IFPRI Postdoc position

THE INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW/RESEARCH FELLOW - REF #04-137

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks a Postdoctoral Fellow / Research Fellow to join a team developing a new research program on governance and policy processes related to poverty reduction and food and nutrition security. The position is a three-year, fixed-term, renewable appointment, based at IFPRI headquarters located in Washington, DC.

The new program will expand research by IFPRI that examines processes of food and nutrition policymaking and implementation, and their effects on poverty, food insecurity, and nutrition, principally in low-income countries. The successful candidate will assist in the development, implementation and dissemination of this research. Included among the different institutions and loci for research are the governance features of states, civil society and other non-governmental institutions that affect policy and public goods, including assessments of performance, capability, and politics. The Division seeks a person who will work both within the division and with other divisions at IFPRI to facilitate broad social science approaches to this research and complement standard economic models and research. The principal goal is to better identify the barriers and opportunities bearing upon food security by examining the broad context in which they occur, with special attention to features of governance and the process of policymaking. Topics addressed may relate to health, education, poverty, geography, natural resources, gender, or other factors that affect poverty, and food and nutrition security.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Analyze current governance and policy processes at international, national, sub-national, and local levels

• Design and collaborate on policy research and analysis in this area, working with economists, sociologists, political scientists, and nutritionists

• Building IFPRI's capacities, partnerships and networks in this area

• Identify and cultivate donor interest in this work, and write proposals for funding

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. in Political Science, Sociology, Political Economy, Public Policy or closely related field

• Knowledge of international development issues and situations in less developed countries

• Research relevant to governance or policy processes

• Familiarity with and interest in qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis

• Ability to work across disciplines

• Excellent written and spoken English

PREFERED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Capability to undertake and interest in action research

• Fluency in Spanish or French

IFPRI is one of the international agricultural research institutes organized under the umbrella of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The mandate of IFPRI is to identify and analyze alternative national and international strategies and policies for meeting world food needs in ways that conserve the natural resource base, with emphasis on low income and on the poorer groups in the countries.

IFPRI offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits. IFPRI is an international and equal opportunity organization and believes that diversity of its staff contributes to excellence. We encourage women and developing country professionals to apply. APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 31, 2004. Email as attached word documents a detailed letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of at least three references to: IFPRI HRS, REF. #04-137, 2033 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006. E-mail: IFPRI-HRINTL@cgiar.org. Please include REF. #04-137 in the subject line.

For more information on IFPRI, please visit our website at www.ifpri.org. EOE.