Jobs at International Water Management Institute

• The International Water Management Institute (), a  Research Center, is seeking a creative and collaborative Graphic Designer to join its headquarters in Battaramulla, Sri Lanka.
• The Graphic Designer will produce layouts for scientific publications, communications materials and other documents of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). The person will also create eye-catching illustrations and infographics, for digital and offline media.

The Graphic Designer will work under the overall guidance of the Head of Publications, within the Communications and Knowledge Management team.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Study relevant information and materials related to requests and determine requirements to determine the best approach.
• Prepare design plans and develop creative concepts, based on requirements.
• Prepare rough drafts of design concepts (including different options for art arrangement, size, font types and style) and present ideas to obtain feedback.
• Produce page layouts for IWMI’s scientific publications (Research Reports, Working Papers, research papers, books, etc.), communications materials (annual reports, fact sheets, brochures, flyers, booklets, posters, exhibit displays, etc.), administrative documents, manuals, and other outputs, to advance institutional knowledge sharing.
• Develop graphic elements for publications, including the selection of suitable photos, to enhance visual appeal and clarity.
• Coordinate comments, corrections and approvals. Work with team members and researchers to implement changes based on feedback.
• Track progress in project management tools, and keep clients updated, to ensure transparency and timely communication.
• Update and finalize designs according to schedule to meet deadlines and project objectives. 
• Create web-ready and print versions of scientific publications and communications materials to facilitate dissemination.
• Check machine proofs received from printers to ensure the quality of graphics and layout, and coordinate approvals for printing.
• Create modern and eye-catching illustrations and infographics. Apply artistic talent to a variety of styles, maximizing impact, usability and value.
• Ensure layouts and graphic design materials comply with IWMI branding guidelines to maintain consistency and institutional identity.
• Follow quality management procedures and provide input for improvements to maintain the standard of the outputs.
• Provide guidance on design-related issues and advice on new approaches to ensure IWMI is up to date on the latest design innovations.
• Perform other duties as required to support the broader objectives of the team and the organization.

Requirements

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Essential:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in visual communications, graphic design or related discipline.
• At least 3 years of practical experience in graphic design.
• Demonstrable graphic design skills with a strong portfolio.

Desirable:

• Experience with branding development and implementation.
• Experience with the design of office signage and promotional items.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Essential:

• Excellent working knowledge of Adobe InDesign, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Adobe Acrobat Distiller and other desktop publishing tools.
• Excellent working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and other vector-based and raster graphics software.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365: Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Creative flair and strong visual sense.
• Ability to interpret data to create striking graphics and illustrations.
• Ability to grasp clients’ needs and find practical solutions, paying close attention to detail.
• Confidence to present and explain ideas to clients and colleagues. 
• Strong service orientation.
• Ability to set priorities, plan, organize and monitor assigned work.
• Ability to meet deadlines under pressure, for multiple projects running in parallel.
• Excellent command of the English language (written and oral).
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional and multicultural environment, with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Ability to quickly gain a command of new software.  

Desirable:

• Strong freehand drawing skills.
• Experience setting up Adobe InDesign projects for collaboration with Adobe InCopy.

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DESCRIPTION:

• The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) seeks the services of a qualified consultant to design and deliver a comprehensive assessment on Loum-Pa—a traditional fisheries management system. The assessment aims to document the history and purpose of Loum-Pa, its role in fish utilization, and its associated social and ecosystem services. This work will contribute to understanding how traditional knowledge can support sustainable fisheries management in local communities.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The overall objective of this consultancy is to review, design, and implement an evaluation and survey focusing on traditional local knowledge in fisheries management (Loum-Pa).

Specific Objectives:

• Identify the main obstacles and key factors influencing sustainable fisheries management.
• Document local management practices, community perspectives, and traditional ecological knowledge.
• Provide recommendations to enhance sustainable and participatory fisheries management.
• Assess and verify the number and distribution of Loum-Pa in two districts.

SCOPR OF WORK:

• Review and design assessment instruments for data collection on Loum-Pa.
• Provide technical training to PAFO and DAFO staff for field data collection.
• Conduct field visits to fishing grounds and nearby settlements in Loum-Pa areas.
• Engage with local fishers, community leaders, and stakeholders through individual and focus group interviews, and participatory observations.
• Collect both quantitative and qualitative data on governance, compliance, resource conditions, and fishing practices.
• Review existing customary laws, enforcement mechanisms, and traditional management guidelines.
• Document the socioeconomic impacts of fisheries activities on local livelihoods.
• Analyze collected data and prepare preliminary findings and reports.

DELIVERABLES:

Inception Report – A proposal outlining the methodology and work plan, submitted within two weeks of the start date.

Fieldwork and Data Collection – A total of 13 working days, distributed as follows:

• Review and update questionnaires and present them to IWMI (02 working days).
• Travel between Vientiane (VTE) and Attapeu (ATP) (02 working days).
• Field training and data collection in Sanamxay and Samakkhyxay Districts (05 working days).
• Data entry, analysis, and preparation of a first draft report for IWMI feedback (02 working days).
• Finalize the report based on IWMI’s feedback and submit the final version (02 working days).

Requirements

MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Master’s degree or PhD in Fisheries, Environmental Management, or a related field (preferred).
• Minimum of 5 years of proven experience in fisheries management, environmental assessment, or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience with traditional or community-based natural resource management systems.
• Strong skills in participatory research and stakeholder engagement.
• Excellent documentation and reporting skills in both English and Lao.

Closing date: October 31, 2025

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• The International Water Management Institute (), a  Research Center, is on the lookout for a versatile early career research professional to join our team in Pretoria, South Africa, as an Assistant Research Officer - Gender Equality and Social Inclusion.
• The Assistant Research Officer - Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) will work on various projects in the Southern African Region contributing to research activities from GESI, policy, environmental (water, circular economy, climate change), inclusive governance and political economy perspectives at multiple scales. Specifically, the incumbent will spend 50% of their time assisting the PL and research team in coordinating and implementing the Water Research Commission (WRC) project Strengthening community participation in municipal water services for improved water management in South Africa’s rural and low-income urban areas while the other 50% will be dedicated to providing research support to IWMI’s Water and Soil Accelerator program.
• In addition, the incumbent will provide support to project leaders with specific research assignments by assisting in conducting literature reviews and data analysis, and coordination and implementation of project activities with partner organizations and stakeholders. In addition, the incumbent will be involved in other projects such as the Water-Energy for Food Program as well as providing technical support within South Africa’s partnership portfolio. The incumbent will engage in organizing inclusive science-policy-practice dialogues and workshops at local, provincial, national and regional levels.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide research support in thematic areas related to policy, institutions, inclusive water governance, rural livelihoods, and gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), through key research tasks such as conducting fieldwork, qualitative data collection, processing and analysis of data, report writing, and science communication to ensure the successful delivery of the project.
• Play a key role in coordinating project activities across different case study sites for the community-participation in advancing water services and inclusive business models for scaling sustainability pathways across municipalities.
• Assist teams from the WRC and Water and Soil Accelerator projects in planning, conducting, analysing, and reporting on qualitative and household survey data collected from the selected rural and urban municipalities as well as project countries to provide socio-economic data that informs the project’s progress and outcomes. 
• Assist in qualitative data analysis using NVivo and other quantitative data analysis software (like SPSS), and preparation of outputs for activities in project sites that support disaggregated data evidence generation for agriculture, water, and food systems
• Provide support to organizing and facilitating capacity building, training and interaction in the project sites, to build strong relationships with governments, civil societies, and for strengthening stakeholder engagements with diverse actors.
• Provide support to train local staff from partner organizations during research activities, if and when necessary. Provide support to organizing semi-annual meetings, dialogues and final workshops for relevant projects to support results and feedback validation processes
• Assist in preparing project reports and publications according to project timelines using project-specific communication materials to communicate research outcomes to different audiences and partners
• Provide support to increasing the visibility of IWMI through the preparation of blogs and articles in local newspapers and participating in local knowledge forums.
• Arrange the logistics for research site visits by IWMI and other international project partners for ongoing project implementation.

Requirements

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Essential,

• Bachelor’s degree or Advanced Diploma  in development studies or a related social science discipline, or in applied fields such as environmental management, agriculture, water resources management, or safety/risk management with demonstrated relevance to governance, inclusion, or natural resource management, with a specialization in social science approaches (e.g., gender, anthropology, governance, public policy, institutional analysis) in the water and agriculture sectors.
• At least 1 year of practical experience in conducting field research in social science and/or social science applied in natural resource management.
• A minimum of 1 year experience in development and/or research project management in the field of GESI, policy, inclusive water governance, or natural resource management.
• Experience working in the field of rural development and/or research.

Desirable,

• Experience in field-based project implementation and monitoring.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Essential

• Familiarity with both qualitative and quantitative research methods in the field of social science, particularly in the areas of water/climate change/food security policy; community-based approaches; gender, institutions and governance issues of water resources and/or natural resources; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); or agricultural water management.
• Special focus and interest in GESI, policy and inclusive water governance.
• Understanding of water governance and management at the municipal scale in South Africa.
• Ability to travel regularly between research sites, specifically South Africa, Zambia and Malawi, support project activities on the ground and work with IWMI in South Africa.
• Knowledge of diversity, inclusion, discrimination and gender issues in South Africa.
• Ability to respect and practice organizational values and work with professional integrity.
• Good working knowledge of GESI.
• Verbal and written communication skills in English, and one or more other South African language.

Desirable,

• Knowledge and experience of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and other social science data analysis tools would be an advantage.

Closing date: November 02, 2025