Post-Doctoral Fellow, Gender Equity and Social Inclusion at International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

To expand the evidence base for addressing these challenges and strengthen the integration of gender and social inclusion in our agricultural research-for-development (R4D) portfolio for sub-Saharan Africa, CIMMYT is seeking an innovative, dynamic, pro-active, resourceful and results-oriented gender and social inclusion researcher to join its Sustainable Agrifood Systems (SAS) Program in the region to primarily support a new project looking at new methodologies to incorporate farmers’ preferences at the early stage of breeding pipelines. The selected candidate will contribute actively to on-farm research to ensure gender mainstreaming and social inclusivity in maize breeding.

The selected candidate will form part of CIMMYT’s SAS Program and will work in close collaboration with CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program, as well as local and international partners. In alignment with CIMMYT’s strategy for gender and social inclusion in maize R4D, the selected candidate will work with colleagues and partners to expand the current evidence base on gender and social inclusion, particularly in gender-intentional seed delivery, value chain development, and agricultural livelihood improvements in sub-Saharan Africa, develop relevant policy recommendations and promote gender-transformative R4D practices.

The position will be based in Harare or Nairobi and will involve regional travel, including to other CIMMYT offices and field operations. 

Specific duties:

• Design and conduct research to identify and understand barriers to access to and adoption of improved maize varieties in eastern and southern Africa, especially by women farmers and marginalized communities.
• Based on research findings, develop and test innovative strategies and modalities for improving access to and use of stress-tolerant maize varieties via formal seed systems by women farmers and marginalized communities.
• Work with maize breeders and other colleagues to integrate a gender perspective into product profiles and regional on-farm trials, including collection and analysis of gender-disaggregated data on farmers’ varietal and trait preferences.
• Contribute to the research and promotion of avenues for integrating gender-intentional and gender-transformative approaches in R4D, including institutional learning and change through networking and capacity strengthening.
• Contribute to resource mobilization to strengthen gender and social inclusion in maize R4D.
• Publish research findings in international peer-reviewed journals.

Required qualifications, skills, and attitudes:

• Ph.D. in social sciences, e.g., economics, sociology, anthropology, feminist economics, or related fields from a recognized university, with a strong focus on gender and social inclusion.
• Basic theoretical and methodological background in the design of research related to gender and social inclusion, with a track record of publishing insightful research in reputable peer-reviewed journals.
• Knowledge or interest in crop breeding; experience in sub-Saharan Africa would be an advantage
• Strong quantitative and/or qualitative analytical skills, with a keen interest in and experience with mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative).
• Proven interpersonal-, and cross-cultural skills, including the ability to work with and motivate multi-disciplinary teams and to develop strong and effective working relationships with colleagues and partners, including those from the private sector.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, including strategic thinking and the ability to present coherent and convincing analyses to different audiences.
• A high degree of personal organization, the ability to work under pressure, and willingness to travel.
• The selected candidate should exhibit the following competencies: Client Orientation, Negotiation, and Conflict Resolution, Problem Solving and Decision Making, Teamwork, and Communication.