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

Research 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. So, if the description below strikes a chord, we would love to hear from you!

At CEEW, we build careers in public policy

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

● We actively promote leadership through initiative

● We celebrate talent and ambition

● You will be surrounded by smart 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: Research Intern– Sustainable Food Systems (full-time)

Location: New Delhi / Remote

Tenure: 3 months and above

Job Summary

CEEW seeks to hire a suitable candidate for the Research Intern position in the Sustainable Food Systems team to expand its capacity to conduct research and drive change. We are looking for a detail-oriented research intern with a hunger for impact and the ambition to make our food system sustainable.

The successful applicant will assist the team members in undertaking robust quantitative and qualitative analysis of the Indian dairy sector, especially from the primary data collected in this project. In addition to the duties and responsibilities outlined below, the Research Intern should be prepared, as and when necessary, to take on additional responsibilities and respond to events and developments that cannot be anticipated easily.

Responsibilities and Duties

Research

● Independently manage allocated workstreams on quantitative and qualitative applied research on varied food system issues. Such workstreams include but are not limited to (i) identification of optimal research question(s), (ii) designing the research approach/framework (iii) if required, development and execution of primary surveys (this includes designing the questionnaires, survey monitoring, coordinating with field staffs and analysis of the survey data), (iv) if required, systematic literature reviews (v) if required, conducting stakeholder consultations, (vi) conducting the relevant analyses using appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative tools (e.g. MS Excel, STATA, GIS etc.), and (vii) presenting the analyses in a coherent narrative in different formats

● Travel to field sites to conduct fieldwork, including focus group discussions, interviews, meetings, training or gathering primary information.

● Keen interest in integrated assessment modelling and assisting in developing India-based IAMs for food systems.

● Proactively supporting the team in effectively operationalising the CEEW's Arc of Learning

● Regularly track policy measures taken by the government and their implementation status related to the food systems sector.

● Write high-quality research reports, published in leading peer-reviewed journals and generate other knowledge products for different audiences, such as blogs or policy briefs, in regular intervals

Project/Programme Assistance

● Support the senior researchers in conceptualising new projects, developing high-impact research proposals, and applications for research and general donor funding

● Support effective outreach of research outputs through coordination with the outreach team, engagement with a broader network of stakeholders, and concerned policymakers

● Participate in relevant conferences, workshops, and training programs for a comprehensive understanding of developments relevant to sustainable agriculture

● Support senior team members for important meetings and sessions, prepare notes, and conduct follow-ups, as required

● Participate in weekly team meetings and assist with preparing minutes and chairing the weekly meetings

CEEW operates in a dynamic environment, and the candidate must show flexibility in undertaking various tasks.

Education and experience

● Master's degree in economics/environmental policy / environmental management/food systems / agricultural sciences/development studies / social work / rural development/innovations in sustainability/impact evaluation/sociology / political science/development studies, or any other field relevant to sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

● At least some experience in rural areas and development research work, preferably in sustainable agriculture, public health and food systems (preferred).

● Experience in using statistical software - R/Stata/Python (mandatory).

● Experience in data cleaning and analysing large secondary or primary datasets (mandatory).

● Ability to use MS Office and Google Workspace application suite.

● Strong communication skills for effective, efficient, and adaptive verbal and written communication and active listening

Personality

● Willingness to learn new research and project management skills

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

● Striving for rigour in research and quality in work output

● Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

● Ability to effectively work in a team while being able to drive research with minimum assistance, when time demands independently

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

● Willingness to learn, grow, and develop on the 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 must show flexibility in undertaking various tasks.

Compensation

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

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

Candidates should share their:

● CV

● Cover letter

● A writing sample (preferred, not mandatory).

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified by us. We appreciate your interest.