Programme Associate - Econometrics

The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) is seeking a Programme Associate in Econometrics for Sustainable Food Systems in New Delhi. The role involves conducting research to address India's nutritional security and sustainable agriculture challenges. Candidates should be detail-oriented researchers focused on impactful data analysis and evidence-building. CEEW emphasizes leadership, ambition, and a supportive work environment, offering competitive remuneration.
Council on Energy Environment and Water(CEEW) New Delhi

ProgrammeAssociate (Econometrics) Sustainable Food Systems

Termsof Reference

At CEEW we are deliberate about what we stand for (and what wedont stand for! as an employer. We are proud to build careers in publicpolicy and social impact.

We offer strong visionary leadership withemphasis on research and impact at scale

We actively promote leadership byinitiative

We celebrate talent and ambition

You will be surrounded by smart ambitiouspeople who will challenge you and help you grow

You will learn faster than your peers inother organisations

Curiosity and irreverence as well asresponsibility come together at CEEW

You will get abovemarket remuneration

We provide a safe space for all

At CEEW your life is your example forothers

Designationoffered:

Programme Associate(Econometrics)

Focus Area:

Sustainable Food Systems

Reportingto:

ProgrammeLead/Senior Programme Lead

Location:

New Delhi India

Job Summary

India stands at a complex challenge ofensuring universal nutritional security for an increasing yet largely deprivedpopulation in a rapidly changing climate. This needs action beyond producingmore food we need to evolve what we eat and how we produce process anddistribute our food.

ReshapingAgricultural Productivity for Resilient Farms and Landscapes

What KPIs the system chase decides thebehaviour of the system. Indias food production systems chase of yield as a KPI has come at adetrimental cost for livelihood environment nutrition and social outcomes.Indias food systems need to adopt better holistic indicators and pave theway for more sustainable systems.

Natural Farming as a Sustainable AgriculturePractice has received political traction in India in the recent years andcould be a potential pathway for India to transition at scale to sustainableagriculture practice adoption. However the evidence on the impact of naturalfarming in insufficient and weak on many environmental economic and socialaspects. In order to bridge this gap CEEW has undertaken a oneofitskindlargescale longitudinal impact assessment of the Communitymanaged NaturalFarming Programme in Andhra Pradesh (APCNF). The data and evidence generated onnatural farming from this study will inform policy makers and otherstakeholders towards a considered approach of scaling natural farming andagroecology in India. The evidence base will hold lessons for the largeragroecology transition in India and the learnings from the study will shapethe necessary narratives for Indias food systems particularly on the goalsand the KPIs the latter needs to chase.

CEEW seeks to hire a suitable candidate forthe Programme Associate position in the Sustainable Food Systems team to expandits capacity to conduct research and drive change. We are looking for adetailoriented researcher with a hunger for impact and the ambition to makeour food system sustainable.

The successful applicant will works towardsmeeting the Sustainable Food Systems teams programmatic objective of enablingtimely concerted action of system leaders through data and evidencebuildingshaping narrative and informing strategy. In particular the successfulapplicant will lead team members to undertake robust quantitative andqualitative analyses. In addition to the duties and responsibilities outlinedbelow the Programme Associate should be prepared as and when necessary totake on additional responsibilities and respond to events and developments thatcannot be anticipated easily.

Responsibilities and Duties

Research

Take lead on theallocated project(s) under the programme endtoend. This includes but is notlimited to independently projects using quantitative applied research on variedfood 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 of primary surveys (this includes designing thequestionnaires survey monitoring coordinating with field staffs and analysisof the survey data) (iv) systematic literature reviews (v) conducting stakeholderconsultations (vi) conducting the relevant analyses using appropriatequalitative and/or quantitative (econometric/statistical) tools and (vii)presenting the analyses in a coherent narrative in different formats such asjournal publications reports oped articles dissemination and consultationmeetings (viii) developing an outreach strategy(viii) dissemination of the research and (ix) assessing the impact created.

