*Deadline extended until Friday, February 26, 2021*
The full advertisement can be found here.
Are you a thought-leader in agri-food systems ready to play a crucial role advising a global research partnership undergoing transformational change? Can you bring diversity, on-the-ground presence and a research for development lens? If so, here is an opportunity to expand your reach; your expertise can make a difference in the changing CGIAR system! Nominations are also welcome.
The CGIAR System Council seeks three new members for its Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC). They particularly encourage applications and nominations from early/mid-career scientists, women, and non-binary persons. The ideal candidates will originate from and be primary based within the CGIAR’s focal regions in Africa, Asia and Central and South America. Along with the profiles sought, this blog presents exciting elements of ISDC’s current work and the reflections of ISDC members on what this engagement means to them.
With the prospect of a world free of poverty, hunger and environmental degradation, ISDC is a standing panel of impartial, world-class scientific experts providing rigorous, independent strategic advice to the CGIAR System Council and other stakeholders. ISDC contributes to the strategic and portfolio planning and positioning of CGIAR. ISDC provides an important advisory function that is integral to the governance of One CGIAR. It is crucial therefore that ISDC includes skills, disciplines and backgrounds relevant to the One CGIAR agenda.
“How do we make our agriculture-food systems sustainable and healthy to all people in an equitably and just way is a key challenge for the world. As a member of One CGIAR’s ISDC, I am fortunate to have an opportunity to contribute towards this quest.” Suneetha Kadiyala, ISDC member.
To achieve an overall composition that well positions ISDC to carry out its mandate, CGIAR is seeking strong candidates whose origin, experiences, and normal work environments are predominantly from the regions where CGIAR’s work is focused (the call details these criteria) in one of the following areas of expertise:
- Innovation Systems and/or Development Specialist
- Agriculture, Ecology and/or Ecosystems Specialist
- Plant Breeding Specialist
“ISDC offers a chance to contribute to and participate in the global agricultural research community at a strategic level.” Christopher Barrett, ISDC member.
Key ISDC achievements in 2020 included reflections and recommendations for CGIAR that used commissioned food and agriculture systems foresight studies aligned to One CGIAR impact areas on Gender, Poverty, and Nutrition and Climate Change and the Environment, and a Trade-off Analysis of Agri-Food Systems report that led to an ISDC consensus building. This provided ISDC members with an evidence base that allowed it to articulate advice and identify key challenges to consider in the development of the CGIAR 2030 Research and Innovation Strategy. Furthermore, ISDC focused on operationalizing the Quality of Research for Development (QoR4D) framework.
Looking forward into 2021, ISDC will continue its work on making QoR4D fit-for-purpose for a thriving One CGIAR research, including for use in the Research Initiative review. The process of operationalizing QoR4D included codesign consultations and communication with One CGIAR governance and science leaders. Accordingly, ISDC will assess One CGIAR Research Initiative proposals.
“ISDC members collectively have broad knowledge and experience of agricultural and food systems and provide independent advice and commentary on research to CGIAR. I feel privileged to be part of this expert group. It is immensely rewarding to be able to contribute to the new CGIAR mission in these challenging times.” Lesley Torrance, ISDC member.
Home to more than 8,000 scientists, researchers, technicians, and staff, One CGIAR research aims at creating a better future for the world’s poor. Joining ISDC now represents a unique opportunity to tackle increasingly complex and pressing threats to global food, nutrition, and water security posed by climate change and other challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Individual applications and nominations of potentially qualified people are welcomed by 19 February 2021 (the call lists required documents) and should be submitted by email to ISDCappointments@cgiar.org. Please bring your world-class expertise and contribute to a sustainable future!
