International Water Management Institute (IWMI), A CGIAR Research Center is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates for a part-time assignment under \"Ukama Ustawi: Diversification for resilient agribusiness ecosystems in East and Southern Africa\u201d Initiative of One CGIAR.
Project Background
As part of the One CGIAR, IWMI is co-leading the \u201cUkama Ustawi: Diversification for resilient agribusiness ecosystems in East and Southern Africa\u201d initiative.
The impacts of climate change in East and Southern Africa (ESA) are well known. In this climate hot spot, agricultural production worth over USD 45 billion is at risk from higher temperatures, shorter growing seasons, more extreme and frequent droughts and floods, and increased water scarcity, in a context with little accessible data to support preparedness or responses. Maize production, which covers over 75% of the cropping land in many places, is particularly vulnerable, projected to face not only 15% climate-related declines in yield without adaptation but also challenges from diminished cropland suitability and poor agronomic inputs and management; degraded environmental bases with declining soil fertility and degraded water systems. Developments that transform the ESA agrifood system need to urgently enable sustainable intensification to maize-mixed systems and crop diversification to de-risk other systems, as well as promote healthier diets, and more sustainable practices. The agribusiness ecosystem, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has been identified as a critical engine for agricultural and economic development, for climate change adaptation in ESA agribusinesses help create a \u201cpull effect\u201d for products and services.
Currently there are significant hurdles to realizing these ambitions. These include access to inputs, advisory, capacity, and finance; youth unemployment and a lack of interest in agriculture; poverty and social norms and practices that hinder more gender-equitable growth; tensions over owning or using scarce resources; and challenges to collaborative governance. Newly developed innovations, capabilities, and support environments must tackle these barriers. And while many solutions already exist, the challenge is deploying and rapidly scaling these actions through business models and blended capital investment in a coordinated and inclusive way to engage those most marginalized.
Gender and Social Inclusion
In ESA, women provide more than 50% of the agricultural labour force and play a key role in ensuring family nutrition and food security. Compared to any other regions, women in the ESA are economically more active as farmers and entrepreneurs. Women grow most of Africa\u2019s food and own one-third of all SMEs. Yet agriculture continues to be a key driver of gender inequality in Africa, with significant gender gaps in productivity, wages, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Africa is also at the cusp of a youth bulge. The majority of around 100 million young people entering the workforce in Africa over the next 10 years need to find work in agriculture. Many of the affected areas already have serious levels of hunger and malnutrition, with the highest burden experienced by women and youth from marginalized, vulnerable communities. More inclusive interventions are needed to empower women and youth workers \u2013 and to enable their transition into agribusiness across the value chain. Ukama Ustawi (UU) is designed to be gender-responsive and socially inclusive with relevant priorities framed around a transformative agenda that will enhance opportunities and strengthen engagement across the many development areas.
Objective of the Assignment
Work Package 5 of this initiative aims to \u2018empower and engage women and youth in agribusiness ecosystems\u2019. This proposed consultancy is core to the initiative goal of addressing widespread gender and social inequalities in ESA agribusiness ecosystems. Along with UU researchers, the consultant will assess ecosystems in different local and national contexts to map multidimensional challenges and opportunities, and apply coordinated transformative change interventions across the Initiative\u2019s other Work Packages such as strengthening technical and financial capacity; enhancing access to on- and off-farm assets, services, and innovations; increasing engagement and agency through targeted investments, innovations in design, peer-mentor support and training; and establishing change agents and champions. The key output will be to identify actionable pathways to gender-transformative and socially inclusive change in different national contexts that correspond to local demand. This will be achieved by developing a robust GESI framework of action that allows designing adaptive scale up and scale out gender equality and social inclusion in agribusiness ecosystems in the ESA.
Scope of Work
Gender equality and social inclusion, political economy, agribusiness, East and Southern Africa regional experience.
Expected Deliverables/Outputs
Compiled list of relevant strategic partners and stakeholders at country and regional levels. Policy relevant consultations with public, private, and civil society actors in specific countries and regionally to identify actionable pathways to practical and strategic, systemic barriers to inclusive agri-business. Develop a framework, plan of action and identify potential actors and institutions for a peer-led agri-enterprise mentoring program for marginalized women and youth in at least one ESA location. Evidence-based GESI framework, approaches, and suite of methodologies for inclusive agri-business that can be implemented in the focus countries, targeting women, youth and marginalized groups; evidence generated accessible to, and potential for adapting and scale up across UU Work packages.Duration: Part-time over the period July 2022 to March 2023
Your application must include a copy of your curriculum vitae, a cover letter that addresses IWMI\u2019s requirements stated above, and contact information of three professional referees who may be contacted if you are short-listed for the position.
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Requirements
The successful candidate will possess the following:
PhD in gender, development studies, rural anthropology or sociology, or other relevant social sciences At least 10 years of GESI agriculture experience in ESA region Multi-country, transdisciplinary research on GESI, political economy of agriculture, inclusive agribusiness and value chains in the context of climate resilience Familiarity with gender-transformative approaches and feminist political economy concepts in relation to climate-resilient food systems Transdisciplinary methodologies in political economy, policy, and institutional analysis related to sustainable development and climate resilience across the nexus of food, water, and energy Experience conducting/ facilitating policy relevant consultations with national level stakeholders; established networks with academic, policy, private and civil society actors working on GESI and agriculture will be an asset Reliable analytical and written skills, publications on gender, agriculture, social inclusion in Africa Ability and willingness to travel across UU work locations for conducting research and facilitating consultative discussions.Benefits
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.
This vacancy is archived.