Fellow - Ecological-Economist / Decision Analyst

About our organization

The World Agroforestry Centre (also known as the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry or ICRAF) is an independent research institution which generates science-based knowledge about the complex role trees play in agricultural landscapes and rural livelihoods. As part of the Centre’s work to bring tree-based solutions to bear on poverty and environmental problems, researchers – working in close collaboration with partners – are developing new technologies, tools and policy recommendations for increased food security and ecosystem health.

The Centre’s headquarters are located in Nairobi, Kenya, and research is conducted in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We are supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and receive funding from over 50 different donors.

To learn more about our organization, please visit our website:www.worldagroforestry.org

About the position

Sustainable intensification of agricultural landscapes in developing countries requires integrated interventions that address ecological, economic and social dimensions at multiple scales. Decision makers are faced with a daunting task to integrate available information from diverse sources, create practical alternatives to current land management practices that meet diverse stakeholder expectations, assess trade-offs and risks, and arrive at optimal intervention designs that gain motivation and commitment to action.

Data-driven approaches are insufficient due to limited data and large measurement challenges for assessing many important aspects such as intervention impacts on ecosystem services and poverty. Decision makers need new tools that can help judiciously combine data with expert knowledge and that consider uncertainties in all dimensions of the problems.

Working within the decision analysis team of ICRAF’s Science Domain on Land Health and supporting Information Systems Research across the CGIAR Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE), the incumbent will contribute to the development and application of probabilistic decision analysis methods for improving intervention designs, better targeting research to where information values are high, and identifying priority metrics for impact assessment.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Compile literature data on ecological-economic costs and benefits of agricultural interventions, including agroforestry
• Work with multi-disciplinary stakeholder-scientist teams across centres and regions on construction of probabilistic decision analysis frameworks and models
• Assist with subjective probability elicitation from subject-matter experts
• Communicate decision modelling processes and insights to stakeholders, including on intervention costs and benefits, trade-offs, reducing intervention risks, high-value research, and priority impact metrics
• Contribute to ICRAF’s communication products and resource mobilization efforts
• Publish in peer-reviewed journals

Other Responsibilities

• Supervising MSc and PhD students
• Training of stakeholders and scientists in decision analysis

Requirements

• PhD in Ecological-Economics, Decision Analysis, Business Analysis, Development or related fields; Graduates in Agricultural or Ecological subjects may be considered
• Minimum two years’ experience in probabilistic modelling, economic risk analysis or related field
• Good systems understanding of agro-ecosystem intensification in developing countries, including links between poverty and ecosystem services and gender
• Excellent quantitative analysis skills
• Good understanding of Bayesian networks, Monte Carlo simulation and other approaches to decision modelling under uncertainty
• Track record of publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Experience with Bayesian networks highly desirable
• Demonstrated aptitude to build probabilistic models
• Ability to function effectively in a multicultural setting
• Proficiency in oral and written English

Terms of offer

We offer a collegial, diverse and gender-sensitive working environment, and we strongly encourage applications from qualified women. This position is remunerated on international terms. The appointment will be for an initial period of two (2) years, subject to a six (6) months’ probation period.

How to apply

Go to http://worldagroforestry.org/working-for-icraf/vacancies

Applications will be considered until 30 April 2014.  Please note that only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.