Research Intern - Political Economy

Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), New Delhi

Intern- Sustainable Food Systems

Terms of Reference

At CEEW, we are deliberate about what we stand for (and what we don't stand for!) as an employer. We are proud to build careers in public policy and social impact.

• We offer strong visionary leadership – with emphasis on research and impact at scale​

• We actively promote leadership by initiative​

• We celebrate talent and ambition​

• You will be surrounded by smart, ambitious people who will challenge you and help you grow​

• You will learn faster than your peers in other organisations​

• Curiosity and irreverence, as well as responsibility, come together at CEEW​

• You will get above-market remuneration​

• We provide a safe space for all​

• At CEEW, your life is your example for others​

Designation offered: Intern– Sustainable Food Systems (SFS)

Reporting to: Research Analyst

Location: New Delhi, India

Job Summary

We are seeking an intern to support the design and delivery of a rigorous synthesis of the semi-ethnographic survey and the telephonic survey conducted to capture farmer perceptions on fertiliser use. The ideal candidate will contribute to understanding and informing complex food systems transitions, with a focus on regenerative and inclusive agriculture, systemic reform of subsidies, and pathways for agroecological transformation. The intern will play a key role in supporting the Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) program, contributing to research, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communication. This role will contribute to cross-cutting insights, and will require the candidate to demonstrate ability in connecting the dots, including:

Responsibilities and Duties

Research

● Research and Analysis: Conduct rigorous political economy and systems mapping analysis on the interview transcripts, including narrative mapping and actor profiling to map the dependence on fertiliser.

● Aid in planning, organising, and managing field visits, workshops, and related events. Proactively support logistics for convenings, including stakeholder mapping, communication, and coordination with outreach and other relevant teams.

● Support senior team members during key meetings and sessions by taking detailed notes and conducting follow-ups as necessary.

● Actively participate in weekly team meetings to ensure alignment on ongoing projects and deliverables.

● Project Management: Manage project timelines, deliverables, and collaboration with the team members.

Selection Criteria and Key Skills

● Qualitative Research Expertise: Demonstrated expertise in qualitative methods such as narrative and thematic analysis.

● Quantitative Research Expertise: Strong quantitative analysis skills, including proficiency in Python for data processing and interpretation

● Data and Narrative Integration: Ability to make sense of data from various sources, integrate data into compelling narratives, and craft evidence-based arguments with a critical eye to understand nuances.

● Systems Thinking and Political Economy Frameworks: Demonstrated ability to apply systems thinking frameworks to analyse complex socio-ecological systems. Strong grounding in political economy principles and their application to food systems.

● Political Economy Analysis: Analytical & Critical Thinking: Apply interdisciplinary and systems thinking to analyse complex issues and map socio-ecological dynamics.

● Communication Excellence: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the capacity to convert complex insights into clear, actionable recommendations for diverse audiences.

● Project Management: Strategic thinking with the ability to manage complex projects, timelines, and deliverables effectively. Ability to contribute to proposal development.

● Commitment to Inclusion: Commitment to equity, intersectionality, and inclusive research approaches.

● Collaboration & Independence: Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Personality

● Willingness to learn new (research and project management) skills

● Ability to adapt to a new environment and deliver under tight deadlines in a professional environment

● Striving for rigour in research and quality in work output

● Ability to effectively work in a team while driving research with minimum assistance, when time demands independently.

● Ability to dig deeper into details, while also keeping a sense of the broader objectives and big picture

● Willingness to learn, grow and develop a personal and professional front, at a rapid pace with a steep learning curve

● Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment

CEEW operates in a dynamic environment, and the candidate will be required to show flexibility in undertaking a variety of tasks.

Compensation

Competitive compensation – commensurate with the experience and matching the best of standards adopted by industry or other similar organisations for similar roles.

Application Process

CEEW is an equal opportunity employer, and the selection process does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, or caste. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested applicants are advised to apply at the earliest possible.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We appreciate your interest.