Programme Associate - Econometrics

Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), New Delhi

Programme Associate (Econometrics) - Sustainable Food Systems 

Terms of Reference

At CEEW, we are deliberate about what we stand for (and what we don't stand for!) as an employer. We are proud to build careers in public policy and social impact.

• We offer strong visionary leadership – with emphasis on research and impact at scale

• We actively promote leadership by initiative

• We celebrate talent and ambition

• You will be surrounded by smart ambitious people who will challenge you and help you grow

• You will learn faster than your peers in other organisations

• Curiosity and irreverence, as well as responsibility, come together at CEEW

• You will get above-market remuneration

• We provide a safe space for all

• At CEEW, your life is your example for others

Designation offered:

Programme Associate (Econometrics)

Focus Area:

Sustainable Food Systems

Reporting to:  

Programme Lead/Senior Programme Lead

Location:

New Delhi, India

India stands at a complex challenge of ensuring universal nutritional security for an increasing yet largely deprived population in a rapidly changing climate. This needs action beyond producing more food – we need to evolve what we eat and how we produce, process and distribute our food.  

Re-shaping Agricultural Productivity for Resilient Farms and Landscapes

What KPIs the system chase decides the behaviour of the system. India’s food production system’s  chase of yield as a KPI has come at a detrimental cost for livelihood, environment, nutrition, and social outcomes. India’s food systems need to adopt better, holistic indicators, and pave the way for more sustainable systems.

Natural Farming as a Sustainable Agriculture Practice has received political traction in India in the recent years, and could be a potential pathway for India to transition at scale to sustainable agriculture practice adoption. However, the evidence on the impact of natural farming in insufficient and weak on many environmental, economic and social aspects. In order to bridge this gap, CEEW has undertaken a one-of-its-kind, large-scale longitudinal impact assessment of the Community-managed Natural Farming Programme in Andhra Pradesh (APCNF). The data and evidence generated on natural farming from this study will inform policy makers and other stakeholders towards a ‘considered approach’ of scaling natural farming and agroecology in India. The evidence base will hold lessons for the larger agroecology transition in India, and the learnings from the study will shape the necessary narratives for India’s food systems, particularly on the goals and the KPIs the latter needs to chase.

CEEW seeks to hire a suitable candidate for the Programme Associate position in the Sustainable Food Systems team to expand its capacity to conduct research and drive change. We are looking for a detail-oriented researcher with a hunger for impact and the ambition to make our food system sustainable.

The successful applicant will works towards meeting the Sustainable Food Systems team’s programmatic objective of enabling timely, concerted action of system leaders through data and evidence-building, shaping narrative and informing strategy. In particular, the successful applicant will lead team members to undertake robust quantitative and qualitative analyses. In addition to the duties and responsibilities outlined below, the Programme Associate should be prepared, as and when necessary, to take on additional responsibilities and respond to events and developments that cannot be anticipated easily.

Responsibilities and Duties

Research

·       Take lead on the allocated project(s) under the programme end-to-end. This includes, but is not limited to independently projects using quantitative applied research on varied food system issues. Such workstreams include but are not limited to (i) identification of optimal research question(s), (ii) designing the research approach/framework (iii) development and execution of primary surveys (this includes designing the questionnaires, survey monitoring, coordinating with field staffs and analysis of the survey data), (iv) systematic literature reviews (v) conducting stakeholder consultations, (vi) conducting the relevant analyses using appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative (econometric/statistical) tools , and (vii) presenting the analyses in a coherent narrative in different formats such as journal publications, reports, op-ed articles, dissemination and consultation meetings (viii) developing an outreach strategy, (viii) dissemination of the research and (ix) assessing the impact created.

·       Track the day-to-day regulatory, policy and market developments in the Indian states especially on the topics relevant to (but not limited to) natural farming, agroecology, dairy sector, sustainable food systems.

