Research Associate – Spatial Analyst

Main purpose of position

This position requires the delivery of spatial analysis and GIS based data analysis and presentation related to the theme of climate change, peace, and conflict performed by the Alliance’s FOCUS Climate Security Team, physically based at the CGIAR MENA Regional Climate Security Hub in Cairo, Egypt. The experienced candidate will contribute new scientific impulses and innovative research methods and approaches to the enthusiastic, diverse, and international FOCUS Climate Security Team, a team of 50+ climate, peace, and security researchers working in 16+ countries. The position requires systems thinking and the ability to link quantitative with qualitative research approaches in researching the complexity of compound risk in a global climate crisis. 

The employer of record will be ICARDA and employment policies, compensation and benefits of ICARDA will apply to this position.

About ICARDA

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is a treaty-based international non-profit research organization supported by CGIAR. ICARDA’s mission is to reduce poverty, enhance food, water, and nutritional security, as well as environmental health in the face of global challenges including climate change. We do this through innovative science, strategic partnerships, linking research to development and capacity development that take into account gender equality and the role of youth in transforming the dry areas. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, universities, civil society, national agricultural research organization, other CGIAR Research Centers, and the private sector. With its temporary Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, ICARDA operates in regional and country offices across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

About Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) is a global organization that builds on the complementary mandates and long collaboration of the two entities to respond to today’s global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and malnutrition.

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. To do so, the Alliance works with local, national, and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. With partners, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations in large-scale programs to create food systems and landscapes that sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis.

The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

Main responsibilities

 The spatial analyst will work with the research teams of the FOCUS Climate Security Team and MENA Regional Climate Security Hub on the following tasks:

• Conduct geospatial analysis to identify and assess areas vulnerable to multiple layers of risk, including climate-induced food insecurity and fragility.
• Lead the development of spatial models and simulations to assess the impact of climate-related variables on food security and displacement.
• Create and maintain GIS databases, ensuring accuracy, relevance, and accessibility of spatial data.
• Conduct research to locate and obtain existing databases, thematic layers and grid data including but not limited to existing spatial data including maps of land cover, climate, socioeconomic data, conflict, terrain information etc.
• Produce high-quality maps and visualizations to communicate complex spatial information effectively.
• Collaborate with the Climate Security Team to integrate GIS outputs into broader research and analysis.
• Provide technical support in utilizing GIS tools and software to team members.
• Contribute to backend development to help integrate outputs into the GIS platform/tool with clean, well-documented code that utilizes APIs to pull in different types of spatial and temporal data and perform operations on the data layers to produce new layers such as risk heat maps etc.
• Propose or adapt existing tools or applications which may suit this requirement.
• Contributing to the production of a regional strategic plan for research and policy impact.
• Contributing to research proposals and the design of research methodologies.
• Contribute to the planning and implementing of regional, country-level, and field research.
• Drafting and contributing to scientific knowledge outputs including peer reviewed papers, briefs, and blogs.
• Contributing to the integration of science and policy through the MENA Climate Security Hub’s policy advocacy in the region.
• Delivering training sessions, presentations, and facilitating workshop, conference, and seminar sessions.
• Contributing to the establishment and development of a growing partner network for CGIAR’s MENA Regional Climate Security Hub through building and maintaining partnerships with key entities and players across the region.

Requirements

Education, qualifications, and experience

• Master’s Degree in Geography or other physical science involving advanced coding and geospatial analysis (this can be compensated by a Bachelor’s Degree with at least 5 years of additional experience on the job and relevant certificates of relevant additional training).
• At least 7 years of work experience in the field of spatial analysis, preferably in a research setting or with an international organization working in the field of environment and/or development.
• Highly skilled in the use of ArcGIS, R, Python, QGIS or similar tools.
• A profound grasp of cutting-edge programming and tools related to GIS, spatial analysis, and the presentation of spatial data.
• Outstanding research skills and grasp of theories and concepts related to climate change, peace, and security.
• Outstanding organizational skills, as well as the ability to work independently and to proactively lead tasks and processes .
• Excellent presentation, communication, and academic writing skills .
• Excellent teamwork capacities and interest in working as part of an international and dynamic team.
• Fluency in Arabic and English, written and spoken.

Source: https://apply.workable.com/icarda/j/CC09B52F5C/