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
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 motivated and detail-oriented Intern to support ecological surveys as part of an ongoing project on Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in Bengaluru. This internship provides hands-on experience in biodiversity surveys, ecological sampling, and field data management across a range of diverse urban and peri-urban habitats. The internship offers an opportunity to contribute to an ongoing project on urban ecosystems and climate resilience. Interns will also receive guidance and mentorship from a multidisciplinary research team.
Responsibilities
- Assist in conducting biodiversity field surveys across selected parks, lakes, wetlands, and urban forests in Bengaluru.
- Support the sampling of indicator taxa (e.g. birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and plants) using standardised ecological methods.
- Record and manage field data using datasheets and mobile applications (e.g. Survey123 and iNaturalist).
- Help with species identification using field guides and reference materials.
- Contribute to data entry, cleaning, and metadata preparation using R, Excel, and GIS tools.
Qualifications
Currently enrolled in a Master’s programme in Ecology, Environmental Science, Zoology, Botany, Geography, Geoinformatics, or a related field.
Skill Set
- Familiarity with GPS devices, field guides, and mobile applications for ecological surveys.
- Basic knowledge of GIS software (QGIS/ArcGIS).
- Proficiency in data handling and analysis using Excel or R.
- Demonstrated interest in biodiversity monitoring and conservation ecology.
- Prior fieldwork experience in bird, insect, or vegetation surveys (preferred but not mandatory).
- Must be based in Bengaluru.
Location
Bengaluru
Duration
Approximately 3 months, from the first week of November through the last week of January.
We’re seeking a technically grounded and impact-driven professional to lead our climate risk analytics and modelling work, with a focus on Heat Mapping and Risk Analysis. The role calls for a blend of scientific rigour, spatial insight, and policy understanding, translating high-resolution climate and socio-economic data into actionable risk intelligence for national and city-level decision-makers.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design and implementation of national- and city-scale heat risk mapping and analysis frameworks, aligned with IPCC AR6 methodologies and tailored to India’s rapidly urbanising regions.
- Oversee climate data processing and analysis and develop compound and cascading risk models that integrate heat, flood, and drought interactions using statistical and machine learning approaches.
- Guide spatial analysis and GIS-based mapping of hazards, exposure, and vulnerability for integration into interactive dashboards and decision-support tools.
- Ensure scientific accuracy and policy relevance by providing technical oversight for data-driven visualisation platforms.
- Collaborate with national and state agencies to embed risk analytics into planning and policy decision-making processes.
- Develop research publications, policy briefs, and presentations that enhance CSTEP’s thought leadership in climate and disaster risk domains.
- Mentor analysts and senior analysts, contribute to proposal development and fundraising, and support capacity-building initiatives with government and civil society partners.
Qualifications
PhD or Master’s degree in Climate Science, Atmospheric Science, Environmental Engineering, Geography, or Geoinformatics, with specialisation in heat stress, urban climatology, or multi-hazard risk modelling
Skill Set
- Proven track record of working with interdisciplinary teams, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and engaging with government or donor-led climate initiatives.
- Experience in urban heat island analysis, hazard–exposure–vulnerability assessments, or the development of climate service tools is preferred.
- Proficiency in data analytics and programming (Python, R, etc.) for statistical and spatial modelling; hands-on experience with QGIS/ArcGIS Pro and Power BI/Tableau.
- Strong familiarity with climate datasets (IMD, CMIP6, ERA5, MODIS, and CORDEX) and geospatial data processing workflows.
- Excellent analytical, mentoring, and communication skills.
- Ability to translate complex scientific evidence into actionable insights, strategies, and tools for policymakers.
We are seeking an individual specialising in Urban Adaptation, with strong strategic thinking skills and the ability to translate research into visual and spatial outputs, as part of the Adaptation and Risk Analysis Group. The role blends systems thinking, spatial analysis, and creative storytelling to transform research on heat and multi-hazard risks into actionable, design-informed adaptation strategies.
Responsibilities
- Support the team in data collection, collation, research, spatial analysis, and documentation related to urban heat and multi-hazard risks.
- Conduct literature reviews and map institutional frameworks, policies, and stakeholders driving urban resilience and adaptation planning.
- Co-develop and visualise nature-based and hybrid adaptation solutions, translating scientific evidence into spatial and design outputs.
- Create concept sketches, infographics, and visual narratives that communicate adaptation insights through tools, dashboards, and reports.
- Coordinate with ULBs, SDMAs, and ground partners during workshops and feasibility studies, contributing to design briefs and policy recommendations.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Geography, or allied disciplines with a focus on urban resilience and adaptation.
Skill Set
- Exposure to projects involving nature-based solutions, risk-informed design, or urban visualisation is preferred.
- Familiarity with design and spatial tools such as AutoCAD, Illustrator, InDesign, SketchUp, and QGIS.
- Experience with data analysis tools and programming languages (e.g. R and Python) is an advantage.
- Strong visual storytelling and communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams, adapt to evolving project needs, and manage multiple priorities with attention to detail.