·       Travel to field sites, whenever necessary, to manage fieldwork including surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, meetings, training or gather primary information

·       Travel to states to meet with government and external stakeholders, whenever necessary, to conduct meetings or collect primary information.

·       To write briefs and issue notes which could be circulated among industry bodies, state and central government officials and other stakeholders.

·       Lead in writing high-quality research reports, publishing in leading peer-reviewed journals and generating other knowledge products for the different audience such as blogs, policy briefs in regular intervals

·       Establishing and managing relationships with project counterparts at CEEW’s partnering/collaborating organizations and institutions

·       To work with senior researchers on conceptualising new projects (as and when needed).

·       Proactively supporting team in effectively operationalizing the CEEW’s Arc of Learning

Project/Programme Assistance

·       Support the leadership in conceptualising new projects, development of high-impact research proposals, and applications for research and general donor funding

·       Lead the development of overall programme strategy and its effective implementation

·       Establish, manage, and promote relationship with existing and potential partners

·       Prepare project proposals/applications for research and general donor funding

·       Lead the strategic outreach of the research outputs through engagement with a broader network of policymakers, industry and other stakeholders

·       Mentor the research analysts/consultants/interns as required

Selection Criteria and Key skills

·       Master's degree in Economics (any stream)/Econometrics/Statistics) (a non-negotiable)

·       At the minimum, three years of relevant research experience is expected (as research analyst), specifically in carrying out econometric analyses using primary and secondary datasets. Research experience in the domain of agriculture, nutrition, food system, livestock, dairy is strongly preferred.

·       Analytical skills and knowledge of mixed methods – qualitative and quantitative research methods, relevant for impact evaluation, food system analysis, political economy analysis etc

·       Knowledge of econometric modelling (mandatory), in particular impact evaluations (preferred)

·       Experience in using statistical software - R/Stata/Python  (mandatory)

·       Experience in GIS based analysis using QGIS/ArcGIS, etc (preferred)

·       Experience in designing primary studies (mandatory)  – study design, design of survey tools, survey execution, training of survey teams

o   Experience in designing studies

o   Experience in designing survey tools

o   Experience in survey execution, managing engagement with survey agency, training survey teams

o   Experience in data cleaning and analysis of large secondary or primary datasets

o   Experience in engaging on field activities, for data collection/training of enumerators/sampling of households/pilot testing/monitoring activities

·       Experience in leading and managing projects (or aspects of some projects) independently

·       Experience in making budgets for projects, designing concept notes and full proposals (or aspects of the same) for donors

·       Knowledge of issues pertaining to sustainable food systems, policy areas and consumer trends

·       Strong communication skills for effective, efficient, and adaptive verbal and written communication, and active listening

·       Experience in managing engagements with stakeholders (farmers, grassroots workers, government, stakeholders in the private space)

·       Experience in managing research analysts/consultants/interns

·       Ability to use MS Office application suite

·       Mandatory: Relevant publication(s) in peer-reviewed journals or as book chapters / publication of reports, issue briefs, policy briefs, op-eds, etc.

·       Willingness to learn new (research and project management) skills

·       Ability to adapt to a new environment and deliver under tight deadlines in a professional environment

·        Striving for rigour in research and quality in work output

·       Ability to effectively work in a team while driving research with minimum assistance, when time demands independently.

·       Ability to dig deeper into details, while also keeping a sense of the broader objectives and big picture

·       Willingness to learn, grow and develop at personal and professional front, at a rapid pace with a steep learning curve

·       Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment 

CEEW operates in a dynamic environment, and the candidate will be required to show flexibility in undertaking a variety of tasks.

Competitive compensation – commensurate to the experience and matching the best of standards adopted by industry or other similar organisations for similar roles.

Application Process

CEEW is an equal opportunity employer and the selection process does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, or caste. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates may send their CV and cover letter (in one pdf) along with a recent report/publication (to which the candidate made a major contribution in analysis and writing) 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We appreciate your interest.