Deadline: 15 March 2023

The World Vegetable Center is seeking applicants for the position of Agricultural Economist (2 positions) for its regional offices in Arusha, Tanzania and Cotonou, Benin, to strengthen the ability of the Center to provide evidence-based solutions for making vegetables more available, affordable, and accessible in lower- income countries. This is an Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) position with competitive pay and benefits. The appointment is for three years, renewable after a performance review. The position will be available on or before 1 May 2023, but the exact starting date is negotiable.

The first incumbent will be based at the Center’s regional office for Eastern and Southern Africa in Arusha, Tanzania. Countries with ongoing activities include Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eswatini, and Madagascar. She/he will lead a team of three staff in Arusha and mentor staff in other country offices. The second incumbent will be based at the Center’s regional office for West and Central Africa in Cotonou, Benin. This region includes ongoing projects in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria. She/he will lead a team of three staff in Cotonou, one staff in Mali, and one staff in Burkina Faso. While the work will focus on a particular region, the person will also contribute to projects globally. She/he will report to the Flagship Program Leader for Enabling Impact.

I. Key job responsibilities:

• Design and implement ex-post impact evaluations of the Center’s technologies and interventions using scientifically rigorous methods of impact evaluation.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative studies to identify opportunities and constraints to technology adoption (particularly including seed) and food systems change.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of projects aimed at improving the functioning of vegetable value chains and the empowerment of disadvantaged groups.
• Contribute to the design of sound scaling methods for technologies and interventions by instituting a continuous process of reflection and learning and ensuring that lessons learned are documented and shared.
• Provide technical support and supervision to project staff and implementing partners to collect project monitoring data on a regular basis to measure project achievement against the performance indicators. Also, provide technical support for project progress reporting, mid-term reviews, and final evaluations.
• Publish research in peer-reviewed open-access journals
• Contribute to, and occasionally lead, the writing of grant proposals
• Perform any other duties as required by the needs of the Center and the Supervisor.

II. Requirements

• Candidates must have a Ph.D. degree in Agricultural Economics, Development Economics, Development Studies, or a related discipline with a strong focus on applied research and at least 3 yearsof postdoctoral work experience.
• The candidate needs to have experience in conducting farm household surveys and in the use of econometrics to analyze such data.
• Skills in qualitative research methods will be an advantage.
• She/he must have strong communication skills in spoken and written English while the position in Benin also requires fluency in French.
• The candidate must be able to work with multidisciplinary teams in a multicultural and multinational environment and be willing to travel extensively.
• The position requires travel to project sites in each region.

III. How To Apply?

• Applicants should submit a letter of application explaining their suitability for and interest in the position along with a curriculum vitae, a recent passport-size photograph, names, and addresses
  (including telephone/fax/e-mail) of three referees, and date of availability to [email protected]  before the deadline.
• Please mention the position title and location in the subject line.

IV. About World Vegetable Center

The World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) is a non-profit, autonomous international agricultural research center with headquarters in Taiwan and five regional offices around the globe. WorldVeg conducts research and development programs that contribute to realizing the potential of vegetables for healthier
lives and more resilient livelihoods.

WorldVeg holds the world’s largest collection of vegetable genetic resources in the public domain. The Center’s vegetable breeding programs in Africa and Asia turn these resources into improved breeding lines and work with the public and private sectors to develop and scale new vegetable varieties for the benefit of smallholder farmers and consumers in lower-income countries. The Center also develops and promotes safer and more sustainable production and postharvest practices to make vegetable value chains more efficient with the ultimate aim of making vegetables more available, affordable, and accessible.

For more information, please visit WeorldVeg website