Track the daytodayregulatory policy and market developments in the Indian states especially onthe topics relevant to (but not limited to) natural farming agroecology dairysector sustainable food systems.

Travel to field sites whenevernecessary to manage fieldwork including surveys focus group discussionsinterviews meetings training or gather primary information

Travel to states to meet withgovernment and external stakeholders whenever necessary to conduct meetingsor collect primary information.

To write briefs and issue noteswhich could be circulated among industry bodies state and central governmentofficials and other stakeholders.

Lead in writing highqualityresearch reports publishing in leading peerreviewed journals and generatingother knowledge products for the different audience such as blogs policy briefsin regular intervals

Establishing and managingrelationships with project counterparts at CEEWs partnering/collaboratingorganizations and institutions

To work with seniorresearchers on conceptualising new projects (as and when needed).

Proactively supporting team ineffectively operationalizing the CEEWs Arc of Learning

Project/Programme Assistance

Support the leadership inconceptualising new projects development of highimpact research proposalsand applications for research and general donor funding

Lead the development of overallprogramme strategy and its effective implementation

Establish manage and promoterelationship with existing and potential partners

Prepare projectproposals/applications for research and general donor funding

Lead the strategic outreach ofthe research outputs through engagement with a broader network of policymakersindustry and other stakeholders

Mentor the research analysts/consultants/internsas required

Selection Criteria and Key skills

Masters degree in Economics (any stream)/Econometrics/Statistics)(a nonnegotiable)

At the minimum threeyears of relevant research experience is expected (as research analyst)specifically in carrying out econometric analyses using primary and secondarydatasets. Research experience in the domain of agriculture nutrition foodsystem livestock dairy is strongly preferred.

Analyticalskills and knowledge of mixed methods qualitative and quantitative researchmethods relevant for impact evaluation food system analysis politicaleconomy analysis etc

Knowledge ofeconometric modelling (mandatory) in particular impact evaluations (preferred)

Experience inusing statistical software R/Stata/Python (mandatory)

Experience inGIS based analysis using QGIS/ArcGIS etc (preferred)

Experience indesigning primary studies (mandatory) study design design of survey tools survey training of surveyteams

o Experiencein designing studies

o Experiencein designing survey tools

o Experiencein survey managing engagement with survey agency training surveyteams

o Experience in data cleaning and analysis of large secondaryor primary datasets

o Experience in engaging on field activities for datacollection/training of enumerators/sampling of households/pilottesting/monitoring activities

Experience inleading and managing projects (or aspects of some projects) independently

Experience inmaking budgets for projects designing concept notes and full proposals (oraspects of the same) for donors

Knowledge of issues pertaining tosustainable food systems policy areas and consumer trends

Strongcommunication skills for effective efficient and adaptive verbal and writtencommunication and active listening

Experience in managingengagements with stakeholders (farmers grassroots workers government stakeholdersin the private space)

Experience in managing researchanalysts/consultants/interns

Ability to useMS Office application suite

Mandatory:Relevant publication(s) in peerreviewed journals or as book chapters /publication of reports issue briefs policy briefs opeds etc.

Personality

Willingness to learn new(research and project management) skills

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

Striving for rigour in research and qualityin work output

Ability to effectively work in ateam while driving research with minimum assistance when time demandsindependently.

Ability to dig deeper intodetails while also keeping a sense of the broader objectives and big picture

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

Ability to work in aninterdisciplinary and multicultural environment

CEEW operates in a dynamicenvironment and the candidate will be required to show flexibility in undertakinga variety of tasks.

Compensation

Competitive compensation commensurate to the experience andmatching the best of standards adopted by industry or other similarorganisations for similar roles.

Application Process

CEEW is an equal opportunity employer and the selection processdoes not discriminate on the basis of age gender ethnicity religion orcaste. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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

Applicationswill be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested applicants areadvised to apply at the earliest possible.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We appreciate yourinterest.

Required Experience:

IC