The ECOIP project “Towards an Ethical Economy: Addressing the Impacts of Commodity Trade and Consumption on Indigenous Land and Survival” investigates how global commodity production, trade, and consumption affect Indigenous Peoples, their territories, livelihoods, rights, and ways of life.
The project integrates global footprint analysis, geospatial research, political-economy and governance analysis, field-based social research, Indigenous-led research, and stakeholder co-creation.
Successful candidates will be encouraged to take initiative in developing and carrying out research that contributes to the objectives of the ECOIP project, while working within the project’s overall plan and timeline. They will work closely with the project leader and other project members, with room to bring their own expertise, perspectives, and ideas into the research.
Profile A: Political economy, global value chains, and environmental governance
The researcher will examine the political economy and governance of commodity-driven pressures on Indigenous Peoples by linking conflict hotspots to commodity flows, companies, producer and consumer markets, and governance conditions.
Research may include:
• policy, legal, and implementation gaps concerning Indigenous rights;
• global commodity value chains and supply chains;
• corporate, financial, governmental, and institutional actors involved in extractive and industrial development;
• environmental and natural-resource governance;
• corporate due diligence, responsible sourcing, and certification;
• comparative analysis across commodities, countries, and regions.
Relevant backgrounds: political economy, public policy, global value chain studies, environmental governance, political ecology, development studies, economic/human geography, sustainability science, or related fields.
Desirable skills and experience (one or more of the following): qualitative or mixed-method research, comparative methods such as QCA/fsQCA, policy and institutional analysis, commodity/supply-chain analysis, network analysis, trade or corporate datasets, and quantitative analysis using R, Python, Stata, or similar tools.
Profile B: Environmental justice, Indigenous Peoples, and participatory sustainability research
The researcher will examine the socio-environmental impacts of commodity production and extractive activities on Indigenous Peoples and the responses of affected communities and other stakeholders.
Research may include:
• field research with Indigenous Peoples and local communities;
• semi-structured interviews, participant observation, participatory mapping, surveys, and other mixed methods;
• environmental justice and land/resource-rights analysis;
• stakeholder responses, resistance, adaptation, and conflict resolution;
• Indigenous-led and community-based research;
• co-creation of knowledge and practical solutions with stakeholders.
Relevant backgrounds: environmental justice, Indigenous studies, human geography, anthropology, political ecology, human ecology, development studies, environmental sociology, sustainability science, or related fields.
Desirable skills and experience (one or more of the following): fieldwork with Indigenous or local communities, qualitative and participatory methods, comparative case studies, stakeholder analysis, mixed methods, participatory mapping, FPIC and research ethics, and analysis using NVivo, MAXQDA, R, Python, or similar software.
Common responsibilities
Both researchers will be expected to:
• develop and pursue research ideas in line with the project’s overall plan and timeline, and publish in peer-reviewed journals;
• collaborate across natural and social science disciplines;
• conduct fieldwork independently in rural and remote areas with limited infrastructure;
• engage with Indigenous organizations, NGOs, governments, businesses, and other stakeholders where appropriate;
• contribute to project dissemination, meetings, seminars, workshops, co-creation, and social implementation activities.
Please refer to the RIHN recruitment page below for full details and application instructions.
https://www.chikyu.ac.jp/rihn_e/careers/005882.html