The Climate Resilient Cell Coordinator will be the primary point of contact and will work closely with project teams, stakeholders, line departments, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), and community members. The incumbent will coordinate with the Climate Support Cell (CSC), Government of Odisha, and ensure that project activities and outputs are aligned with the state’s overall goals and objectives. 

Responsibilities

• Lead the team at Odisha in developing and implementing climate-resilient agriculture strategies and action plans aligned with state polices. 
• Liaison with CSC, government agencies, FPOs, SHGs, research institutions, and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate knowledge sharing and effective implementation of climate-smart practices.
• Assist in establishing/strengthening effective coordination mechanisms among the stakeholders and other line departments to institutionalise and promote climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in the state.
• Provide technical expertise and support to nodal department/stakeholders to set up/review and monitor institutional mechanisms and processes to adopt or advance CSA in the state. 
• Oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring, ensuring the timely delivery of project objectives and outcomes.
• Compile and disseminate relevant information, case studies, and best practices related to CSA, facilitating knowledge sharing and learning among stakeholders.
• Prepare timely and accurate progress reports, project updates, and technical briefs, and ensure effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• An advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in agriculture/environment studies/economics/public policy or a related field.
• At least 15 years of work experience at the national/state level in development projects (preferably on sustainable agriculture and climate resilience), including implementation and monitoring/evaluation of such projects.

Skill Set

• Strong knowledge and understanding of climate-smart agriculture practices/technologies, and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• Proven experience in project management, including planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation frameworks and tools for assessing climate resilience.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in the use of relevant software applications and tools.

We are seeking a Research Intern to support data collection, collation, and preliminary analysis for a field-based study in Puri District, Odisha. The intern will work under the Adaptation and Risk Analysis team within the Climate, Environment and Sustainability sector. This position offers an excellent opportunity for individuals passionate about agriculture, environmental economics, and development policy to gain hands-on research experience.

The intern will contribute to a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) of scaling up Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices, a project supported by the Gates Foundation. The research aims to (a) estimate the costs and benefits of CSA interventions for various stakeholders, including farmers, government, and allied industries and (b) assess and compare different models for implementing and scaling CSA practices in Puri District.

Responsibilities

• Collect secondary data from public sources, district-level government records, industry reports, and academic research.
• Assist in compiling cost and benefit data related to CSA interventions (e.g. micro-irrigation, improved seeds, and organic practices).
• Support the collection of financial data from allied industries, including seed suppliers and equipment manufacturers.
• Help estimate subsidy costs to governments at both the district and state levels.
• Organise and clean datasets to prepare them for analysis.
• Summarise findings to be incorporated into the cost–benefit analysis framework.

Qualifications

Currently pursuing a master's degree in economics, agricultural economics, development studies, environmental science, or related fields

Skills

• Strong research and analytical skills
• Interest in climate change, sustainable agriculture, or rural development
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
• Proficiency in Excel, Google Sheets, or data programming languages such as R or Python is a plus

Duration

3–6 months

The Research Consultant will be involved in the project ‘Odisha Climate Support Unit nested within the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha’, to promote Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) for a resilient Odisha. The Consultant will lead and support value chain and cost–benefit assessments of agricultural practices promoted through the project. The role will involve working closely with project teams and stakeholders in Odisha to map value chains, estimate costs and benefits of intervention across actors, and assess economic viability and scalability potential.

About the Project

The project aims to strengthen the climate resilience of agriculture systems in Odisha by identifying, prioritising, and scaling context-specific CSA practices. As part of the second phase of this initiative, we are undertaking a Value Chain Analysis and/or Cost–Benefit Analysis of selected CSA interventions to inform government uptake and investment decisions.

Responsibilities

• Conduct value chain analysis or cost–benefit analysis of selected CSA practices/interventions.
• Engage with Farmer Producer Organisations, Self-Help Groups, Civil Society Organisations, line departments, and private sector actors to collect primary data.
• Collate and analyse secondary data from existing literature, government schemes, and databases.
• Estimate costs, savings, and benefits to farmers, government, and private partners.
• Identify constraints, bottlenecks, and policy or institutional gaps along the value chain.
• Liaise with field teams and government partners to validate findings and co-develop recommendations.
• Prepare research outputs: policy briefs and presentations on stakeholder uptake.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Development Economics, Rural Management, Agribusiness, Public Policy, or related fields
• PhD in a related discipline with demonstrated expertise in value chain or economic analysis in agriculture, with at least 2 years of relevant work experience

Skill Set

• Proven experience in conducting empirical research, preferably in agriculture or natural resource sectors.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in undertaking Value Chain Analysis / Cost–Benefit Analysis
• Proficiency in Excel or R for analysis is a plus.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, especially in rural/agricultural settings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with Odisha’s agricultural context is an advantage.

Duration

8 months