Coordinator of the theme "Youth, Women, Entrepreneurial and Mobility Strategies"

About IPAR

IPAR (Prospective Agricultural and Rural Initiative) is a West African think tank based in Senegal. He produces strategic analyses and policy-oriented research, and facilitates dialogue on agricultural, food and territorial systems in West Africa.

Job overview

IPAR Think Tank is looking for a senior researcher-coordinator to ensure the scientific, strategic and operational management of the theme "Youth, Women, Entrepreneurial and Mobility Strategies". The incumbent of the position will contribute to strengthening knowledge generation, development of research and action projects, capacity building as well as influence of public policies at national and regional levels, especially in ECOWAS and UEMOA areas.

Main duty

Under the responsibility of the Director of Scientific Research and Development, the Coordinator

• Its mission will be to define and implement the scientific and strategic vision of the theme, coordinate a portfolio of research and projects at national and regional level, develop multi-country projects and contribute to the mobilization of funding. He or she will ensure the scientific quality of the thematic productions, transform research results into operational recommendations and support for political dialogue, develop and maintain partnerships with public institutions, youth and women’s organizations, universities, think tanks and development partners, and contribute to the positioning of IPAR as a regional reference centre on economic, entrepreneurial and mobility trajectories for young people and women.

Key responsibilities

The holder will be responsible for

• of the following missions.

Scientific and strategic steering

This will include building a coherent scientific vision for the theme, setting an agenda for research, publication, policy dialogue and capacity-building, overseeing the production of scientific papers, policy briefs, analyses, capitalization documents, manuals and training modules, and ensuring monitoring and evaluation, learning and results-based management.

Project coordination and management

The position involves coordinating several projects and project managers, without replacing the project managers, anticipating risks and delays, arbitrating priorities and securing deliverables, mobilizing the team around opportunities and calls for proposals, and contributing to the development of technical and financial proposals.

Partnership Development and Resource Mobilization

It will involve developing collaborations with national and regional actors, strengthening partnerships with West African think tanks and research centres, contributing to the mobilization of funding from regional programmes and partners working in West Africa, and representing IPAR in national, regional and international spaces.

Candidate profile

Education

The candidate

• e must hold a desired doctorate, or master’s degree accompanied by substantial experience, in one of the following areas: development economics or agricultural economics; gender studies; sociology or socio-economics; political science or public policy; migration and mobility; entrepreneurship, employment or territorial development. Additional training in project management, monitoring and evaluation, public policy analysis or research methods is an asset.

Professional experience

Relevant professional experience of at least 8 years is required, ideally 3 to 5 years in a scientific coordination or team management function. The candidate

• e will need to demonstrate experience in several of the following areas: women’s economic empowerment, employment and youth entrepreneurship, migration and mobility, food systems and value chains, agroecological, energy or digital transitions, social inclusion and access to productive resources. Experience in coordinating projects funded by international partners, preparing technical and financial proposals and mobilizing funding, as well as collaborating with public administrations, women’s and youth organisations, local authorities, producer organisations, universities and development partners is also expected.

Skills and knowledge

The candidate

• e will need to have a good command of gender and development approaches, intersectional, territorial and prospective, public policy analysis and institutional frameworks, employment, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment issues, quantitative, qualitative and participatory methods, the design of indicators disaggregated by sex, age, territory and vulnerabilities factors, tools for measuring empowerment, including WEAI or equivalent research recommendations as well as operational transformation mechanisms. Good knowledge of ECOWAS and WAEMU policies, strategies and institutional frameworks related to youth, gender, employment, entrepreneurship, migration and free movement is expected. Experience in several West African countries or in regional programmes is an important advantage.

Leadership and Personal Skills

The position requires collaborative leadership and an ability to bring together diverse profiles, excellent writing, analysis, synthesis and communication skills, a strong capacity for organization, prioritization and anticipation, a focus on results and the sense of initiative, an ability to negotiate and develop institutional partnerships, an ability to manage a multidisciplinary team, an ability to support the development of team members, as well as a power of inclusivity.

Languages and tools

Excellent command of French is required. A good professional command of English is essential for partnerships, publications and international calls. Proficiency in one or more national languages is an asset. A good command of project management tools, data analysis, collaborative work and results monitoring is also expected.

What we are looking for

IPAR Think Tank seeks a profile capable of articulating research, coordination, project development, resource mobilization and public policy influence, with an ability to work at the intersection of gender, youth, employment, entrepreneurship, mobility and rural transformation issues. The transversal animation capacity is particularly important, the theme being called to interact with all other IPAR research axes.

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