DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead action research on innovation scaling across the food-water-environment and energy sectors in different geographies and market systems.
• Design conceptual frameworks that allow for the co-design, implementation, and monitoring of scaling activities and processes with public and private sector actors.
• Design innovative methods to be used to assess and develop incentives for private and public sector actors to align roles and responsibilities and facilitate collective action.
• Lead, coordinate, and implement innovation scaling research projects/components/activities with partners across Africa.
• Use innovative methods to collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative datasets relevant to systems science and innovation scaling research.
• Monitor and evaluate the sustainability and equitability of scaling pathways and partnerships.
• Communicate research findings to scientific (e.g., journal publications, technical reports) and non-scientific audiences (blogs, policy briefs).
• Contribute to expanding IWMI’s innovation scaling research portfolio with partners.
• Explore and facilitate partnerships for accelerating public and private investments and interventions in scalable innovation (bundles).
• Build and maintain innovation scaling dialogues/platforms with national and regional stakeholders and research partners, including the private sector.
• Develop and manage sub-agreements with partners and work closely with IWMI’s HR, Finance, and project management units.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Essential,

• PhD degree in human geography, political science, sociology, development economics, business, or a closely related field relevant to water resources management, agricultural development, and agricultural innovation systems and scaling, coupled with 3 years of relevant post-doctoral experience OR;
• Master’s degree in the aforementioned fields coupled with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience in scaling agricultural innovation, value chain development, financial ecosystem, or agriculture market systems.
• Proven track record in effectively combining qualitative and quantitative methods to design and conduct research in a range of areas, such as,
  • agricultural value chain analysis and market study,
  • innovation scaling partnership, pathway, and process,
  • gender and social inclusion in value chain and innovation scaling
  • business model and financial modality
  • enabling environments
  • innovation systems
• Experience in advising and engaging with the private sector, governments, and individuals on the topics of agricultural development intervention, innovations, and businesses.
• Proven track record of leading successful grant applications
• Experience in developing scientific and non-scientific knowledge products (papers, reports, blogs, etc.) and outreach (workshops, multi-stakeholder platforms)

Desirable,

• Experience conducting research with private sector actors and agricultural financial investors.
• Experience in managing research for development projects with multiple partners in complex political and social environments.
• Experience in qualitative data analysis and using analytical software, such as NVivo or Atlas.
• Experience in raising funds and interacting with international partners and the donor community.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Essential,

• Excellent in applying technical, economic, institutional, and innovation system theories.
• Strong ability to develop and use analytical frameworks to design and analyze innovation scaling from a systemic perspective.
• Ability to facilitate and maintain strong multi-stakeholder partnerships, dialogues, and platforms in agricultural water management, agri-business, and finance.
• Ability to effectively establish priorities and plan, organize, implement, and monitor work activities with limited supervision.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with academic and non-academic stakeholders, and work in a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional, and multicultural environment.
• Highly motivated with a strong proactive drive for results and responsiveness, taking personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines.
• Effective listening, excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly.

Desirable,

• Prior knowledge of water management, agriculture, or climate change with international organizations is preferred.
• A deep understanding of challenges and opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa and other low-income countries and emerging economies relating to water, land, and agricultural development and innovation scaling for transforming food and water systems.
• Fluent written and verbal communication skills in French are beneficial.

This is a regionally recruited position with a competitive salary, an attractive retirement plan, comprehensive international health insurance, life insurance accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability coverage. Regionally recruited staff who are employed at a duty station outside of their home base/country of nationality will also receive relocation assistance, a housing allowance, home-leave plane tickets for self and eligible dependents and education assistance for eligible dependents. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period of three years.