Research Fellow I/II

Job Summary:

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks a qualified candidate to serve as a Research Fellow I/II in its Markets, Trade and Institutions Unit. The position is based in Africa (Senegal, Kenya, Ethiopia preferred) or Washington, DC, and reports to the Director of the Markets, Trade, and Institutions Unit.

The Research Fellow I/II will conduct research aligned with the Markets, Trade, and Institutions’ research portfolio, with a focus on work on trade in Africa, looking at spatial trade costs, trade and storage policies and the implications of trade corridor investments for agricultural trade opportunities. The research that the Research Fellow would conduct will utilize a mix of econometric and spatial analysis as well as modelling. The exact mix will depend on the interests of the successful candidate and the evolving work program. The goal of the portfolio is to provide guidance to governments and actors across the continent on how to improve trade efficiency, gain more from regional trade integration and take advantages of corridor infrastructure investments for agricultural trade. The researcher will work on putting together data on trade costs and prices in Africa (utilizing primary and secondary sources as needed), will conduct analysis and policy simulations. The research fellow will engage with governments and other actors in designing and conducing the research.

We will consider applicants interested in both a full time and part time position.

Essential Duties:

• Conducting research related to trade and markets in agriculture, with a focus on Africa.
• Developing and overseeing individual work plans, coordinating particular research activities, and contributing to developing new ideas into proposals.
• Developing and managing research projects.
• Publish research in high-quality, peer-reviewed publications on topics of close relevance to the position and the work of the Unit.
• Assist in identifying and cultivating funding prospects and develop funding strategies for project/programs. At the 23R level a strong leadership role in developing new proposals will be expected.
• Developing research funding proposals and preparing donor reports.
• Liaise with donor & senior government stakeholders on projects (more so at the 23R level)
• Communicating research to a broad spectrum of stakeholders (researchers, academicians, policy makers, local partners).
• Creating links to external collaborators and groups
• Designing and supervising capacity-strengthening activities.
• Developing and monitoring of the program/ project budget.
• Providing regular reporting on program/project activities and budgets.
• Contributing to the preparation of internal and external program reviews.
• Supervise and/or coordinate the work of research support staff.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in Economics or Agricultural Economics or closely related field.
• At Grade 22 R: Minimum of 3 years of post-PhD experience relevant to the job.
• At Grade 23 R: Minimum of 5 years post-PhD experience relevant to the job.
• Demonstrated research experience in policy analysis and policy recommendations.
• Proficiency in applied microeconomics with experience in impact evaluation (including RCTs and other tools for casual inference) and household surveys
• Demonstrated ability to perform critical analyses of own & others’ research
• Demonstrated leadership skills and strong experience building and managing teams
• Excellent publications record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Demonstrated experience in effective interactions in a multicultural setting with other researchers and with policymakers, donors, and civil society, facilitating impact of research & capacity strengthening
• Demonstrated interaction and participation in professional networks in economics or related field.
• At Grade 23 R: Demonstrated recognition due to publications and other leaderships activities is required.
• Willingness to travel extensively as required
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills with demonstrated excellence in written and oral presentations.
• Experience in developing, managing and/or reporting on project budgets.
• Demonstrated computer literacy (PC, Microsoft Applications, and advanced software for quantitative economic and statistical analysis).
• Experience in identifying funding prospects, developing project proposals and effectively raise research funding.
• Experience supervising and/or coordinating research support staff.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in a second language of the U.N. system, preferable French or Spanish
• Field experience in collecting quantitative project and household data in developing countries
• Proficiency in use of AI tools (e.g. Claude) advanced software for quantitative analysis, including household survey analysis (STATA, R, or alike)

Physical Demand & Work environment:

• Employee will sit in an upright position for a long period of time with little opportunity to move/stretch.
• Employee will travel extensively (domestic and international)
• Employee will lift between 0-10 pounds.
• Employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform activities such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing computer terminal; extensive reading.

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is an equal employment opportunity employer - F/M/Disability/Vet/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.