studies at IRRI
• Lead the development of scientific publications, communication products and research proposals including review of related literature, selection of adequate research tools and sampling methods, verification of suggested methodologies and establishment of parameters
• Contribute to strengthening the technical capacity of IRRI and its partners to use advanced tools and methods for gender research and integration

Engagement

• Lead communication with internal and external project partners and collaborators to gather feedback and to exchange conceptual ideas and other research-related requirements for the advancement of the project
• Maintain regular contact with the HQ and other Country Office teams to ensure activities are implemented as planned and reporting deadlines are regularly met
• Organize regular meetings with partners and stakeholders to discuss, streamline and implement activities
• Develop and communicate guidelines to internal and external stakeholders considering the implementation of research activities
• Constantly monitor, evaluate and provide recommendations to improve research activities/tasks performed by survey enumerators and partner staff in order to maintain smooth conduct of research as well as to foster a productive working environment

Delivery

• Publish scientific articles based on research results in high quality disciplinary and interdisciplinary journals
• Support project team in dissemination of research results through appropriate communication products and channels
• Lead contextual analysis based on the program/project research needs
• Prepare and submit updated research outputs in a timely manner
• Supervise and lead the maintenance of accurate data recording and update database for efficient storage and retrieval of information

Qualifications

• PhD in Social Sciences, preferred disciplines include sociology and rural sociology, anthropology, agricultural extension, development studies or, gender studies, or another discipline which provides suitable advanced knowledge

Skills Required

Mandatory

• Demonstrated ability to perform in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment and team
• Experience in gender research in agriculture and mixed methods
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written English language skills

Preferred

• Strong communication skills
• Experience working in developing countries in South Asia and Africa

IRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances. Join our team and be part of our story!

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
This position will remain open until filled.