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Position Title:Research and Development Specialist
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Organization:The International Potato Center (CIP)
Employment Type:Full Time Permanent
Reports to:Program Leader
Ref.: 15-08 RDS/IRS/SSA
Application Deadline:February 25, 2015
Organizational Profile:
The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a highly competent and
dynamic scientist to fill the newly created position of Research and
Development Specialist for Scaling-up to support the management and further
development of CIP’s Strategic Program on Resilient, Nutritious Sweetpotato.
The Center: CIP is a
not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization
with a focus on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is
of roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to
achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people
in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world.
CIP works with partners to contribute high quality science, technology, and
capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based solutions.
CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru,
with staff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and Latin
America. CIP is a member of the Consultative Group for International
Agricultural Research, a network of 15 research centers mostly located in the
developing world and supported by more than 50 donor members.
The Strategic Program: The Strategic Program on Resilient, Nutritious Sweetpotato
seeks to combat micronutrient deficiency and improve nutrition and livelihoods
amongst 15 million food insecure households in Africa and Asia. The Program
currently comprises a dynamic portfolio of over 30 research and development
projects in 16 countries. We pay specific attention to gender and poverty
aspects of our work and monitor these closely. The Program seeks to further
strengthen strategic partnerships for upstream research as well as for
development delivery.
The Position: The R&D Specialist will report to the Program Leader and
will be based in Kampala, Uganda with extensive travel to project countries in
particular in Africa.
He/she will work closely with project managers, scientists, and M&E
specialists to ensure that promising technologies and practices will be
scaled-up in new contexts. The position demands both R&D expertise and an
understanding of scaling-up approaches in agriculture and/or nutrition, as well
as competencies in program management, M&E, research publications, and
partnership management. Duties and
Accountabilities:
Program development for
scaling-up
·
Support the Program Leader in
coordinating implementation and further development of the Strategic Program
with a specific emphasis on strengthening and documenting lessons from
scaling-up projects. Focus countries and projects within the current portfolio
will be agreed with the Program Leader.
·
Work with project managers to
ensure project-level research and development activities and partnerships
support going-to-scale to achieve broader program goals, generate high-quality
outputs, and identify additional publication opportunities. Review technical
reports to donors for content and consistency.
·
Support project managers at
critical stages of implementation, such as during project start-up, major
reviews and evaluations, and closeout.
·
Contribute to proposal
writing and other resource mobilization efforts and work with the Program
Leader and CIP Regional Leaders to pursue longer-term opportunities to support
strategic program growth.
·
Contribute to regular program
reviews, planning, and reporting, including updating the rolling 3-year Program
Business Plan.
2.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
·
Work with project M&E
specialists to ensure alignment of project-level MEAL systems with CIP and
CGIAR requirements, particularly on scaling-up, outcome and impact related
results.
·
Coordinate collation of
essential data across the program portfolio and generate regular updates on key
output and outcome indicators.
·
Support learning across the
portfolio by initiating and contributing to syntheses of results in relation to
scaling up approaches, and by facilitating review meetings with partners.
3.
Research on scaling-up
Contribute to research on
scalability and scaling-up options for the Strategic Program, including
innovation pathways, partnerships, and policy context. Produce scientific
publications from this research.
Participate in CGIAR-wide
research initiatives to strengthen scaling-up approaches.
4.
Communications
Contribute to internal
communications within the Strategic Program as well as to external
communications on specific technical and regional components, using a range of
communication platforms.
Selection criteria:
·
PhD in relevant discipline,
including agricultural, biological, or social sciences. An MSc degree with
particularly strong R&D experience in food security and rural development
may be considered.
·
At least 10 years of research
experience in international agricultural research and/for development projects,
of which at least 5 years include senior responsibilities in project or program
management.
·
Excellent knowledge of the
agriculture-nutrition nexus and its gender and poverty dimensions. Familiarity
with biofortification and other food-based approaches to nutrition security.
·
Excellent knowledge of scaling-up
approaches in agricultural development and of up-to-date research methodologies
in this area.
·
Excellent knowledge of
development, agriculture, and nutrition agenda in Africa and Asia and of
CGIAR’s role in international agricultural research. Direct work experience in
sub-Saharan Africa is a strong advantage.
·
Strong command of M&E
approaches and methodologies, including participatory and quantitative methods,
support to learning processes, and use of ICT-based methodologies.
·
Proven research abilities and
publication record in relevant area of work.
·
Teambuilding and team management
experience, including direct experience of staff supervision in international
teams.
·
Excellent technical and report
writing skills and proven track record of proposal writing.
·
Excellent English written and
verbal communication skills are essential. Working proficiency in French is a
strong advantage.
·
Ability and willingness to travel
extensively, and at times at short notice, to project locations in Africa and
occasionally to other regions.
Conditions:
Employment contract will be for a
three-year term (with three months probation period) with the possibility of
renewal, subject to availability of funding.
The salary will be internationally competitive, paid in US dollars, and
commensurate with experience. CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive
working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth.
Applications:
Applicants should apply by email, sending a letter of motivation, a full
C.V., and the names and contact information of three references that are
knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional qualifications and work
experience to:
CIP-Recruitment@cgiar.org.
The reference name of the position
should be clearly marked in the subject line of the email message.
Screening of applications will begin on February 25, 2015 and will continue
until the position is filled.
All applications will be acknowledged, however only short listed candidates
will be contacted.
Learn more about CIP by accessing our web site at http://www.cipotato.org.
CIP is an equal opportunity employer.
Qualified women and professionals from developing countries are
particularly encouraged to apply
Research & Development
Specialist for Scaling – Up (Ref.: 15-08 RDS/IRS/SSA)
