Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Political Economy of Fisheries & Aquaculture Development, Malaysia

August 12, 2010

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Postdoctoral Fellowship in The WorldFish Center, Malaysia

Job Description: The WorldFish Center seeks an outstanding early-career scholar with broad vision and individual ambition but strong teamwork and research support skills to contribute to the work of its Policy, Economics and Social Science (PESS) group. The successful candidate will work within PESS, but also across the Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Aquaculture (AQ) groups to advance a political economy analysis of fisheries and aquaculture development, focused on the least developed countries of Africa, Asia and the Pacific. This work intends to inform on-going fisheries governance reforms and aquaculture growth strategies, helping to ensure that they contribute effectively to reducing poverty and hunger in countries with significant fish production opportunities.
The position is for two years initially, and is potentially renewable for a further three. Although the position is envisaged to be largely desk-based for the first 12 months, and we place a premium on theoretical and analytical abilities, candidates who also have skills and interest in field-based research are encouraged to apply, as there are existing opportunities for field research, and it is envisaged that the successful candidate will be supported to develop an independent research programme during the second year of tenure.
Key Responsibilities
• Analyzing key drivers of change (environmental, economic, political and socio-cultural) and their implications for fisheries and aquaculture sector economic performance;
• Supporting the collation of a set of key indicators, at national and production-system level, of fishery, aquaculture, human development and economic development performance
• Articulating linkages between fisheries sector policies and wider economic and social development policy (e.g. in food security, trade, climate change adaptation, political decentralization, and health and education); to support policy coherence between sectors
• Supporting the WorldFish Center’s senior science staff in developing a set of high-quality peer reviewed publications and policy briefs articulating the key challenges and opportunities of different policy options for fishery and aquaculture development in the service of poverty reduction
• Assisting Dr Edward Allison, Director of PESS, in the organization and delivery of the Center’s social science research agenda as required (e.g. organizing a bibliographic database, assisting with maintenance of other social science databases, contributions to editing manuscripts of other team members, assisting with the preparation of presentations for conferences and workshops)
Jul-10
Skills and Abilities
Essential:
• Knowledge of theoretical and methodological literature on political economy of development, and first-hand experience of the empirical analysis of either macro or micro-economic data from developing countries;
• A flair for drafting written outputs (policy briefings, research papers, book chapters) and presentations (posters and conference and workshop presentations)
• Good organizational and time-management skills
• Strong inter-personal skills to be part of a cross-discipline and cross-cultural team;
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English
Desirable
• Ability and interest in working with both systems-orientated frameworks and actor-orientated approaches
• Expertise and interest in both qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis, including participatory approaches and action research
• Experience and interest in field-work
• Proposal-writing and fund-raising experience (for possible follow-on contract)
Qualifications and Experience
• PhD in political economy, development economics, human geography, political science, political ecology or closely related field;
• University degree or post-graduate experience in the field of environment and natural resources, preferably in management of common pool resources;
• At least two relevant papers in high-quality journals, either published or accepted.
• Research experience in the economics of aquaculture or fisheries desirable but not essential;
The WorldFish Center offers a competitive remuneration package, a non-discriminatory policy and provides an innovative work environment. Interested applicants are invited to submit a comprehensive curriculum vitae that includes names and contacts (telephone, fax, and e-mail addresses) of three (3) professional referees who are familiar with the candidate’s qualifications and work experience. You are required to submit your application (with indication on the subject line “Application for the position of Post Doctoral Fellow – Political Economy of Fisheries & Aquaculture Development”) to the Human Resources Strategy and Services Unit at worldfish-hr@cgiar.org. Initial screening of applications will begin on 31 August 2010 but positions will remain open until filled. This is a global position based at WorldFish Headquarters in Penang, Malaysia. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.