We work with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. We have more than 100 internationally recruited scientists from about 35 countries and 900 nationally recruited staff based in various stations across Africa.
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the below position:
Agricultural Economist (Foresight Modeler)
Background
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the internationally recruited position of Agricultural Economist (Foresight Modeler). IITA is an international non-profit agricultural research-for-development (R4D) organization established in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and a member of the CGIAR Consortium.Our R4D approach is anchored on the development needs of the tropics. We work with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. We have more than 100 internationally recruited scientists from about 35 countries and 900 nationally recruited staff based in various stations across Africa.Job Descriptions
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) seeks a qualified agricultural economist/foresight modeler to lead a program of research involving ex-ante evaluation of promising agricultural technologies for guiding strategic planning and priority setting of national and international agricultural research.This is part of the global futures and strategic foresight program, which is a CGIAR initiative led by IFPRI and aimed at identifying options to address the emerging global challenges to agricultural productivity, food security, and environmental sustainability.The successful candidate will work on IITA's foresight activities within the Global Futures and Strategic Foresight Program using a coordinated suite of biophysical and socioeconomic modeling tools to conduct rigorous analysis of promising technologies, investments and policies to inform decision making.The main responsibility of the successful candidate will be to carry out ex-ante evaluation of new cassava, cowpea, maize, soybean, and yam technologies using a suite of crop growth models and an enhanced version of IFPRI's International Model for Policy Analysis of Agricultural Commodities and Trade (IMPACT) for estimating their potential impacts on food production, child malnutrition, and poverty under alternative socioeconomic and climate change scenarios.The position involves extensive interdisciplinary collaboration with crop scientists and crop modeling experts and with partners in other collaborating institutions.Job Responsibilities
Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Minimum Qualification & Experience
The candidate should have a PhD in Agricultural Economics, Economics, or Applied Economics from a highly recognized university, with a strong interdisciplinary background and proven experience in the application of quantitative methods.Skills & Abilities
Strong knowledge and experience with economic simulation methods and partial and general-equilibrium models.Knowledge of mathematical programming methods (e.g. GAMS).Experience with strategic analysis and impact evaluation of agricultural research. Willingness and ability to conduct multi-disciplinary work involving multi-disciplinary teams. Demonstrated ability to write and publish journal articles.Excellent spoken and written English; knowledge of French is an advantage.Ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary and multi-cultural environment.Terms & Conditions:
The contract will be for an initial period of three years with possibility of renewal based on performance and availability of funding. IITA offers internationally competitive remuneration package paid in U.S. Dollars.