Position: Background and Responsibilities
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) seeks a postdoctoral fellow (agricultural economist) to undertake adoption and impact assessment of improved cassava varieties in Nigeria as part of a larger project focusing on monitoring technology adoption and assessing impacts on poverty reduction. As a member of the IITA Social Sciences and Agribusiness program and under the guidance of a senior agricultural economist, the successful candidate will design and undertake adoption and impact evaluation of improved varieties and complementary technologies.
Position Responsibilities:
- Design and conduct a comprehensive community, household, and plot level survey to generate high-quality data for rigorous adoption and impact assessment of improved varieties.
- Assemble secondary data on experimental yields and related parameters for a range of technology options which are needed for measuring and attributing impacts on crop yields and incomes.
- Assess the extent, determinants, and pathways of adoption of improved varieties.
- Develop and apply innovative methods for quantifying the impacts of improved varieties on food security and poverty reduction in a manner that goes beyond establishing causality and estimating average effects.
- Publish research findings in international peer reviewed journals.
- Prepare technical reports and establish adoption and impact database.
- Translate research findings into recommendations for policy action for greater technology adoption and impacts.
- Contribute to capacity strengthening of national partners; and
- Participate actively in annual review and planning meetings.
Qualification and Experience
The candidate should have a PhD in agricultural economics, economics, or development economics from a highly recognized university.
Core Competencies:
- Demonstrated experience with impact evaluation of agricultural technologies on food and nutrition security and poverty reduction.
- Knowledge of data collection tools and analytical methods for adoption and impact assessment.
- Knowledge of econometric modeling methods and software (e.g. Stata) for adoption and impact assessment.
- Demonstrated experience with large-scale technology adoption and impact surveys.
- A high degree of personal organization and ability to multi-task and work under pressure.
- Demonstrated ability to write and publish journal articles.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; and
- Ability to work independently in a multidisciplinary and multi-cultural environment.
General Information
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive fringe benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.
Duty station: Abuja or Kano, Nigeria
General information: The contract will be for an initial period of two years. IITA offers internationally competitive remuneration package paid in U.S. Dollars.
Applications: Applications must include covering letter which should address how the candidate’s background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Head, Human Resources Service. Please complete our online application form using this link: http://www.iita.org/careers
Closing Date: The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.
Method of Application:
Interested applicants should forward their applications with detailed curriculum vitae saved with their names in Microsoft word format. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include either the Head of applicant’s current or previous organization or applicant’s direct Supervisor/Superior officer at work and evidence of current remuneration package to IITA website.
IITA is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from female candidates.
Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted