Baseline Assessment Concept Development

Through the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP), IRRI has been involved in developing and monitoring SRP Performance Indicators designed to assess and track the sustainability of farm practices in any rice production system (including in Thailand). The project ‘Concepts for Sustainable Rice-Production in Landscapes Approaches’ (hereinafter referred to as “the Project”) aims to develop concepts for sustainable rice production systems at a landscape scale through research, capacity development, and monitoring and evaluation, which focusing the concept development of a ‘Thailand sustainable rice landscapes performance monitoring system’, GHG mitigation measurements, and study of suboptimal rice systems.

The national consultant will work closely with the IRRI Thailand Team and an international consultant who will develop the concept for the ‘Thailand sustainable rice landscapes performance monitoring system’ and lead the pilot test of the system. The consultant will lead the baseline assessment process and is expected to conduct the tasks indicated below.

This position will be based at the IRRI Thailand Office in Bangkok and may only be filled by permanent citizens of Thailand.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct the baseline assessment on the current situation and its social, economic and environmental aspects of current rice farming systems in comparison to SRP/TAS standards and Performance Indicators requirements that are relevant to landscape linkage in Chiang Rai and Ubon Ratchathani Provinces including proposed indicators in the draft concept for the ‘Thailand sustainable rice landscapes performance monitoring system’ developed by an international consultant
• Work closely with the IRRI team to design, implement, and report on a baseline assessment survey
• Work with the IRRI team on the methodology for the baseline survey. Design survey process which includes but not limited to survey questionnaires, data and sampling collection and some modification on survey and data collection from on and off farm environmental impacts of agriculture and SRP or TAS standard following the ISRL related components.
• Literature Review: Conduct a thorough review of relevant literature on rice cultivation, environmental impact assessment, and other ISRL related in Thailand
• Assess the interactions of rice production with landscapes in both provinces to address existing and probable landscape-level issues such as off-farm biodiversity, and off-farm impacts of rice farming;
• Field Survey Design: develop a detailed field survey design, including sampling/survey methodology, data collection tools, schedule of field survey, data analysis, and quality assurance procedures
• Develop structured survey questionnaires to gather information on the socio-demographic characteristics, economic and environmental aspects of current rice farming systems in comparison to SRP/TAS standards and Performance Indicators requirements that are connected to landscape management approaches. The questionnaires will also include a set of proposed indicators in the draft concept for the ‘Thailand sustainable rice landscapes performance monitoring system’ developed by an international consultant
• Data Collection: Collect primary data through field surveys, interviews with farmers, and focus group discussions
• Data to be collected shall include biodiversity and environmental impacts , crop calendar and production practices, socio-economic information, water and other inputs management practices, soil health and fertility, pest and disease management practices, post-harvest practices, adoption of SRP/TAS standards, other sustainability practices, and other landscape-linked indicators proposed by the international consultant and agreed by the ISRL project partners
• Data Analysis and Interpretation: Analyze the collected data using appropriate statistical methods and interpret the findings
• Report writing and delivering: Prepare and submit a comprehensive baseline study report summarizing the findings of the baseline survey, detailing description of the methodology used, highlighting baseline status in the target areas, and suggesting possible impacts of off-farm landscape as results of the implementation of SRP and ISRL project interventions
• Suggest potential gender-responsive farmer training topics/programs based on the results/findings of the study which aim to upscale the knowledge and capacity of smallholder farmers to reach the adoption of SRP and landscape management practices
• Provide recommendations for improving the sustainability of sub-optimal rice farming, and enhancing biodiversity on sub-optimal rice lands under the ISRL project
• Support the concept development by providing expert inputs/views
• Actively participate in the project’s relevant consultation meeting/workshop when required

Qualifications:

• Higher degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Sciences, Agro-Environmental Sciences, Agro-Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Applied Sciences, or another relevant field;
• Minimum 5 years of experience working with baseline survey and assessment in sustaining rice/agricultural research/projects or related fields;
• Demonstrated experience in or understanding of implementing the Thai Agricultural Standard on Good Agricultural Practices for Sustainable Rice Production (TAS 4408-2022) or GAP++ and SRP standards and its Performance Indicators (PIs);
• Demonstrated strong understanding of and/or experience with rice landscape management is considered a strong asset;
• Experience in conducting similar work in Thailand particularly areas in the North and Northeast Thailand or knowledge of Thailand’s agricultural context and system is advantageous.

Skills Required:

Mandatory:

• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs with minimal supervision;
• Demonstrated command over writing professional reports in English in a timely manner with evidence by the submission of sample reports;
• Knowledge in designing and developing questionnaires, database/data collection platforms;
• Excellent organizational skills including the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines while still maintaining attention to detail and accuracy, and problem-solve effectively;
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work in a team.

Source: https://www.irri.org/talentlink/details.html?id=Q7LFK026203F3VBQB79QWQWAS&nPostingID=1959&nPostingTargetID=3536&mask=irriext&lg=EN