The International Food Policy Research Institute
Research Coordinator/MTID (Position # 13-115)

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks a qualified candidate to serve as Research Coordinator in its Markets, Trade and Institutions Division. This is a two-year, fixed term, exempt, renewable appointment based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

JOB DESCRIPTION: The candidate will be responsible for coordinating the IFPRI analytical/policy research supports to the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA)—an initiative of the Government of Ethiopia ((GOE). The ATA is established with the primary aim of promoting agricultural sector transformation by supporting existing structures of government, private-sector and other non-governmental partners to address systemic bottlenecks and deliver on a priority national agenda to achieve growth and food security.

The formation of the ATA is a result of two years of extensive diagnostic study across eight sub-sectors of Ethiopia's agricultural system in a consultative, multi-stakeholder process. Its structure and function is focused on nimble, innovative and results-oriented support to a range of partners in the agricultural sector.

Programmatically, the ATA focus on a set of high priority initiatives identified by an inter-ministerial Council chaired by the Prime Minister. Across the thematic initiatives, the ATA engages public, private and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models.

The Research Coordinator will engage continually with ATA program directors and senior management to ensure the relevance of IFPRI's support to ATA. This will include identifying knowledge gaps on options for investment or other forms of engagement by ATA programs and how they may be met in a timely fashion. The interactions also will be important for designing and assessing progress on the annual IFPRI work plans of strategic research in support of ATA; building analytical capacity and familiarity with conceptual issues related to Agency programs among ATA technical staff; and managing ATA expectations of the support that they can expect from IFPRI.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
1. To conceive, design, launch and support a portfolio of integrated initiatives designed to measurably improve the operational performance of cooperatives/farmers' organizations in promoting agricultural development in Ethiopia through the upgrading of value chains relevant for the cooperatives/farmer organizations.
2. To build the capacity of key government, private, NGOs/community based organizations and other informal actors in Ethiopia's agricultural system to foster effective linkages and enable long-term improvements in value chains of relevant commodities for the agricultural cooperatives system.

KEY FUNCTIONS:
- Day-to-day communication with the ATA program directors and senior management on the progress, emerging research needs, and other short term ATA technical/policy research needs that IFPRI can realistically deliver.
- Coordinate in-country support for project staff based outside of Ethiopia.
- Maintain regular communication with the project manager and lead researchers outside of Ethiopia as and when necessary.
- Provide analytical support both for the program of strategic research that features in the annual work plan for the project and in responding to demands for short-term technical inputs from ATA.
- Define and manage the partnership relationship with the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research. This involves capacity-strengthening activities with EIAR researchers to foster an effective partnership with IFPRI in addressing a range of strategic research activities, which are relevant for engagement by EIAR researchers in support of ATA.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- PhD in agricultural economics, applied economics or closely related field with a minimum of 3-5 years of relevant work experience; or Master's degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, International Development, or related field, with 4 years of relevant work experience.
- Deep understanding of Ethiopia's agricultural system, with a broad perspective on how the entire system operates and how public, private and informal actors operate within the system.
- Practical experience in developing linkages between producers and markets and working across value chains of high value crops, livestock and or other agricultural outputs.
- Practical experience in piloting and scaling up relevant solutions at the local level.
- Experience in prioritizing and sequencing both programmatic and operation activities.
- Experience in managing an agribusiness, retail value chain, or related business; and creating public private partnerships by identifying the areas of mutual interests.
- Established track record of success with program design, performance management, learning systems and monitoring & evaluation.
- Fluency in English is essential. Fluency in at least Amharic and/or one additional Ethiopian language is a plus.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, start-up environment, with an emphasis on high-performance, teamwork, accountability and results.
- Ability to build relationships with all kinds of people.
- Highly facilitative and collaborative leadership style.
- Excellent adaptive problem-solver in challenging environment.
- Excellent analytical skills.

ABOUT IFPRI: 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 PROCEDURE: Log on to http://www.ifpri.org. Click on "Careers" and "Research" to link you to Position # 13-115- Research Coordinator, MTID. Please complete on-line application, including a complete curriculum vitae and a detailed letter of interest. Also complete section providing 3 references.

FURTHER INFORMATION: For more information on IFPRI, please visit our website at http://www.ifpri.org. EOE