Reference number: 2455
Job status: In-progress
Job category: Local Position
Duty station: Colombo, Sri Lanka
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CIFOR-ICRAF
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.

Overview

The responsibilities of this position include generating scientific outputs, mentoring students and interns, contributing to accountable donors’ outputs, collaborating with partners, and representing the project and organization – covering the topics of sustainable value chains, landscape governance and finance, payment for ecosystem services, and relevant policy domains.

Duties and responsibilities

• Support in designing methodology and conducting research activities (data collection and analysis) on the topics of sustainable value chain, landscape governance and finance, payment for ecosystem services, and other relevant domains.
• Contribute to writing peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, working papers, technical and policy briefs, and other technical publications.
• Support in developing tools, manuals, and guidelines.
• Contribute to managing databases on policy and regulations and other data and information gained from primary and secondary sources.
• Support the Principal Investigator, project and component leaders to develop reports and annual work plan and budget of relevant project(s).
• Facilitate in strengthening the capacity of partners at national and sub-national levels, including facilitating and organizing training, workshops, and other events in collaboration with partners and country teams.
• Support the project team leaders to ensure quality and manage high-quality outputs and timely submissions of consultant and partner research outputs.
• Support in designing research activities for students and interns.
• Co-supervise students and interns, including facilitating and evaluating their work.
• Represent the organization in engaging with public, private, and smallholder farmers in various events – as a resource person, participant, and other relevant capacity.
• Contribute to national and global discussions on relevant topics of expertise in close coordination with the supervisor and Sri Lanka senior researchers.
• Support the project team leaders to ensure accountability processes to donor(s) by contributing to timely submissions of reports and activities on the ground.
• Contribute to project reporting, monitoring, and evaluation in collaboration with other team members and project partners.

Education, knowledge and experience:

• A master’s degree in ecological/environmental economics, agricultural economics, agribusiness, and sustainable financing in the context of agriculture and forestry.
• At least 3 years of experience as a researcher/research assistant position in reputable international or national organizations.
• Vast and strong knowledge of payment for ecosystem services, sustainable landscape financing, green economy, and green agriculture in Sri Lanka and globally.
• Broad knowledge of Sri Lanka policy and regulation on agriculture, forestry, ecosystem services, and green financing.
• Authoring or co-authoring research publications – journal articles, books, technical and policy briefs, and others.
• Project management, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Engagement with NGOs and academic partners.
• Engagement with smallholders, and national and sub-national government. A working or networking experience with private sectors will be beneficial.
• Involvement in resource mobilization and proposal development is considered an advantageous attribute.