Researcher in Water for Food

Task Description:

Terms of Reference (TOR) for Hiring a Researcher in Water for Food

Short Term Consultant (STC)

Position Title: Researcher in Water for Food

Duration: 40 days (with possibility to extend to up to 150 days) 

Location: Washington DC or Remote

!!! Please react ONLY if you have ALL the required Qualifications as stated below!!!!

Water security ranks as one of the highest global risks affecting development and is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Effective management of water resources and access to reliable water and sanitation services are essential to address the sustainable development challenges of the 21st century, including human development, livable cities, climate change, food security, and energy security. With water scarcity impacting over 40% of the global population, many countries face increasing pressures on water resources. The World Bank supports client countries in promoting sustainable water usage, building climate resilience, and enhancing integrated water management.

With a portfolio of water investments of US$41.4 billion (US$29.4 billion of water-sector projects and US$12 billion of multi-sector projects related to water), the World Bank is uniquely positioned to achieve the vision of a water-secure world for all, developing and sharing global knowledge while amplifying the impact of lending through technical assistance on the ground. Within its broad mandate, the Water Global Practice (Water GP) is housed within the Sustainable Development Practice Group, which brings together the cross-cutting sectors of Water with Agriculture, Environment, Social Inclusion, and Urban and Disaster Risk Management.

The Water GP global unit hosts several Global Solution Groups (GSGs). The GSGs play a critical role in deepening the use of knowledge in operations. The GSGs play an important role in maintaining the globality of the Water Global Practice. Each Global Solutions Group is led by a Global Lead. There are five GSGs: Climate Resilient Irrigation (CRI), Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS), Water Resources Management (WRM), Water and Finance, and Water Economics and Climate Change (WE&CC).

The Bank’s work on agricultural water management is supported by the CRI Global Solutions Group (GSG), a membership-based organization that provides services to its members and other stakeholders interested in enhancing how water is used in agriculture in terms of sustainability, productivity, and equity. The GSG is ‘co-owned’ by, and has strong membership representation from, the Water Global Practice and the Agriculture Global Practice, as well as other Global Practices, Cross Cutting Solutions Groups, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The CRI GSG comprises five workstreams: (i) Governance in Service Delivery, (ii) Modernization of Irrigation, (iii) Farmer-led Irrigation Development, (iv) Water Accounting, and (v) Water Saving and Low Methane Rice. The GSG organizes direct support to task teams in developing and ensuring the quality of analytical and lending activities throughout the project cycle. This includes an in-depth review of what determines successful implementation of climate-resilient irrigation engagements, developing guidance materials for institutional assessments, integration of other priority themes, and linking Bank-supported programs to agricultural water stewardship as well as working with the Energy GP, IFC, and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), for example.

2. Objectives

The primary objective of this assignment is to support the Climate Resilient Irrigation (CRI) Global Solutions Group (GSG) in developing technical notes, proposals, and project documents related to irrigation, water in agriculture, and water management. The Research Assistant will assist in conducting literature reviews, summarizing and synthesizing findings, and drafting documents to enhance the CRI GSG’s ability to support task teams and stakeholders.

3. Scope of Work

The Research Assistant will undertake the following tasks:

• Conduct comprehensive literature reviews on topics related to irrigation, water in agriculture, and water management.
• Identify, collect, and organize relevant academic papers, reports, and other publications.
• Summarize key findings and trends from the literature.
• Analyze and synthesize data from literature reviews to extract relevant insights.
• Develop concise summaries and insights that can be used in proposals and project documents.
• Assist in drafting technical notes, proposals, and other project-related documents.
• Ensure all documents are well-structured, clear, and coherent.
• Revise and edit drafts based on feedback from supervisors and stakeholders.
• Work closely with the CRI GSG team to ensure alignment of research with project goals.
• Participate in meetings and discussions as needed to refine research outputs.

4. Qualifications

• A PhD degree in Water Resources, Irrigation or closely related areas (e.g., Environmental Science, Agriculture). Or MSc with a minimum of 4 years  relevant post-graduate experience in research and/or academia 
• Proven experience in writing research papers and developing proposals and technical notes specifically in the fields of irrigation, water in agriculture, and water management.
• Strong writing skills in English are required, with the ability to produce clear, concise, and well-structured documents. Proficiency in writing in French and/or other UN languages is not required but is an advantage.
• Experience in conducting literature reviews and synthesizing information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and reference management software (e.g., EndNote, Mendeley).
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

5. Application Process

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume, a cover letter, and a writing sample related to irrigation, water in agriculture, or water management by responding to this advertisement by Tuesday Sep 03, 2024.

6. Reporting

The Research Assistant will report to Poolad Karimi (Senior Irrigation Specialist) and Amal Talbi (Global Lead for Climate Resilient Irrigation) and provide regular updates on progress.

7. Evaluation Criteria

• Relevant academic background and professional experience.
• Demonstrated writing and research skills.
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs.