Agricultural Economist East & Southern Africa at International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Position Overview

The East & Southern Africa Agricultural Economist will lead activities related to fertilizer, input and soil health in the areas of markets, economics and policies that contribute to advocacy on improving the agriculture productivity enabling environment. The Economist will support national and regional projects in East & Southern Africa as well as support IFDC’s strategic priorities including new business. This will be undertaken by conducting evidence-based research and developing policy briefs, research papers. S/he will be based at IFDC’s Regional Office in Nairobi, Kenya with regular travel to support regional projects of IFDC as and when required. S/he will be part of IFDC’s Research Team as well as the East & Southern Africa Regional team.

Specific Activities

The Economist will undertake the following activities:

• Provide technical leadership and support to the development and implementation of fertilizer and soil health related programs in the areas of economics, markets, and policy related issues;
• Liaise and work closely with Ministries of Agriculture, government agencies, private sector, associations, development partners, stakeholders and projects in the region and serves as a key point of contact in agriculture related policy formulation, analysis, implementation and dissemination;
• Maintain an active and dynamic policy dialogue with other Government institutions, donor platforms and organizations and private sector to facilitate technical discussions and engage in effective policy development and change in soil and fertilizer related issues;
• Coordinate meetings on key issues related to soil health, agricultural inputs and fertilizer markets, policy related issues;
• Be responsible for fertilizer, input and policy sector working group/platform meetings (preparation, reporting and following up recommendations)
• Provide support/lead in the development of new business related to policy and enabling environment issues with regard to input and soil fertility policies. Activities may include the development of policy briefs to support new business, the development of concept notes and technical inputs into proposal development;
• Draft policy documents and write policy briefs on a regular basis about fertilizer and soil health related issues;
• Participating in and conducting training and capacity building programs on key economic and policy issues on fertilizers and soil health related issues.
• Developing and presenting reports and technical papers at meetings, representation in conferences and workshops
• Provide support in other areas of work and undertake any other duties as may be assigned by the BFS-Program coordinator and the Regional Director.

Location & Travel

This position will be based at IFDC’s Regional East & Southern Africa Office in Nairobi and primarily covers countries and projects in the region. Support may be required to other countries in which IFDC operates in the region with travel up to 25-30%.

Contract

Successful candidates must be eligible to work in Kenya and will receive a national contract based in Nairobi, Kenya.