Internship (Economic Modeling and Foresight Analysis)

Position: Internship (Economic Modeling and Foresight Analysis)

Location: Remote Base and/or Penang, Malaysia

Application Deadline: 28 May 2021 or until filled

Type of contract: 6 months Internship contract

Language(s) required: English (excellent written and verbal skills)

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

 

WorldFish is an international, non-for-profit research organization that works to reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty by improving fisheries and aquaculture. With a 45-years track record of leading-edge science, WorldFish generates research evidence and innovations to inform sustainable practices and inclusive policies that enable better livelihoods and healthier diets for millions of poor people, particularly women, who depend on fish for food, nutrition and income. WorldFish is a member of CGIAR , the world’s largest global partnership on agriculture research and innovation for a food secure future. Headquartered in Penang, Malaysia and with regional offices across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, WorldFish leads the cross-disciplinary CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH).

Several foresight modelling tools, notably the International Model for Policy Analysis of Agricultural Commodities and Trade (IMPACT), have been developed to produce future projections of agricultural commodity production, consumptions, trade, and prices. In the fish sector, an IMPACT fish model was developed and used to generate fish supply and demand projections. To generate fish supply and demand projections at the national and sub-national and at a more disaggregated level, WorldFish has developed an AsiaFish model to carry out fish sector foresight assessments for Asian countries. In recent years, WorldFish further developed the model to produce foresight scenarios for future fisheries and aquaculture development in Indonesia, Cambodia, Zambia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Philippines, and Nigeria. Other users also used the model to explore the future implications of aquaculture development in Singapore. To advance fish foresight modelling to position fish into global and regional food systems while paying attention to national and subnational foresight modelling needs, more investment is needed to refine and improve current foresight modelling. This investment will strengthen national capacity and improve the information support system for policy, planning, and investment decisions at the national and regional levels.

WorldFish is seeking an intern to assist the organization to conduct economic modeling and foresight research of aquatic food systems, and their implications on sustainable and resilient aquatic food systems and the opportunities for increased food, nutrition security, gender equity and sustainable livelihoods.

Scope of Work

The scope of the work will involve conduct of literature reviews and support fish foresight modeling development, ongoing research output completion to better understand future trends and drivers of change and their implications on aquatic food system transformation and impacts on livelihoods, and food and nutrition security, with special emphasis on the developing countries in Africa and Asia. During a 6-month period, the research intern will work with WorldFish’s foresight modeling focal point and foresight team to make contributions to the following evidence-based analyses and outputs:

• Systematic reviews of economic modeling methods and approaches used in aquatic food systems (fisheries and aquaculture) research.
• Development of aquatic food system/fish sector models to explore future fish supply and demand scenarios and its implications on aquatic food system transformation pathways in Africa and Asia.
• Research output completion (manuscripts for journal publication, working papers, and briefs) on economic modeling and foresight analysis to inform decision making and priority setting to support aquatic food system transformation toward heathier and sustainable diets.

The successful intern will be responsible to:

• Conduct literature reviews.
• Assist semi-independently economic modeling and foresight analysis (using GAMS, STATA and or R programming and Visual Basic for Applications in Excel).
• Support stakeholder workshops and generate workshop reports.
• Conduct econometrics and foresight analysis.
• Contribute to research outputs (manuscripts, working papers and briefs).

Requirements

This internship opportunity is open for individuals with the following skills and qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in economics, statistics, or any social and natural science field with a strong quantitative skill. Post-graduate candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Understanding of fisheries and aquaculture, foresight research, food systems, sustainable development, and climate change.
• Strong communication and organizational skills, professional approach to working with diverse stakeholders, and ability to work effectively independently and deliver on time.

• Demonstrate strong competency in modeling skills and computer software [statistical software (STATA, R), the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS), Visual Basic for Applications in Excel, and data mining].
• Proficient in systematic review methodology.

Benefits

• This position is an excellent opportunity to gain information and experience with an international research organization.
• The intern will also get the chance to interact and collaborate with staffs from global, country offices and partners.
• A monthly stipend of up to maximum USD 1,000 and airfare (one economy round-trip, most direct connection) will be provided if required to be based to Penang, Malaysia.
• Health insurance will be provided.

Locationand Duration

The intern will be based at WorldFish Headquarters, in Penang, Malaysia or work remotely. The successful candidate should be available to commence the internship as soon as possible for a duration of 6 months. This position is open to national and international applicants.

How to Apply

Application process is rolling. Interested applicants are invited to submit the following information online by 28 May 2021:

• A cover letter stating why you are interested in and well-suited to the position. Your cover letter should also demonstrate what you hope to gain from this internship.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• Names and contacts (telephone and e-mail addresses) of three professional referees who are familiar with your qualifications and work experience. Your nominated referees ideally should have persons from each of the following category: direct supervisor, internal peer and/or direct report.

Screening will start immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Our Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

WorldFish has seven offices across Asia, Africa and the Pacific, with more than 400 staff and 27 nationalities who contribute to a dynamic multicultural work environment.

WorldFish is committed to promoting a work environment where diversity and inclusion is valued and we seek to have gender balance in the organization. We aim to also seek balance across other diversity dimensions.

People in WorldFish are treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnicity/race, national or social origin, disability, religion, political affiliation, age, family size, marital status or any other form of personal identity.

We are an equal opportunities employer and strongly encourage qualified women and men from developing nations to apply.