Research Specialist - Agricultural Economics

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, is seeking a research professional specialized in Agricultural Economics to join its office in Anand, India, as a Research Specialist – Agricultural Economics.

The Research Specialist – Agricultural Economics will work as part of IWMI’s India research team and contribute to the Indo-German Cooperation on Agrivoltaics initiative, as well as other relevant IWMI projects and programs implemented with research, government, development and field partners.

the Research Specialist is responsible for planning, designing, overseeing, and monitoring research activities, including protocol development, data collection, analysis, and interpretation to achieve research goals and objectives agricultural economics, agrivoltaics and related water, energy, food and rural livelihood systems The role engages with stakeholders, assigns and mentors support staff, organizes capacity development sessions, and produces knowledge products to enhance collaboration, outreach, and stakeholder expertise. The Research Specialist ensures timely recording and analysis of data, maintains optimal data pipelines, and develops comprehensive reports and provides inputs to publications to disseminate findings and support evidence-based decision-making.

The position will generate robust field evidence and scientific data to advance the equitable and sustainable adoption of agrivoltaics in India. The role will undertake economic cost-benefit analyses; develop, assess and validate farmer-centric and developer-led business models and deployment strategies; evaluate impacts; examine innovative financing arrangements; conduct field-based and action research; and translate quantitative and qualitative findings into evidence-based policy recommendations.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Main Purpose of Job:

• Plan, design, oversee, and monitor research activities, including developing protocols, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, based on a defined research plan to achieve project objectives and development outcomes.
• Gather and synthesize information and literature to design studies, experiments, or surveys, ensuring alignment with the research outline provided.
• Design and implement monitoring system to assess the performance and impacts of agrivoltaics projects.
• Collaborate, engage, communicate and coordinate with stakeholders on research activities to ensure project objectives and milestones are met including organizing meetings, dialogues, field visits and workshops.
• Calibrate and validate assessments, models (e.g. alternate business models) to enhance precision and achieve viable implementation of agrivoltaics projects.
• Other Conceptualize and develop innovative business models and deployment strategies for developer-led and farmer-centric agrivoltaics, aligned with project objectives.

Main engagement, collaboration and communication responsibilities:

• Identify and assign appropriate support for research activities, providing clear task responsibilities, technical information, and logistical guidance to ensure smooth implementation of experiments or studies.
• Provide input to performance appraisals of team members, providing constructive feedback and identifying opportunities for professional development to enhance team performance.
• Engage with colleagues, implementation partners, consultants, farmers and other stakeholders to exchange conceptual ideas and effectively gather feedback and research-related requirements for the research's advancement or to align the execution of research.
• Develop training materials and organize tailored capacity development sessions to build expertise in area of work.
• Identify and communicate key information to policymakers and non-scientific audiences to promote knowledge transfer and evidence-based decision-making.

Main responsibilities in the delivery of timely and quality services:

• Prepare, compile and submit updates and reports of research outputs in a timely manner.
• Lead the synthesis and analysis of data to support the development of publications and presentations.
• Develop reports, and presentations, including summarizing research findings, preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, and creating posters and papers for dissemination.
• Other Prepare and deliver detailed project reports and supporting documentation for developer-led and farmer-led agrivoltaics projects in line with agreed timelines and quality standards

Education, Certifications & Training:

• Master’s Degree in agricultural economics, water resource economics, economics, rural management, agriculture, natural resource management or in a closely related discipline; or bachelor’s degree with extensive relevant experience.

Experience:

• Experience in planning, implementing and overseeing research tasks.
• Exposure to research quality assurance of research processes.
• Experience in collaborating with partners on the implementation of research activities.
• Experience working in or with an international not-for-profit organization is an advantage.
• Experience in water and energy-related action research or field action.
• Experience in independently undertaking and leading methodologically rigorous quantitative and qualitative   field-based research and action research.
• Experience contributing to academic, peer-reviewed research publications in reputable national and international journals.
• Experience in working with large public datasets and primary data for policy analysis would be an added advantage.

Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in English is essential to communicate in writing and speaking.
• Working knowledge of a second language, preferably Gujarati, Marathi or Hindi is desirable.

Functional and Technical competencies:

• Analytical, Critical and Systems Thinking: Analyzes information from multiple sources to identify trends, draw conclusions, and provide actionable recommendations.
• Scientific Ethics and Integrity: Adheres to ethical guidelines in data collection, analysis, and reporting, discloses potential conflicts of interest, and ensures compliance with open data principles to ensure transparency and accessibility.
• Data Analysis, Management and Visualization: Verifies data accuracy and consistency, addresses simple errors, summarizes and organizes data, and interprets basic trends using available systems and evolving data methodologies to support decisions or activities.
• Planning and Organizing: Plans and manages multiple priorities and deadlines independently, using time management tools to stay on track, and effectively balances competing tasks while adjusting as needed.
• Problem Solving: Analyzes information to identify root causes, collaborates with colleagues to gather information, and prioritizes critical factors to propose effective solutions.
• Water Systems Knowledge: Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of Central Asian water management systems, including irrigated agriculture, transboundary river basins, basin organizations, hydrometeorological services, and water-energy interactions in river basins.
• Development Contextual Analysis: Analyzes development challenges in India to understand underlying issues, applies knowledge of the water-energy-climate nexus, groundwater governance, agrarian livelihoods, and security, and prioritizes relevant contextual factors to inform effective research and project solutions.
• Field-Based Research: Conducts field-based and action research to gather relevant evidence, collaborates with communities, partners, and stakeholders to collect and validate information, and translates field insights into practical research outputs and recommendations.
• Advanced Quantitative and Econometric Analysis: Demonstrate expertise in applying advanced quantitative methodologies and econometric techniques to generate robust evidence, inform strategic decision-making, and deliver high-quality analytical insights.

This is a nationally recruited position and only Indian nationals will be considered. IWMI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, inclusive of health insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability coverage. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period Two (02) years, with the possibility of 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) on September 08, 2026 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include a CV, cover letter, portfolio links and three (3) references, which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. 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.