Vacancy for Field and Research Assistant-Agroecology

Society for Promoting Participative Ecosystem Management (SOPPECOM) is a non-profit,non-governmental organisation working in the area of Natural Resource Management (NRM) primarily in the rural areas. It is committed to the principles of sustainable and rational use ofnatural resources, equity and social justice in the distribution of benefits especially to the disadvantaged sections like Dalits, landless, women, democratic and decentralised governance of these resources.

You can find more about SOPPECOM here

The agroecology program, also referred to as the Ecologically sound self-reliant farming (ESSRF) initiated by SOPPECOM, continues to address the interconnected issues of the disempowerment of women farmers and environmental degradation caused by mainstream, chemical-intensive farming practices. This initiative, which started as a relief measure during the pandemic in 2021, supporting women farmers from drought-prone and suicide-affected regions of Marathwada and Vidarbha, has now grown into a comprehensive program encouraging sustainable, self-reliant farming models, promoting biodiversity, food, and nutrition security, while preserving and amplifying the role of women's local knowledge in agriculture.

The objective of this intervention is to strengthen farm systems by introducing mixed and inter-cropping, soil building, water and soil conservation, seed and other bio-inputs, addressing cropraiding, exploring markets for cash crops; supporting food and nutrition security to the families; and ensuring income security through livestock for the most vulnerable women farmers.

As part of this programme the following activities are conducted a) Direct support to women farmers, by way of seed, farm yard manure; b) training and capacity building for self-reliant farming c) formation of collectives of women farmers practicing Agroecology d) Organising events and festivals for display of produce, learning and sharing.

You can read more about the Agroecology programme here.

The Role of the Field and Research Assistant would be the following: Programme Implementation and Field Coordination
	Assist the Project Coordinator in planning and executing programme activities across districts.
	Mentor district and village-level field staff and champion farmers
	Conduct regular field visits during key seasons for monitoring and technical support.
	Organise monthly review meetings with field teams.

Training, Capacity Building and Farmer Support
	Support trainings on mixed/intercropping, soil health, bio-inputs, and water-soil conservation.
	Build capacities of women farmers for self-reliant, climate-resilient farming
	Assist in events, exposure visits, and community learning platforms

Monitoring, Documentation & Reporting
	Monitor study plots, collect field data, and ensure timely reporting.
	Prepare visit notes, maintain documentation, and consolidate monthly reports.
	Document best practices and lessons.

Research Support
	Assist research on agroecology and gender.
	Support data collection, cleaning, and preliminary analysis.
	Liaise with experts and partners.

Coordination and Communication
	Coordinate workshops and consultations at all levels.
	Communicate effectively with women farmers, partners, and teams.
	Support market and institutional linkages for farmer collectives.

Expected Skills
	Educational Background: Bachelor's/Master's degree in Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Gender Studies, Rural Development, or related fields.
	Technical Knowledge: Basic understanding of farming systems, soil health, cropping practices, and rural livelihoods; interest in agroecology and gender in agriculture.
	Research Skills: Ability to support field research, data collection, data entry, and basic analysis.
	Computer Proficiency: Strong command over MS Word, Excel, email, and digital documentation tools.
	Communication Skills: Ability to communicate clearly with rural women farmers, field teams, and technical experts; strong writing and reporting skills.
	Coordination & Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders, manage field schedules, and support programme operations.
	Field work: Willingness to travel extensively and stay in remote project locations across six districts of Maharashtra.
	Work Ethic: Demonstrated commitment, reliability, flexibility, and sensitivity to working with women farmers and community-based organisations.
	Experience (preferred): Prior experience in fieldwork, training, or community engagement.

Salary
	Will be commensurate to qualifications and experience, starting at Rs 25,000 - 30,000 per month. If you are interested and think that you are an appropriate candidate for this challenging post, kindly send your complete bio-data to swatisatpute236@gmail.com by the 30th of December 2025

Office Location: 16 Kale Park, Someshwardwadi Road, Pashan Pune 411008.

Last day for application: 30th of December 2025

To Apply: Please send your CVs to; swatisatpute236@gmail.com