Please note that this is a re-advertisement, and we kindly request that previous applicants refrain from reapplying.

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center is looking for a qualified, self-motivated, and dynamic candidate to join IWMI’s office in Laos as Research Officer – Participatory Methods.

Under the supervision of the Country Representative, the research officer will work with and be supported by national and regional research staff and liase with communities and local government authorities, facilitate community planning, collect field data, contribute to reporting and provide support to sustainable agriculture, integrated farming and environmental management including wetlands for IWMI in Southern Laos. Much of the work initially will be to support farm trials (e.g., rice trials, soil improvement trials, fisheries trials and more), with communities and other stakeholders, implement, problem solve and monitor their performance. Experience with farmer led, farmer field school type approaches a distinct advantage.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide research inputs on farmer led agriculture field trials – under supervision and utilizing participatory methods and approaches, support the establishment of sustainable agriculture learning groups and facilitate through workshops, meetings and presentations, effective collaboration and co-learning and evaluation among its members.
• Ensure the inclusion and effective participation of a wide range of stakeholders in the learning groups especially women and socially marginalized groups.
• Conduct secondary data collation, literature synthesis, interviews, and other research activities in sustainable agriculture (agroecology).
• Facilitate and support the organization of project outreach activities such as pilot studies in agroecological innovations, capacity building through farmer field school type approaches and dialogue platforms with LL members (e.g., national and regional stakeholders and research partners, including the private sector).
• Support research outputs – Compile and analyze data and contribute to scientific publications, policy briefs, research papers, case studies, reports, briefs, presentations and other forms of science outputs and more general materials for dissemination to wider policy and public audiences.
• Carry out other project and research related activities as required.

Requirements

Educational Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or combined educational and professional experience in development studies, agriculture, economics or closely related field relevant to water resources management, agricultural development and natural resource governance.
• Minimum five (5) years of related work experience some of which needs to be conducted in rural areas for major development partners and with key government agencies.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and build strong working relationships with a range of key stakeholders, inclusive of farmers, government agencies, national universities, international agencies, media, and civil society organizations.
• Advanced knowledge of all main MS Office applications.
• Capacity to manage a workload comprising multiple tasks and to deliver high quality outputs on time, whilst ensuring attention to detail.
• Ability to be bring a creative and proactive approach to tasks, to work to own initiative and to require minimal supervision.
• Must be able and willing to travel frequently to remote locations.
• Experience in presenting results to audiences essential and contributing to report writing and other publications a distinct advantage.
• Confidence speaking in English and strong written English skills.

This position is for a Lao National and will be largely field based for a project in Attapeu where the candidates’ duty station will be, but some work in Vientiane will also be required.

Benefits

What we are offering:

This is a nationally recruited position and only candidates who are eligible to work in Lao PDR will be considered. IWMI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, inclusive of health insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability coverage. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period of two-years with the possibility of extension.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) on September 29, 2023 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include a CV, cover letter, and three (3) references, which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.