Postdoctoral Fellow, Agricultural Economist at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) - 2 Positions

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.

We invite applications for the internationally recruited position of:

Job Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Agricultural Economist

Ref: DDG-R4D/PDF/AE/06/15
Location: Abuja and Kano

Background and Responsibilities

• The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) seeks a postdoctoral fellow (agricultural economist) to undertake adoption and impact assessment of improved cassava varieties in Nigeria as part of a larger project focusing on monitoring technology adoption and assessing impacts on poverty reduction.
• As a member of the IITA Social Sciences and Agribusiness program and under the guidance of a senior agricultural economist, the successful candidate will design and undertake adoption and impact evaluation of improved varieties and complementary technologies.

Position Responsibilities

• Design and conduct a comprehensive community, household, and plot level survey to generate high-quality data for rigorous adoption and impact assessment of improved varieties.
• Assemble secondary data on experimental yields and related parameters for a range of technology options which are needed for measuring and attributing impacts on crop yields and incomes.
• Assess the extent, determinants, and pathways of adoption of improved varieties.
• Develop and apply innovative methods for quantifying the impacts of improved varieties on food security and poverty reduction in a manner that goes beyond establishing causality and estimating average effects.
• Publish research findings in international peer reviewed journals.
• Prepare technical reports and establish adoption and impact database.
• Translate research findings into recommendations for policy action for greater technology adoption and impacts.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening of national partners; and
• Participate actively in annual review and planning meetings.

Qualification and Experience

• The candidate should have a PhD in Agricultural Economics, Economics, or Development Economics from a highly recognized university.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrated experience with impact evaluation of agricultural technologies on food and nutrition security and poverty reduction.
• Knowledge of data collection tools and analytical methods for adoption and impact assessment.
• Knowledge of econometric modeling methods and software (e.g. Stata) for adoption and impact assessment.
• Demonstrated experience with large-scale technology adoption and impact surveys.
• A high degree of personal organization and ability to multi-task and work under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to write and publish journal articles.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; and
• Ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary and multi-cultural environment.

General Information

• We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive fringe benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.
• The contract will be for an initial period of two years. IITA offers internationally competitive remuneration package paid in U.S. Dollars.

Application Closing Date
3rd August, 2015.

Method of Application
Interested applicants should forward their applications which must include covering letter which should address how the candidate’s background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Head, Human Resources Service.

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