Consultant for Market Intelligence

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Position Title: Consultant for Market Intelligence
Location: remote
Country: Kenya
Deadline Date: February 27, 2025

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is a renowned research organization that focuses on food policy and agricultural development. Established in 1975, IFPRI aims to provide evidence-based solutions to reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition. With a global presence, IFPRI operates in multiple countries and employs a diverse team of experts dedicated to improving food systems and agricultural practices. The organization conducts research, provides policy advice, and engages with stakeholders to promote sustainable agricultural practices and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in analyzing existing follow-up survey data from Kenya and coordinating a new experiment aimed at increasing the adoption of improved agricultural varieties among smallholder farmers. This position requires the application of advanced econometric methods to evaluate treatment effects and generate actionable insights. The consultant will also contribute to designing a new experiment that assesses the impact of bundling seeds with complementary products and services, such as soil testing and credit. The work is expected to be conducted remotely, with potential travel to Kenya, and will span from March to November 202

• The consultant will be responsible for producing reports, presentations, and a discussion paper based on the findings of the research.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Finalize datasets for analysis by merging datasets from previous rounds, weather, and soil moisture data, and prepare data for sharing with the meta-analysis team in Q1 202
• Estimate treatment effects using the Kenya follow-up dataset, adhering to best practices for impact evaluation and utilizing state-of-the-art methods for randomized trials with factorial designs in Q1-Q2 202
• Produce slide decks with findings using LaTex and present study findings in webinars, seminars, and/or conferences in Q2 202
• Co-author a discussion paper based on the findings, incorporating feedback from presentations, and publish it as an IFPRI Discussion Paper in Q3 202
• Collaborate with partners in Kenya to design an experiment analyzing gendered barriers to technology adoption faced by smallholder farmers, preparing study protocols and pre-analysis plans for IRB approval and trial registry in Q1-Q2 202
• Coordinate the implementation of the experiment in Q3 2025, which includes developing research instruments, training field staff, monitoring data collection, and data cleaning.
• Conduct data analysis and produce a knowledge product based on the experiment, ensuring it is finalized and published before the end of the year in Q4 2025.

Required Qualifications:

• MSc Degree in Agricultural Economics, Development Economics, Applied Economics, Applied Econometrics, or a related field.
• Completion of PhD-level courses in applied econometrics, development economics, and agricultural economics.
• Demonstrated professional experience applying impact evaluation methods using statistical software packages such as STATA or R.
• Proven experience working with international organizations as a development economist.
• Knowledge of gendered barriers to agricultural technology adoption in Africa south of the Sahara.
• Strong project management skills.
• Ability to build trust and maintain good relations with interviewees and communities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Educational Background:
The position requires a minimum of a Master's degree in a relevant field such as Agricultural Economics, Development Economics, Applied Economics, or Applied Econometrics. Additionally, candidates should have completed PhD-level courses in applied econometrics and related disciplines, demonstrating a strong foundation in economic theory and quantitative analysis.

Experience:
Candidates must have substantial professional experience in applying impact evaluation methods, particularly in the context of agricultural development. Experience working with international organizations and a proven track record in project management are essential. Familiarity with the agricultural landscape in Kenya and the challenges faced by smallholder farmers is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, as the consultant will be required to communicate findings and collaborate with international teams. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Kenya would be advantageous but is not a strict requirement.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this consultancy is from March to November 202

• The position is remote, but occasional travel to Kenya may be required. Applicants must submit a CV, a writing sample, a financial proposal detailing the number of days and daily rate, and samples of code demonstrating their data processing and impact evaluation skills.