The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) a CGIAR Research Center, is seeking applications from highly motivated individuals as Regional Researcher -Sustainable Food Systems – A Gender Transformative Approach. 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 researcher will bring cutting-edge, contemporary feminist political economy/ecology knowledge and experience in the region/s to map the gendered dynamics of food systems changes, the impact of economic, social, 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 to primarily generate robust evidence-based data, establish policy-relevant networks and to facilitate actionable pathways to more inclusive, sustainable and climate resilient food systems policies, innovations, and interventions. The Regional Researcher will conduct primary research in specific locations, take a lead role in the planning, design, and oversight of IWMI-led research in different locations ensuring high quality data and science evidence. S/he will have a key coordination role ensuring connect 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. Duties AND Responsibilities:

• Support relevant One CGIAR integrated initiatives, for example, the “From Fragility to Resilience in Central and West Asia and North Africa - CGIAR” Regional Integrated Initiative – to enable preparation of Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI)-informed water status reports and climate change country profiles for (Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Uzbekistan)
• Support the implementation of Gender and Social Inclusion on the One CGIAR National Policies and Strategies for food-land-and-water-systems-transformation in the Middle East and North Africa and Central Asia regions
• Support IUCN in the implementation of gender and social inclusion on the IWMI-led Al-Murunah project in the MENA region
• Map and collate 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 to analyze gaps, challenges and opportunities in relation to 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 environment/ climate) and how these pose diverse food systems, livelihoods and wellbeing challenges or opportunities to women, youth and marginalized communities
• Support feminist political economy/ ecology capacity strengthening for project team, partners, key stakeholders including public, private and grassroots actors and institutions
• Establish a database of relevant stakeholders and partners, facilitate dialogue and discussions with strategic public, private and grassroots institutions and actors to co-design actionable pathways to more inclusive food systems, water resources innovations,

• Building on evidence of key gaps in knowledge, capacities, 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, which are informed by feminist political economy/ ecology, gender transformative concepts and approaches with a particular focus on climate change
• 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 and CA regions
• Facilitate the co-design of research for development with policy-relevant partners, applying transdisciplinary and gender transformative tools and approaches that tackle policy, institutional and practical challenges.

Requirements MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: Essential: A PhD in gender studies, sociology, rural sociology, anthropology, development studies, agricultural economics, water resources governance, environment, nutrition and food security, geography, political science, or other closely related fields
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Essential:

• Strong publications track record (including in internationally peer-reviewed journals)
• Knowledge of coordinating the development of R4D proposals
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse public, private and grassroots stakeholders
• Understanding and experience of participatory, citizen science approaches to food, land, and water systems
• Excellent interpersonal skills and capacity to work in a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional and multicultural environment
• The ability to coordinate communication with diverse actors and stakeholders, and explain complex issues clearly to diverse local, regional, and international audiences
• Fluent written and verbal communication in English
• Ability to communicate in Arabic, working knowledge of any Central Asian language will be an advantage.

Benefits What we are offering:
This is a regionally recruited position with a competitive salary commensurate with experience, an attractive retirement plan, comprehensive international health insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, long-term disability insurance coverage and a transportation allowance. Globally recruited staff who are employed at a duty station outside of their home base/country of nationality will also receive relocation assistance, a housing allowance, home-leave plane tickets for self and eligible dependents and education assistance for eligible dependents. The duration of the contract will initially be for a three-year period with possible 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) September 12, 2022 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). 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.