Consultancy for Development of a Metadataset of Wheat and Maize Fertilizer

Job Posting Organization:
The job is posted by CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center), which is a global leader in research and development for maize and wheat. Established in 1966, CIMMYT operates in over 50 countries and employs more than 1,000 staff members. The organization focuses on improving the productivity of maize and wheat systems to enhance security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and livelihoods in developing countries. CIMMYT's mission is to provide innovative solutions to the challenges of global food security and climate change, working collaboratively with partners to develop sustainable agricultural practices.

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to compile, extract, validate, and merge published evidence on wheat and maize fertilizer trials from Nepal and India into a harmonized dataset. This dataset will serve as a diagnostic tool for farm-level analysis, addressing various agronomic constraints. The consultant will be responsible for conducting literature searches, developing extraction protocols, and ensuring the quality and consistency of the data collected. The ultimate goal is to create a reproducible, quality-controlled meta-dataset that can be used for further analysis and decision-making in agricultural practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct an online literature search to compile a comprehensive inventory of peer-reviewed articles, reports, theses, and datasets related to wheat and maize fertilizer trials in Nepal and India.
• Develop a search protocol and inclusion/exclusion criteria for selecting relevant studies.
• Review selected papers and develop CAROB-aligned extraction rules for data collection.
• Utilize Python and AI-assisted text extraction methods to identify and extract relevant data from various sources.
• Manually verify extracted data for accuracy and consistency, maintaining a quality assurance log.
• Harmonize and merge datasets into a standardized format, ensuring traceability and documentation of the data processing workflow.
• Deliver a series of reports and datasets, including an inception note, literature inventory, extraction templates, and a final technical report summarizing the findings and recommendations.

Required Qualifications:
The consultant or consultancy team must possess proficiency in Python and R, particularly in data manipulation and extraction using libraries such as Pandas. Experience with AI-assisted evidence extraction methods and systematic evidence synthesis is essential. A strong understanding of agronomy, soil science, and crop science is preferred, along with familiarity with fertilizer trial design and data standards. The ability to document assumptions clearly and produce reproducible code is crucial for this role.

Educational Background:
A degree in agronomy, soil science, crop science, agricultural statistics, or a closely related field is required. Advanced degrees or specialized training in data science or agricultural research methodologies will be considered an advantage.

Experience:
Candidates should have demonstrated experience in conducting meta-analyses or systematic reviews, particularly in the context of agronomic trials and nutrient management. Familiarity with South Asian agricultural systems, especially those involving wheat and maize, is highly desirable.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, as all documentation and reporting will be conducted in English. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Nepal and India may be beneficial but is not required.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is for a fixed-term contract of 1.5 months and is locally recruited. Applicants must have the legal right to work in Nepal at the time of application, as CIMMYT does not provide visa sponsorship or work permit support for locally recruited staff roles. Regular progress meetings will be held to ensure alignment with project objectives and timelines.