Background and issues involved:

In response to global challenges, many initiatives aimed at enhancing the sustainability of food systems are emerging at the sub-national level that combine government action, social mobilisation and economic players. At the local level, there is an increasing demand from both public and private stakeholders to support such initiatives. Funding organizations are also directing more attention to this domain and are keen to support more participatory and locally-based (territorialised) development initiatives, which they anticipate will yield greater, documented impact. The objective of this position is to align more effectively to this demand.

Food systems approaches have shown the great complexity of the linkages and socio-economic intermediations between agricultural production and food practices. The literature also emphasises that the shift towards more sustainable food systems requires new public policies at the local and national levels, various forms of collective action (e.g., associations, consumer and producer organisations) and the mobilisation of citizens. The researcher will develop original participatory research, as well as knowledge co-production approaches involving researchers, public decision-makers and civil society at various levels, in the context of developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Research objectives: 

- to understand the collective dynamics (including power dynamics) at work within food systems at various levels (from local to national),

- to identify the conditions under which vulnerable groups can participate in the formulation of public policies that address their needs and in identifying collective solutions to the challenges they face locally (within a given territory),

- to incorporate the knowledge of the various stakeholders into the decision-making process,

- to support stakeholders in building a shared vision of their food system at the local (territorial) level,

- to support the development of cross-sectoral, inclusive, participatory and bottom-up public policies at the local level, 

- to support citizen initiatives related to food issues.

Missions abroad are planned (Colombia, Sierra Leone, Bhutan, Tunisia, Morocco) as part of various projects implemented by UMR MoISA (SASI-SPI, MAHDIA).

- you hold a PhD. in social sciences (political science, geography, sociology).   

- you are able to conduct surveys and semi-structured interviews,

- you have a strong interest in interdisciplinary approaches and work,

-  you have a significant experience in participatory methods,

- you have experience working on or interest in issues relating to the sustainability of food systems,

- you have a very good command of English and French (spoken and written),

- you have a previous professional experience in Asia, Africa, Latin America or Oceania.

Experience, skills expected:

The proposed methodology requires a multidisciplinary approach. Applicants with experience of working on multi-stakeholder participatory schemes, Living Labs, citizen science, science-society interfaces, territorial governance, etc. preferred.

The ability to work collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams and in an international context will also be valued.

Please include in your CV the names of referees we can contact regarding previously held positions.

Our strengths:

Benefits: You will receive a 13th month’s salary, plus, if you are working abroad, specific allowances depending on your location and family circumstances. You will also have comprehensive social insurance cover, regardless of your location.

Do not hesitate to consult the Our Strengths page on our website Nos-atouts