Do you share the values of interculturality, knowledge-sharing and environmental protection? Then come and join our team!

Assigned to the AÏDA unit (https://ur-aida.cirad.fr/), you will work on a question related to agronomic research that focuses on the design of cropping systems that take gender issues into account, particularly the role of women in family farming.

 In a context of supporting agro-ecological transition, you will be setting up a programme of co-designing agro-ecological systems with and for women farmers and assessing their impact on the sustainability of family farms.

 The issues addressed will concern production factors: i) maintaining soil fertility, taking into account problems regarding women’s land rights and access to equipment; ii) access to inputs, which is often more complicated for women.

 Three issues are to receive particular attention:

 -       the role of women in feeding the family as a lever for changing cropping systems;

 -       endogenous/indigenous knowledge to be put to good use in agro-ecological cropping systems;

 -       issues related to workload and degree of arduousness, which are central to the co-design of new systems.

 The research questions will need to look at the specific strengths and constraints of women farmers in the co-design process, including the evaluation of cropping system performance. The following questions will be analysed:

 -       How can the strengths and constraints of women farmers be taken into account when designing prototype technical itineraries?

 -       What needs must be met in terms of credit, advice and organisation in order for women to be able to implement agro-ecological itineraries?

 -       What specific indicators should be taken into account to achieve gender-smart co-design?

 You will be working as part of the TAPAGE team at the UPR AIDA internal research unit, which has expertise in cropping system design: i) in Burkina Faso, where approaches involving groups of male and/ or female farmers have made it possible to co-design cropping systems that have been tested in rural farming environments; ii) in Benin, in cotton-growing systems; iii) in Colombia, in diversified systems and iv) in South-East Asia, in rain-fed systems.

You will spend an initial induction period of 12 to 18 months at the AIDA unit in Montpellier, to meet colleagues from the unit and from other CIRAD units with expertise in gender issues, familiarise yourself with the research projects and questions at the various sites, and prepare for your period of work abroad.

 You will be posted to Cameroon or Benin to implement this approach as part of projects with CIRAD’s local partners.

The profile sought for this post is that of an agronomist researcher with experience of projects supporting agro-ecological transition that take into account the role of women farmers, or that are specifically aimed at women farmers in developing countries.

-       You have a doctorate in agronomic sciences and a good knowledge of approaches to the co-design of cropping systems.

-       You have good experience of taking gender issues into account in research projects.

-       You have a good knowledge of participatory design methods.

-       You enjoy working in direct contact with farmers and others involved in the agricultural world.

-       You are highly motivated to work in developing countries, in tropical environments and in a family farming context.

-       You enjoy building and nurturing partnerships through the design and implementation of integrated projects.

-       You are adaptable, motivated, independent, proactive, able to manage priorities and have good organisational skills.

-       You have a good command of French and English.

-       You hold a current driving licence.
 

Benefits: You will receive a 13th month’s salary, plus, if you are working abroad, additional specific allowances depending on your location and family circumstances. You will also have comprehensive social insurance cover, regardless of your location.

Please include in your CV references from previous managers you authorise us to contact.