Specialist – Economic Modelling – International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Closing Date 20th May 2022

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.

Salary: 35700  – 74300  INR per month

Job Purpose

This position will support the implementation of one of the CGIAR initiative “Realizing Multiple Benefits Across Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystems (Forests, Biodiversity) – NexusGain”. NEXUS Gains aims to improve integrated management of water, energy, food, land, biodiversity and forests, for inclusive, sustainable development in transboundary river basins in a climate crisis. The potential impact of NexusGain will be achieved through implementation of five work packages. The incumbent to this role will particularly contribute to work package 2 (boosting water productivity and storage management) which contributes to the CGIAR action area outcomes on governments and other actors taking decisions to reduce the environmental footprint of food systems from damaging to nature positive and smallholder farmers implementing new practices that mitigate risks associated with extreme climate change and environmental conditions and the CGIAR Impact Area on biodiversity and ecosystem health and related targets for SDG, 13 and 2. The role will focus on developing adoption scenarios of crop diversification and assess the tradeoffs. The incumbent will support the senior economist in developing optimization model for diversification using primary and secondary data as well as policy initiatives. The person has to work closely with the multidisciplinary team involving water scientists, agronomists and social scientists.

This position will be based at the IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India and may only be filled in by permanent citizens of India.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Identify the diversification constraints in North West region of Indo-Gangetic plain
• Gather primary and secondary data required for ex-ante simulation of crop choices and diversification
• Provide technical input and support in the assessment, design, implementation, analysis and reporting of the diversification simulations
• Enhance participation of stakeholders and conduct validation and collect feedback from the key stakeholders
• Recommend immediate intervention to research design and implementation when necessary
• Consult and collaborate with key stakeholders on diversification issues and resource management and policy
• Advise internal stakeholders on the crop diversification and optimum resource allocation
• Actively engage with team in planning and implementation of the project activities
• Monitor and review of field level engagements and their implementations and feedback generation
• Support /Participate in institute wide activities
• Ensure that socio-economically inclusive approaches are considered in the execution of the project
• Ensure high quality data and information collection
• Understand the vulnerabilities and coping mechanisms of key stakeholders to the risks of diversification of cropping systems in the region
• Contribute to the development of report and publication of research process and outcomes at academic and policy level forums

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in (Agricultural) Economics / Marketing or related field with minimum 3 years of relevant experience; or
• PhD in (Agricultural) Economics / Marketing or related field with minimum 1 year of relevant experience

Skills Required

Mandatory

• Accountable for the delivery of project outcomes
• Strong advocacy and networking skills
• Familiar with optimization modelling (linear programming, mathematical programming, etc.)
• Data analytics
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred

• Familiar with the different cultural aspects of India
• Experience of modeling in GAMS

In addition to the base pay indicated above, IRRI also offers the below listed allowances:

• House-Rent Allowance: IRRI provides a house rent allowance of 40% of base pay per month.
• Transport Allowance: A monthly transport allowance is provided to NRS as below: NRS L5: INR 4,000
• Dearness Allowance: One Hundred and Thirteen percent (113%) of employee’s base pay.
• Leave Travel Allowance (LTA): One-month base pay per annum, on availing minimum 2 days of vacation leave
• Education Allowance: INR 1000/- per child per month (limited 2 children)

IRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect.

Join our team and be part of our story!