Regional Researcher - Feminist Political Economy and Ecology
International Water Management Institute, Egypt

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center is seeking a dynamic amp; multi skilled candidate to join its MENA office in Giza, Egypt, as a Regional Researcher - Feminist Political Economy and Ecology.

Please note that this is a re-advertisement, and we kindly request that previous applicants refrain from reapplying. This is a regionally recruited position; therefore, individuals with relevant abilities from MENA region are encouraged to apply.

The Regional Researcher will lead the planning, design, and implementation of gender-transformative, transdisciplinary research on how climate impacts shape agriculture-water-food systems in the MENA and Central Asia regions. The successful candidate will bring cutting-edge, contemporary feminist political economy/ecology knowledge and experience in the region(s) to map the gendered dynamics of food system changes, the impact of economic, social, and political drivers on intersectional dimensions of exclusions, and climate impacts in agri-food systems across agri-value chains. In addition to work on specific projects and CGIAR innovations led by IWMI in the region, the aim of this Regional Researcher position is primarily to generate robust evidence-based data, establish policy-relevant networks, and facilitate actionable pathways to more inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient food systems policies, innovations, and interventions.

The incumbent will conduct primary research in specific locations, taking a lead role in the planning, design, and oversight of IWMI-led research in different locations, ensuring high-quality data and scientific evidence. The person will have a key coordination role in ensuring a connection between IWMI Strategic Programs, CGIAR Initiatives, Research Groups, and relevant public, private, and feminist grassroots initiatives in the region. A major expectation is the development of new Gender Equality and Social Inclusion research in the region, focusing on changing food systems and key economic drivers of change.

• Support various bilateral and CGIAR initiatives to enable the preparation of Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI)-informed water status reports and climate change country profiles for (Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan). Additionally, support the implementation of Gender and Social Inclusion in the political economic analysis and frameworks to achieve better coherence between different systems (Food, Water, Land) in the Middle East and North Africa.
• Map and compile existing secondary data and undertake policy and institutional analysis of relevant food systems, irrigation, agriculture, and climate policies, programs, and projects implemented by official, donor, INGO, and grassroots actors and networks. Analyze gaps, challenges, and opportunities concerning Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) interventions and outcomes.
• Analyze the gendered dimensions and dynamics of water, growth, and inclusion by mapping the drivers of change (social, economic, political, and environmental/climate) and how these pose diverse food systems, livelihoods, and wellbeing challenges or opportunities for women, youth, and marginalized communities.
• Building on evidence of key gaps in knowledge, capacities, and modes of exclusions in food systems in specific local contexts, contribute to developing an effective body of funded work with relevant public, private, and grassroots partners, to explore new bilateral funding opportunities informed by feminist political economy/ecology, gender transformative concepts, and approaches with a particular focus on climate change.
• Support feminist political economy/ecology capacity strengthening for project teams, partners, key stakeholders, including public, private, and grassroots actors and institutions.
• Establish a database of relevant stakeholders and partners, facilitate dialogues and discussions with strategic public, private, and grassroots institutions and actors to co-design actionable pathways to more inclusive food systems and water resources innovations.
• Lead effective communication and outreach of research results in the region and in international forums and platforms.
• Substantially contribute to the authorship of key research outputs, including but not limited to research papers and journal articles, blogs and webcasts/podcasts, multimedia presentations, and social media.
• Plan, design, and develop GESI-informed conceptual frameworks, research methods, and tools that can be applied across the MENA region.
• Facilitate the co-design of research for development with policy-relevant partners, applying transdisciplinary and gender-transformative tools and approaches to tackle policy, institutional, and practical challenges.

Requirements

Job Rewards and Benefits