Principal Scientist(Empower Women) vacancy at ICRISAT, Patancheru, Hyderabad

International Crop research institute for Semi Arid Tropics

POST: Principal Scientist, Empower Women

ICRISAT invites applications for a Principal Scientist to lead a new research initiative to investigate the innovations and approaches to empower women in smallholder households to better participate in agricultural growth. The position will be based at its Headquarters in Patancheru, near Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India or in Africa and will be housed in one of the research programs but will provide support to all the research programs.

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. ICRISAT and its partners help empower those living in the semi-arid tropics, especially smallholder farmers, to overcome poverty, hunger, malnutrition and a degraded environment through more efficient and profitable agriculture. ICRISAT is headquartered in Greater Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India and belongs to the Consortium of Centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Please visit www.icrisat.org for more information.

RESPONSIBILITIES

·         Initiate a research program focus on empowering women in smallholder households of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa to engage and benefit from inclusive marker-oriented development;

·         Ensure that ICRISAT’s major projects and initiatives are gender-sensitive;

·         Develop a knowledge base on the roles, constraints and opportunities of women in smallholder households in the dryland tropics of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa;

·         Help determine gender sensitive technologies/interventions that improve the lives of women;

·         Identify institutional and social platforms that can catalyze innovations and empower women;

·         Study how agro-enterprises can best improve women’s livelihoods and the availability of safe and nutritious foods;

·         Aid in enhancing the capacity of ICRISAT scientists and partners to engage in participatory research for development to empower women.

DESIRED CANDIDATE’S PROFILE

·         Demonstrated academic study on gender and development, PhD preferred, whether as a substantive focus of another discipline (e.g., rural sociology, anthropology, agricultural economics) or course work that complemented a degree in the biological/natural sciences;

·         Demonstrated experience (of at least 5-8 years) working on field programs related to gender and economic development, with an emphasis on market access issues, such as value chain development and operations, work with producer organizations, or business development services, etc. (e.g., as a technical assistance specialist or in implementation of research or assistance programs related to targeting women or addressing gender disparities);

·         2-3 years experience living or working overseas, ideally in close contact with smallholder farming communities OR study in the agricultural sciences;

·         Experience working with agricultural/biological and social scientists on multi-disciplinary teams;

·         Experience using participatory research methods and either publications or applications of the analysis resulting from these research methods;

·         Experience in both designing and conducting trainings and/or workshops on gender and agricultural development;

·         Evidence of publications on topics of gender and economic development;

·         Excellent conceptual and strategic research design skills;

·         Excellent analytical, communications, and writing skills.

THE REWARD
This is an internationally recruited staff position with an attractive and competitive salary and benefits package payable in US dollars. The position is initially for three years and extendable depending on performance of the incumbent and funding availability.

HOW TO APPLY
The application should include a detailed CV, a cover letter and the names of three professional referees. Please submit your application by email to bici@sympatico.ca, clearly stating the job title in the subject column, latest by 10 November  2011. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer, and is especially interested in increasing the participation of women on its staff. ICRISAT has a flexible approach to international appointments and welcomes dual-career couples.

http://www.icrisat.org/careers/Principal-Scientist–Empower-Women.htm