Job Title: Research & Development Specialist
Organisation: International Potato Center (CIP)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Program Leader
Ref.: 15-08 RDS/IRS/SSA
About CIP:
The International
Potato 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.
Potato 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.
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.
Job Summary: The International Potato Center (CIP)
Research and Development Specialist for Scaling-up will technically support the
management and further development of CIP’s Strategic Program on Resilient,
Nutritious Sweetpotato. The R&D Specialist 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.
Research and Development Specialist for Scaling-up will technically support the
management and further development of CIP’s Strategic Program on Resilient,
Nutritious Sweetpotato. The R&D Specialist 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.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1.
Program Development for scaling-up:
Program Development for scaling-up:
- Assist 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 closely 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 technically support project managers at critical
stages of implementation, such as during project start-up, major reviews
and evaluations, and closeout. - Actively 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):
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL):
- Work in liaison 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. 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. - Actively participate in CGIAR-wide research
initiatives to strengthen scaling-up approaches.
3.
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.
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.
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience:
Experience:
- The ideal candidate should hold a 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. - A minimum of ten years of research experience in
international agricultural research and/for development projects, of which
at least five years include senior responsibilities in project or program
management. - Excellent knowledge of the agriculture-nutrition
nexus and its gender and poverty dimensions. Good knowledge and
understanding of 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. - Possess the ability and willingness to travel
extensively, and at times at short notice, to project locations in Africa
and occasionally to other regions.
How to Apply:
All
candidates 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: [email protected]. The reference name of the position
should be clearly marked in the subject line of the email message.
candidates 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: [email protected]. The reference name of the position
should be clearly marked in the subject line of the email message.
NB: CIP is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified
women and professionals from developing countries are particularly encouraged
to apply.
women and professionals from developing countries are particularly encouraged
to apply.
Deadline: 25th February 2015
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