Project Opportunities at IWMI in Solar Pump Project

Here are a few interesting jobs to consider in 2020. The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is  a non-profit, scientific research organization focusing on the sustainable use of water and land resources in developing countries . The IWMI is also the lead center for the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future, formerly called the Consultative Group On International Agricultural Research. The organisation has an annual research budget for $900 million, with almost 11,000 employees across the world, according to their website.

The organisation is now starting the first phase of a multi-year, multi-country project titled Solar Irrigation for Agriculture Resilience (SoLAR). The project aims to support climate-compatible development of energy and water systems in rural South Asia for resilient livelihoods. It will support mainstreaming of context-specific financially and institutionally viable models for solar-powered irrigation systems in order to reduce the carbon footprint of irrigation while promoting efficient use of groundwater resources under climate-induced uncertainties in the region, specifically in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan.

Under the project, the organisation has positions open for a post doctoral fellow (global) (New Delhi or Kathmandu), a researcher(water and ecology) (Gujarat) , and a Project Manager ( Bangladesh), besides an opening for an Admin and Finance assistant in New Delhi. .

The openings,  depending on location are open to nationals from that country, or globally, in case of the Post Doctoral fellow.

Solar Pumps, even as they offer a tremendous energy benefit, have been cited as a major risk to groundwater resources, should users use them indiscriminately. It is the same challenge that has been faced where electricity for water pumps has been provided for free, or at a subsidised rate. With groundwater management becoming a critical challenge for the next few years, especially in India and South Asia,   the project seeks to fulfill critical gaps in understanding and helping ensure that the solar pumps deliver on their positive promises.

The deadline for most of these openings is Jan 8, going upto January 12, 2020