Application Guide

How to Apply for Programme Lead – Sustainable Food Systems (Political Economy)

at Council on Energy, Environment and Water

🏢 About Council on Energy, Environment and Water

The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) is a leading Indian not-for-profit policy research institution known for its data-driven, interdisciplinary approach to solving complex sustainability challenges. It stands out for its high-impact research that directly informs government policy, its strong networks with national and international stakeholders, and its reputation as one of Asia's top climate think tanks, offering a unique platform to shape India's sustainable development agenda from within.

About This Role

This Programme Lead role involves architecting and driving the strategic direction of CEEW's Sustainable Food Systems work, with a specific focus on political economy. You will be responsible for building the programme from the ground up—conducting original research, securing funding, managing a team, and influencing policy—making it a high-impact position that sits at the intersection of research, strategy, and advocacy within India's critical food security landscape.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day could involve morning meetings with your nascent team to refine a research methodology, followed by drafting sections of a donor proposal aligned with a new government scheme. The afternoon might be spent analysing policy documents for a political economy briefing, then hopping on a call with a potential partner from a civil society organisation to discuss a collaborative outreach plan, before ending the day reviewing a junior researcher's qualitative interview analysis.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Council on Energy, Environment and Water Is Looking For

  • Holds an advanced degree (PhD preferred) in political economy, critical agrarian studies, or a related interdisciplinary field, with a deep understanding of the socio-political and economic structures shaping Indian food systems.
  • Possesses 8+ years of hands-on experience in the sustainable food/agriculture sector, with a proven track record of engaging diverse stakeholders like government agencies (e.g., NITI Aayog, MoA), civil society, and development institutions.
  • Demonstrates expertise in qualitative research methodologies and social science theory, able to develop innovative frameworks to analyse power dynamics, institutions, and policy processes in food systems.
  • Is a strategic leader and entrepreneur who can independently ideate research concepts, craft compelling funding proposals for donors like foundations or bilateral agencies, and build a high-performing team from scratch.

📝 Tips for Applying to Council on Energy, Environment and Water

1

Explicitly frame your past experience through a 'political economy' lens. Don't just list projects; explain how you analysed power relations, institutional incentives, or policy networks in the context of food or agriculture.

2

Tailor your CV to highlight specific experience with Indian government agencies, policies (e.g., National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, PMFBY), and key civil society actors in the food systems space, as this is central to the outreach responsibility.

3

In your application materials, use language that mirrors CEEW's mission—emphasize 'data-driven', 'interdisciplinary', 'policy impact', and 'systems thinking' to show cultural fit.

4

Prepare a brief, concrete idea for a potential research project or programme strategy pillar that aligns with CEEW's existing work on, for example, climate-resilient agriculture or water-energy-food nexus, demonstrating your ability to 'ideate new research concepts'.

5

If you have a PhD, ensure your application clearly articulates how your doctoral research and methodological rigour translate into applied policy research and programme leadership, not just academic publication.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your strategic vision for a 'Sustainable Food Systems (Political Economy)' programme at CEEW: how you would assess the landscape, identify a niche, and align with emerging government priorities like the National Food Security Mission or sustainable agriculture targets.", 'Concrete examples of building something from the ground up—such as a research stream, a partnership network, or a funded project—highlighting skills in ideation, proposal writing, and team building.', "Specific instances where your qualitative research and stakeholder engagement (with government, CSOs, etc.) directly influenced a policy discussion or project outcome, proving your ability to lead 'strategic outreach'.", "Your understanding of CEEW's unique position as an Indian think tank and how you would leverage its reputation and networks to amplify the programme's impact and resource base."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Deeply review CEEW's existing publications on agriculture, food security, and rural development (on their website) to understand their research style, gaps, and potential entry points for a political economy programme.
  • → Study the profiles and recent work of CEEW's senior leadership and other programme leads to grasp the organisational culture and the type of interdisciplinary, policy-engaged scholarship they value.
  • → Investigate CEEW's key institutional partners and donors (e.g., government bodies, foundations, international organisations) to understand the ecosystem you would be expected to navigate and fundraise from.
  • → Analyse recent Indian government policy documents and priorities related to food systems, agriculture, and sustainability (e.g., from NITI Aayog, Budget speeches) to prepare to discuss 'evolving sectoral narratives' and 'emerging government priorities'.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 "Walk us through how you would develop the initial 12-month strategy for this programme. What existing CEEW work would you build on, and which external institutions' work would you assess?"
2 "Describe a complex political economy analysis you have conducted in the past. What was your framework, and how did the findings inform your engagement strategy with different stakeholders?"
3 "Give us an example of a successful project proposal you developed and pitched to a donor. How did you tailor the narrative, methodology, and budget to secure resources?"
4 "How would you approach building a relationship with a key but sceptical government agency, like the Ministry of Agriculture, to advance a sustainable food systems agenda?"
5 "CEEW works at the energy-environment-water nexus. How would you integrate this interdisciplinary approach into your food systems research, particularly from a political economy perspective?"
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application that treats this as a standard research manager role without highlighting specific political economy expertise or a vision for building a new programme.
  • Focusing solely on technical agronomy, climate science, or supply-chain logistics without demonstrating the ability to analyse the underlying power structures, policies, and social relations (the 'political economy') of food systems.
  • Failing to show awareness of or experience with the Indian context—its institutions, policies, and stakeholders—which is critical for a role based in India and focused on influencing domestic policy.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Council on Energy, Environment and Water!

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