About IRRI

Job Purpose

Rice fields are a large emitter of methane and adoption of new technologies and policies is necessary to meet national emission reduction targets in Asia. Technologies and policies that reduce the carbon footprint of rice and are linked to market incentives to benefit rural small-holder farmers and sustain the reduction of emissions over the long-term are crucial but there is considerable confusion surrounding the carbon market and how best to take advantage of it while contributing to the national development and emission goals. Working with various national and international partners in different projects, IRRI develops strategies to increase the level of adoption of climate-smart technologies in rice production. This task needs a concerted approach of an inter-disciplinary team of experts.

Under the general direction of ‘Climate Change Scientist’, the Post-doctoral fellow will provide scientific contributions to projects and initiatives related to climate change, especially in the area of sustainable climate finance, but also provide project management support, including managing research, project budgets, personnel, partnerships, and outputs. The Post-doctoral fellow will significantly contribute to the organization’s carbon market and climate finance activities, including engagement and strategizing with government and private sector partners. S/he will implement research that contributes to the climate change agenda of IRRI. This includes in-depth knowledge of carbon markets; analyze context-appropriate finance options – green bonds, book-and-claim, mass balance approach and apply to food systems; ability to design and execute research on policy gaps for the compliance and voluntary carbon markets; developing investment plans for public and private sector; research on environmental payment schemes such as ‘payment for ecosystem services’, REDD+; researching and analyzing benefit-sharing schemes. The incumbent is expected to have advanced knowledge of mitigation in agriculture as well as strong organizational skills. Contribution to understanding multi-stakeholder linkages, governance and broader policies in the current systems is also expected from this post. The incumbent will also provide capacity building and communication advocacy as well as write funding proposals, policy briefs, research reports and scientific articles. The successful candidate will further develop and communicate scientific results to a range of stakeholders including policy makers.

This position will be based in Hanoi, Vietnam and is open for international applications.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Design research studies and analyses on sustainable climate finance for food systems (testing payment for ecosystem services, jurisdictional approaches, premium pricing, benefit-sharing models, and other economic incentives and social norms)
• Develop innovative investment strategies for sustainable food systems (blended finance, ESG, green bonds, etc)
• Provide innovative strategies and solutions to de-risk investment
• Analyze policies related to mitigation, emission trading, and climate finance
• Liaise with government and private sector partners on sustainable climate finance options for different approaches (carbon credits, green bonds, etc) and different benefit-sharing options (direct farmer payments, guaranteed minimum pre-payment, community/group payments, public good investments, etc.)
• Contribute to the development of monitoring, reporting, and verification guidelines and tools for certified emission reduction in rice
• Conduct economic analyses on carbon payment projects and policies (MACCs, investment plans, business plans)
• Perform rigorous quantitative and qualitative evaluation of national and international climate finance flows, needs, mechanisms, and policies
• Design policy and governance studies related to carbon trading markets
• Design of financial mechanisms and delivery channels that can accelerate deployment of larger pools of private capital in sustainable and low-emission food systems (credit risk scoring tools, digital finance etc.
• Contribute to develop cutting-edge research on sustainable finance and ESG related issues for food systems
• Collaborate with national and international partners, scientists across the CGIAR, consultants, and the research team to design and implement research on sustainable finance of low-emission food systems
• Foster good working relationships with national research and extension partners, both in public and private sectors, as well as donor representatives across the work region
• Engage partners in advanced research institutes to actively pursue research and funding opportunities.
• Communicate key messages and project progress with donors, policymakers, and other primary stakeholders
• Lead the implementation of sustainable finance research
• Contribute to policy and governance studies
• Communicate research results and new ideas in a broad array of outlets, including peer-reviewed journals, mass media, policy fora as well as national and international scientific conferences.
• Support the outscaling of MRV methodologies and tools, and deliver business/investment/development plans and policies for climate mitigation
• Ensure the timely completion of deliverables on all related projects

Qualifications

• PhD in sustainable finance, environmental sustainability, climate policy, agricultural or environmental economics, political economy, or similar
• Or 7 years of equivalent training / experience

Skills Required

Mandatory

• Proven ability or potential to perform in a multi-disciplinary and multicultural environment
• Expert knowledge on sustainable finance
• Has demonstrated spoken, written, and analytical skills through peer-reviewed publications
• Proven ability or potential to design and analyze research on climate finance at the beneficiary and policy levels, specifically related to incentives/policies for emission reduction
• Has excellent organizational and project management skills

Preferred

• At least 3 years’ experience with agriculture mitigation, preferably rice, work experience in a developing country environment, especially in South East Asia

IRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances.

Join our team and be part of our story!

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
This position will remain open until filled.