Consultancy for an Individual to Analyze National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) in Peru

IFPRI is seeking an individual consultant to analyze National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) in Peru. This consultancy is limited to applicants based in Peru only.

Background and Rationale:

An often-overlooked aspect of agroecology is the role of National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) in enabling technological development and maintaining public goods that support agroecological transitions at scale. This research project aims to better understand the role that NARS can play in fostering long-term institutional and policy changes towards more sustainable and socially just food systems.

The overarching research question is:

What would an agroecological National Agricultural Research System (NARS) look like, and how can such a system be promoted across different national contexts?

The broader research initiative will generate comparative evidence from Peru, Tunisia, India, and Vietnam to support long-term applied research collaborations on institutional and policy change towards agroecologically oriented NARS. The Peru case study will contribute evidence on the institutional, policy, and governance dimensions required to mainstream agroecology within public agricultural research systems.

Scope of Consultancy

The consultant will produce three analytical outputs:

1. Report on mainstreaming agroecology in Peru’s National Agricultural Research System (NARS): current drivers of public agricultural research.
2. Analysis of how Peru’s BioTrade Strategy can be leveraged as, or transformed into, a national agroecology plan.
3. Analysis of opportunities for interregional scaling of the BioTrade Strategy to accelerate agroecological transitions in Peru.

These outputs are intended to generate policy-relevant evidence that contributes to both the Peru case study and the project’s comparative international analysis.

Deliverables:

Deliverable 1 – Mainstreaming Agroecology in NARS (45 days)

This deliverable requires primary data collection and analysis, including:

· Development of the research methodology and interview instruments;
· Identification and coordination of key stakeholders;
· Implementation of a minimum of 10 semi-structured Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with representatives of Peru’s National Agricultural Research System and institutions responsible for agricultural research agenda setting (including the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant public actors);
· Systematic review of institutional documentation (annual reports, strategic plans, financial reports, research agendas, and policy documents);
· Review of relevant scientific and grey literature;
· Qualitative coding, analysis and triangulation of interview and documentary evidence;
· Preparation and revision of a comprehensive analytical report.

Deliverable 2 – Peru’s BioTrade Strategy as a Pathway to Agroecology (20 days)

· Detailed review of Peru’s BioTrade Strategy and associated policy and technical documents;
· Analysis of institutional, policy, and technical linkages between BioTrade and agroecology;
· Additional stakeholder consultations, where necessary, to strengthen the evidence base;
· Formulation of strategic recommendations for integrating BioTrade into a national agroecology framework.

Deliverable 3 – Interregional Scaling Strategy (12 days)

Building upon the previous analyses, this deliverable will:

· Examine lessons from the “Regional Strategy for the Promotion of BioTrade with an Agroecological Focus in Ucayali and Action Plan to 2028” as the only pilot initiative at the regional scale in Peru;
· Develop an analytical framework and recommendations for the application of the methodology utilized in Ucayali to other Amazon regions of Peru (i.e., Madre de Dios, Loreto).

Project Coordination (10 days)

The estimate also includes time for:
· Inception and planning meetings;
· Periodic technical consultations with the CGIAR research team;
· Incorporation of reviewer comments;
· Preparation of presentations and final revisions.

Duration: Approximately 87 days after receipt of signed contract.

Required Qualifications:
• Master’s degree and PhD in Agroecology or similar field
• demonstrated expertise in agroecology, public policy analysis, qualitative research methods, and extensive knowledge of Peru’s agricultural institutional landscape
• Demonstrated experience of production of policy-oriented outputs for international research project

Preferred qualifications:
• Master's or PhD in social sciences discipline
• More than five years’ research experience on food and agriculture, especially agroecology and agrarian change
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications in the social sciences
• Fluency in Spanish and professional competency in written and spoken English

Application: Please upload your CV, at least one writing sample and a cover letter detailing relevant experience. Submissions will only be considered if a writing sample, cover letter and daily rate in USD are provided in the online application.

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*We are unable to respond to all applications; only the selected candidate will be contacted*