Program Associate: Mapping and Monitoring

Location: Bhopal, India
Salary: 9,50,000 to 12,50,000 CTC Per Annum
Duration: 1 Year (extendable based on performance and project requirements). The start date is as soon as possible.

World Resources Institute

WRI India, an independent charity legally registered as the India Resources Trust, provides objective information and practical proposals to foster environmentally sound and socially equitable development. WRI India’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. Through research, analysis, and recommendations, WRI India puts ideas into action to build transformative solutions to protect the earth, promote livelihoods, and enhance human well-being.We are inspired by and associated with World Resources Institute (WRI), a global research organization. Currently over 250 researchers are working with WRI India in our offices at Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Program Overview for Food, Land and Water

WRI India’s Food, Land and Water program aims to inform India’s transition towards sustainable and resilient food and land use systems focusing on developing interdisciplinary nature-based solutions like landscape restoration, sustainable agriculture to mitigate climate impacts, enhance jobs and livelihoods and improve nutritional security. To catalyze systems, change with a focus on circular food systems in India, we also focus on developing equitable strategies to reduce food loss and food waste and mitigate climate impacts.

With broader systems change and food systems perspective, we work with diverse stakeholders like governments, businesses, civil society partners and farmer producer organizations to inform and develop land use strategies based on robust evidence and analysis to build the resilience of local communities to mitigate climate impacts, bridge capacity gaps, monitor progress, and inform a pathway to building a restoration economy for people, nature, and climate.

Role

WRI India’s Food, Land and Water program aims to inform India’s transition towards sustainable and resilient food and land use systems through interdisciplinary nature-based solutions such as landscape restoration and sustainable agriculture. To catalyse this transition through a systems change approach, we work with equitable strategies that can help India achieve its climate and development goals. Our work also includes developing collaborative strategies for reducing food loss and food waste, with a focus on circular food systems in India. With an interdisciplinary and intersectional lens, we work with diverse stakeholders including governments, businesses, civil society partners and local community groups for building a land-based restoration economy for people, nature, and climate in India.

We are looking for a Program Associate with a degree in remote sensing and GIS and at least two years of full-time, relevant post-study work experience to support the data collection, geospatial analysis, monitoring framework development, and report/technical note writing to facilitate implementation of large-scale collaborative landscape restoration projects in Madhya Pradesh. The position holder’s principal responsibilities will include strengthening the spatial research aspects of integrated natural resource management (INRM) by working closely with the Government of Madhya Pradesh and other implementation partners. This will support in identifying areas for high potential for landscape restoration within the pilot sites and correct application of the restoration interventions such as sustainable agriculture, soil moisture conservation, water resource development and tree-based interventions such as agroforestry, trees on bunds and boundaries, farm forestry, etc.

Responsibilities

Research: (80%)

• Collate multiple geospatial data related to natural resource management and conduct analysis to identify areas of high restoration potential within pilot sites/landscapes
• Utilize geospatial data to assess land use, vegetation cover, and hydrological features and prepare high-quality thematic maps for various INRM interventions considering climate resilience and sustainability focusing on forest, agriculture and water resources.
• Support Government of Madhya Pradesh and other implementation partners with geospatial insights for improved INRM planning (soil moisture conservation, water resource development, plantations, sustainable agriculture etc), and resource allocation.
• Generate reports, dashboards, and spatial visualizations of the ongoing and upcoming projects through GIS and remote sensing data and validate it through ground truthing and stakeholder inputs.
• Support training and capacity building of stakeholders in using geospatial tools and apps.
• Support in developing compendium of best-practices and a geospatial training module for stakeholders to support restoration planning in future.
• Assist in real-time monitoring of INRM interventions using GIS and remote sensing.

Collaboration, Coordination and Communication (20%)

• Coordinate and support for building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, including government departments, NGO partners, research organizations and universities, for implementing and scaling landscape restoration in Madhya Pradesh.
• Support in communicating research findings in diverse formats (blogs, policy briefs, presentations) suitable for stakeholders in government, private, and non-government sectors, focusing on supporting policy and practice.
• Support in convening multi-stakeholder consultative groups for extending the research and impact of WRI India’s analysis and solutions.
• Collaborate with government departments, NGO partners to support them in integrating geospatial solutions within their databases and MIS systems.

Requirements

• Master's degree or a Bachelor’s degree in remote sensing, GIS geography, environmental science, civil engineering or related field, with its applications to work on forestry, natural resource management, land use planning and management in India.
• Minimum two-three years of demonstrated experience in applying geospatial tools for modeling, land use planning and management and their application in various studies related to forest, agriculture and water resources.
• Proficiency in GIS software (ArcGIS/QGIS/ERDAS Imagine/GoogleEarth Engine).
• Knowledge of existing digital public infrastructure including existing government databases and MIS tools is beneficial (Eg. Yuktadhara that facilitates gram-panchayat level planning of MGNREGA activities).
• Experience of working in rural development programmes with the relevant government departments or with the NGOs.
• Demonstrated skills in engaging in participatory approaches and high levels of comfort in working with scientific data and local knowledge.
• Ability for strong analytical, problem-solving skills along with capability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to conduct field visits and work in rural settings.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others; to demonstrate flexibility in fulfilling.

Benefits

• Health benefits: We cover health insurance for you and your loved ones for up to INR 8 lakhs
• Term Insurance: Our term insurance policy covers life coverage of 50 lakhs per staff member
• Employee Assistance program: Promoting mental well-being and supporting staff in achieving a satisfying work-life balance
• Health & Nutrition: Personalized diet recommendation from a certified dietitian based on the physical health condition and lifestyle
• Flexible work schedule: Alternative work arrangements for all who are eligible by nature of their job
• Learning culture: Workshops and trainings to empower staff, encourage new learning opportunities
• Rest and Recharge weeks: We encourage staff to take time off to rest, rejuvenate, upskill, and pursue their interests.
• Leave policy: Avail personal time off at 36 per year, along with public holidays, maternity, paternity, and adoption leaves.

Apply

To express your interest in this role, please click the Apply button below and fill out the application form.

List of Documents to be attached:

• Cover letter
• Resume

PS: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purpose.