The International Potato Center (CIP) is searching an outstanding and experienced candidate as Senior Research Associate and/or Research Associate to contribute to different interdisciplinary research projects (ID) carried out by our hosted organization, the Wyss Academy for Nature.

Based on the experience, skills, and performance during the interview, any of the two positions can be offered.

The Wyss Academy for Nature (WA) at the University of Bern’s vision is to achieve a just and sustainable world in which nature conservation and human wellbeing reinforce each other. We are a place of innovation, where research, business, policymakers, practitioners and communities come together to co-design solutions for sustainable futures. Our goal is to research, develop, and implement innovative solutions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, land use change and rising inequality by connecting technical, social, economic, institutional and policy innovations at the interface of nature and people. The WA comprises four regional hubs, one each in Europe (Switzerland), South America (Peru), East Africa (Kenya), and Southeast Asia (Laos).

About the role:

The selected candidate will contribute to different interdisciplinary research projects (ID) implemented by the Wyss Academy for Nature staff and partners. This role will serve as the focal point of the Indigenous Governance ID Project, focusing particularly on that project. The Wyss Academy for Nature Interdisciplinary Project (ID) Indigenous Governance aims to investigate the potential of Indigenous People and local communities-led governance schemes to contribute towards more just conservation. Drawing on in-depth transdisciplinary case studies from the Peruvian Amazon, the study will identify leverage points that can inform the design of such governance schemes in other forest frontier contexts, such as Madagascar and Laos. This nationally recruited position will be based in Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, Peru.

Key responsibilities:

•        Contribute to the implementation of the ID research projects in close coordination with the MDD scientist, Wyss Academy professors and ID project leads.
•        Supervise and support, when needed, research activities (including fieldwork), including but not limited to quantitative data collection and analysis, literature research and synthesis, secondary data collection, household interviews and surveys.
•        Support in the conceptualization of the research project, data collection and analysis, dissemination of results (e.g. conferences, publications, workshops), and preparation of outputs.
•        Contribute to coordinating engagement processes with local stakeholders, particularly indigenous peoples’ organisations (e.g. multistakeholder workshops, learning events, mentorship of indigenous researchers).
•        Elaborate internal documents with preliminary results for discussion with the Hub and research teams.
•        Actively participate in the generation of scientific/academic and outreach products (i.e., scientific articles, executive summaries, policy briefs).
•        Comply with applicable health and safety CIP policies and procedures.

Requirements

What are we looking for?

•        Master degree in social/anthropological sciences or related fields.
•        At least 6 years of working experience in applied research for development or conservation. (Required)
•        Experience in qualitative methods such as interview, focus group discussions. (Required)
•        Proven experience in using mixed data collection methods and analysing both qualitative and quantitative data.
•        Prior experience and knowledge in/of tropical landscapes and working with indigenous peoples.
•        Desired experience with participatory methods and stakeholder engagement processes (e.g. organizing and facilitating multistakeholder workshops, engagement with indigenous peoples’ organizations).
•        Desired skills in scientific writing.
•        Good communication skills in Spanish and English (advanced level).

Benefits

What are we offering?

• Great career opportunity in an international organization.
• Cooperate with and learn from leading researchers at the University of Bern.
• Contribute to and be part of state-of-the-art research projects.
• Chance to visit summer schools, conferences and visit the University of Bern.
• Generous compensation package.
• One-year term contract with the possibility of renewal.
•  Work in an equal and diverse workplace.