Researcher in Foresight4Food

The project

The Foresight4Food Initiative aims to support better analysis and synthesis of key trends and plausible futures in global food systems to enable informed and strategic dialogue between the private sector, government, science and civil society.

F4F will implement a new 3-year programme - Enabling National Processes of Foresight for Food Systems Transformation (FaST). The role provides an exciting opportunity to engage and network with leading international organisations working on foresight and food systems worldwide.

Working in close collaboration with relevant regional and national institutions, the FaST programme will be delivered jointly by the University of Oxford and Wageningen University and Research (WUR). It will have a strong focus on enhancing foresight and food systems capabilities of institutions in the Global South, but will also have a significant role in coordinating foresight activities within the Foresight4Food [F4F] programme worldwide. Research could include, for instance, the role of foresight in enhancing governance, or the role of emerging technologies in food system transformation.

The FaST programme is being funded by the Netherlands Government through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to assist follow up to the United Nations Food Systems Summit. The programme will support a global foresight brokering function through the Foresight4Food Initiative and focused work in five countries across Africa, South Asia and the Middle-East.

The role

The Researcher will play an important part in the delivery of the 3-year FaST project and F4F programme.

The Researcher will report to Dr Monika Zurek in the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford. The post holder will be a member of the ECI Food Systems Transformation research group. The Researcher will need to be able to apply their knowledge and experience of foresight methods and approaches, linking foresight and governance for food system transformation, and linking transformation processes and foresight work.

The main activities for this post are to undertake research to support F4F and FaST using established and new foresight methods and approaches; coordinate research activities; and facilitate a Community of Practice of foresight researchers. Building on their experience in foresight methods and food systems approaches, the role provides an opportunity to help develop F4F and initiative new work on food systems foresight and engage with leading international organisations and food systems thinkers.

The post holder will need to be proactive, working both independently and as part of a team, whilst managing and prioritising a busy workload.

Applications are particularly welcome and encouraged from women, black, and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in posts in SoGE. SoGE are committed to equality and values diversity.

This is a part-time post at 18.75 hours per week / 0.5 FTE for 18 months, with possibility of extension.

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online. You will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is 12:00 noon on 02 December 2022, and interviews will be held in the week commencing 12 December 2022.