Consultant – IWMI-Tata Pre-Doctoral Fellowship

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates for the prestigious IWMI-Tata Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in Anand, India.

The fellowship is part of IWMI’s two-decade old partnership in India with Tata Trusts, Mumbai – IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program. In India, IWMI is hosted by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Government of India. The IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program operates from IWMI’s office in Anand, Gujarat.

The ITP Pre-Doctoral Fellowship is a unique opportunity for young, budding researchers to conduct guided and evidence-based policy research in the fields of water resources, energy, agriculture, climate, environment, and rural livelihoods. The fellowship offers a flexible and nurturing work environment that encourages fellows to pursue themes based on an overlap between their own academic interests and ITP’s research priorities. By offering young researchers an opportunity to collaborate with senior national, regional and international scientists, the fellowship offers a glimpse of an academic career and a chance to hone research skills. The fellowship also offers opportunities to take up independent research or team up with others to systematically pursue an idea and publish the results.

As ITP pre-doctoral fellows, successful candidates will follow in the footsteps of a growing and illustrious list of ITP alumni who have gone on to pursue master’s and doctoral programs at some of the world’s leading academic institutions, including Cambridge, Harvard, Princeton, Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, Illinois, Georgetown, ISS Hague, UNESCO-IHE, TU-Delft, TU-Munich, Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, Hohenheim University, Stuttgart, IIT-Bombay, and IIM-Ahmedabad.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Pre-Doc fellow:
• Identify and develop a core research/action research theme and become the ITP ‘custodian’ for the same, in consultation with the ITP Program Leader.
• Assist the ITP Program Leader to develop, implement, monitor, and manage commissioned research, field studies, field experiments, and action research pilots in collaboration with Tata Trusts and associates in different parts of the country.
• Supervise, guide and support student interns in successful production of research outputs.
• Prepare evidence-based research and policy products.
• Author/co-author at least 4 papers/articles/ ‘ITP Research Highlights’ in a year.
• Assist ITP Program Leader in program management and donor reporting.

Requirements

MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Master’s degree in economics, agricultural economics, management, rural management, public policy, rural livelihoods, or a similar closely related subject.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Experience with research/action research/field implementation, particularly related to water management in agriculture, will be preferred.
• Demonstrated interest in policy research in the natural resources, water, energy, agriculture, or rural livelihoods domain.
• Ability and eagerness to undertake field-based research and action research.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills; ability and willingness to work in diverse, interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to synthesize and write clearly and persuasively.
• Expertise or familiarity with quantitative and statistical techniques and ease in compiling, analyzing and synthesizing large public datasets and primary data.
• Positive, can-do attitude; sound qualitative and analytical skills.

LANGUAGE PROFICINECY:

• Excellent oral and written language skills in English, including effective listening and strong verbal and written communication abilities.

Benefits

This is a nationally hired consultancy; therefore, individuals with relevant abilities are encouraged to apply. IWMI offers a competitive monthly rate for this assignment. The duration of the contract will be for a period of twelve (12) months.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) on July 19, 2024 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include a CV, cover letter, and three (3) references, which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.