Associate Scientist, Agricultural Economist (G-26-46)

The
International Potato Center (CIP) is
seeking a motivated and analytically rigorous Associate Scientist in
Agricultural Economist to contribute to the generation and application of
socioeconomic evidence on the adoption, outcomes, and impacts of potato,
sweetpotato, and related agricultural innovations. The successful candidate
will design and implement adoption and impact studies, apply appropriate
quantitative and qualitative methods, and translate findings into practical
recommendations for research programs, partners, and decision-makers. The
position will help ensure that CIP's research investments are informed by
credible evidence and contribute to measurable development outcomes.

About
the position: The
Associate Scientist, Agricultural Economist will be part of CIP's Urban Food
Systems team and will report to the Head, Urban Food Systems, working closely
with the Regional Director. The position may be based in any region where CIP
operates (LAC, AFRICA or ASIA). The role works across CIP programs, CGIAR
research initiatives, and national partners to design and deliver socioeconomic
research, adoption analysis, and impact assessment. Working with scientists
across economics, agriculture, nutrition, gender, climate, and other
disciplines, the Agricultural Economist will integrate socioeconomic analysis
into research projects and programs, coordinate field research and data
collection, produce high-quality scientific and policy-relevant outputs, and
support partners in strengthening their capacity in impact assessment, adoption
research, and the use of socioeconomic evidence.

Key responsibilities:

Socioeconomic Research and Impact Assessment (65%)

• Design
and implement socioeconomic research on the adoption, outcomes and impacts of
potato, sweetpotato and related agricultural innovations.

• Develop
appropriate research questions, analytical frameworks, methodologies, sampling
approaches, survey instruments and implementation plans for assigned studies.

• Apply
established and emerging quantitative and qualitative methods in agricultural
economics, impact assessment and adoption analysis, seeking senior technical
guidance where required.

• Coordinate
field research and data collection activities, ensuring compliance with
approved protocols, research ethics, data protection requirements, timelines
and budgets.

• Ensure
the quality, completeness and appropriate documentation of research data,
analytical methods, datasets and supporting evidence.

• Analyze
primary and secondary data using appropriate econometric, statistical and
mixed-method approaches and interpret the implications for research and
development programs.

• Produce
technically sound reports, working papers, policy briefs, presentations,
datasets and peer-reviewed publications within agreed quality standards and
deadlines.

• Communicate
research findings through accessible products for policymakers, practitioners,
partners and other non-specialist audiences.

• Monitor
the implementation of assigned activities, identify delivery risks and
recommend corrective action to the relevant project or program leader.

• Contribute
evidence to program planning, priority-setting, monitoring, evaluation,
learning and institutional reporting.

• Promote
responsible research practices, open access and the appropriate documentation
and sharing of research outputs.

• Maintain
current knowledge of developments in agricultural economics, adoption research,
impact assessment and relevant analytical methods.

• Perform
other related duties consistent with the purpose and level of the position.

Engagement (30%)

• Work
with scientists across economics, agriculture, nutrition, gender, climate and
other disciplines to integrate socioeconomic analysis into research projects
and programs.

• Coordinate
assigned adoption and impact assessment activities with CIP programs, CGIAR
research teams, country offices and external partners.

• Engage
national agricultural research organizations, universities, government
agencies, development organizations and other partners in study design, data
collection, analysis and dissemination.

• Provide
technical guidance to research assistants, consultants, enumerators, students
and partner researchers contributing to assigned studies.

• Support
partner capacity-building in impact assessment, adoption research, data quality
and the use of socioeconomic evidence.

• Contribute
technical content to concept notes, funding proposals, budgets and workplans in
collaboration with program leaders, scientists, resource mobilization
colleagues and partners.

• Present
and discuss research findings with technical and non-technical stakeholders,
highlighting their implications for programs, policies and investment
decisions.

• Participate
in relevant internal and external technical networks, communities of practice
and institutional knowledge-sharing activities.

Safeguarding and Ethics (5%)

• Conduct
all activities in accordance with CIP and CGIAR policies on research ethics,
safeguarding, data protection, open access, conflicts of interest, health and
safety, and responsible conduct of research.

• Comply
with applicable national and international laws, regulations and standards.

Requirements

What are we looking for?

Expertise and Specialization:

• Ph.D.
in Agricultural Economics or a related field. A Ph.D. in Agribusiness is
desirable.

• At
least 5 years of experience in similar positions.

• Strong
professional experience with an interdisciplinary background and capacity in
the application of quantitative methods for impact assessment.

• Proven
experience working with methods and approaches to measure and estimate the
adoption of agricultural technologies and its determinants.

• Proven
experience in approaches, methods, and tools to carry out economic impact
assessment in an agricultural development context.

• Experience
in database management and analysis using appropriate econometric techniques.

• Strong
working experience in methods and tools for value chain analysis, including
gender-differentiated impacts.

• Experience
in experimental design, agronomy, and field experimentation; excellent computer
literacy and data management skills.

• Experience
in program and project management.

• Relevant
publications in international peer-reviewed journals.

• Strong
communication and networking skills, with interest and demonstrated ability to
work in interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and multi-cultural teams.

Leadership competencies:

• Empowering
& Coaching

• Navigating
& Driving change

• Wellbeing
& Inclusion

• Vision
& Strategic Thinking

Languages:

• Advanced
written and oral communication skills in English.

• Fluency
in the official language of the country of assignment is desirable.

Benefits

What are we offering?

• Great
career opportunity in an international organization.

• Competitive
compensation package commensurate with experience.

• 3-year
term contract with the possibility of renewal.

• Work
in an equal and diverse workplace.