Engineer analysing qualitative and quantitative data about three southern Mediterrenean dairy value chains

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INRAE presentation

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is a major player in research and innovation. It is a community of 12,000 people with 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres throughout France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in the agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as in ecology and environmental science. It is the world’s leading research organisation specialising in agriculture, food and the environment. INRAE’s goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, resource scarcity, and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in building solutions and supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions.

Work environment, missions and activities

Context

In Southern Mediterranean countries, dairy production is a key component of agri-food systems and rural livelihoods (Sraïri et al., 2013). Milk and dairy products contribute significantly to food and nutritional security, while dairy farming provides regular income and employment opportunities for a large number of smallholder households. Despite this centrality, dairy value chains in the region face structural sustainability challenges. These include increasing exposure to climate change impacts, recurrent droughts, water scarcity, and strong volatility in feed and input prices. Together, these pressures undermine the economic viability of small-scale farms and threaten the long-term functioning of dairy value chains. Beyond environmental and economic constraints, the literature highlights persistent social and institutional issues, particularly unequal value distribution along the chain and the limited capacity of smallholders to capture added value. As a result, improvements in productivity or efficiency do not automatically translate into more equitable or resilient systems. Recent research shows that the availability or technical feasibility of sustainable practices is not sufficient to ensure their uptake (Rizzo et al., 2024), and that value chain–oriented approaches can be more beneficial for farmers than measures targeting farmers alone (Kilelu et al., 2017). Identifying realistic pathways towards more inclusive and resilient dairy systems in Southern Mediterranean countries therefore requires integrated approaches that combine sustainability assessment, value chain analysis, and farmer-centred perspectives.

The goal of the SUPREM-MILK project is to analyse and improve the sustainability of dairy value chains in three Southern Mediterranean countries, namely Türkiye, Morocco, and Egypt. Sustainability improvements will be pursued through assessment activities (fieldwork and field campaigns) as well as technology transfer actions (workshops with local farmers and the development of applications).

Job description

Scientific context and motivations

In WP1 and WP3 of the PRIMA Partnership SUPREM-MILK project, we aim to explore the perspectives of local stakeholders in three Southern Mediterranean case study regions regarding (i) the main challenges related to dairy value chains and (ii) the key ecosystem services perceived as being delivered by dairy production systems. In this context, the project has already carried out local focus groups with farmers and other value chain stakeholders, as well as surveys with farmers. The purpose of this position is to analyse the material generated through these activities and to produce reports and scientific publications.

Actions and responsibilities

We are looking for a motivated study engineer to support qualitative and quantitative analysis of material issued from focus groups, surveys, and field measurement.

1. Perform qualitative analysis on focus group material
2. Perform statistics on the results of surveys and field measurements
3. Write (in English) project reports and scientific publications

 

References

Kilelu, C., Klerkx, L., Omore, A., Baltenweck, I., Leeuwis, C., & Githinji, J. (2017). Value chain upgrading and the inclusion of smallholders in markets: reflections on contributions of multi-stakeholder processes in dairy development in Tanzania. The european Journal of development research, 29(5). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41287-016-0074-z

Rizzo, G., Migliore, G., Schifani, G., & Vecchio, R. (2024). Key factors influencing farmers’ adoption of sustainable innovations : A systematic literature review and research agenda. Organic Agriculture, 14(1), 57‑84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-023-00440-7

Sraïri, M. T., Benyoucef, M. T., & Kraiem, K. (2013). The dairy chains in North Africa (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) : From self sufficiency options to food dependency? SpringerPlus, 2(1), 162. https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-2-162

Training and skills

Research profile desired

• Strong skills in data analysis
• Qualitative analysis
• Knowledge of agriculture, food systems, and relationships between environment and value chains
• Knowledge about southern Mediterranean dairy value chains will be considered an asset
• Scientific writing skills
• Capacity to work independently and integrate into a multidisciplinary team

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):

- up to 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.

How to apply

I send my CV and my motivation letter