Scientist Livelihoods and Multi-Stakeholder Processes, Ethiopia

Vacancy Number: SLMSP/CRP1.2/05/2013
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Duration: 3 years with the possibility of renewal

Base salary starting from USD 45,000 per annum depending on skills and experience, with an attractive international benefits package (tax free*).

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to enhance the roles livestock play in pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a global research partnership of 15 centres working with many partners for a food-secure future. ILRI has two main campuses in East Africa and other hubs in East, West and southern Africa and South, Southeast and East Asia. www.ilri.org.

CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by 15 research centres that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. www.cgiar.org.

Humidtropics, a CGIAR Research Program (CRP), seeks to transform the lives of the rural poor in tropical Americas, Asia and Africa. Innovative integrated systems research in the humid tropics will help poor farm families, often led by women, boost their agricultural productivity while preserving the land for future generations. ILRI is heavily engaged in the Humidtropics, leading Strategic Research Theme 1 on Systems Analysis and Global Synthesis with strong inputs into other CRP’s. Further information is available at:http://humidtropics.org/

The Position: ILRI seeks to recruit a social scientist with expertise in livelihoods analysis and local innovation systems. The research area for this position will have two main foci. Firstly it will involve developing and implementing approaches for participatory identification of intensification interventions with farming communities and associated stakeholders; this will complement parallel research on the use of modelling approaches to evaluate different intervention options. Secondly, the research will involve designing strategies for engaging communities and associated stakeholders in Humidtropics action sites and Africa RISING research sites, including stakeholder analysis, to inform appropriate design of multi-stakeholder platforms as implementation and scaling out mechanisms for systems intensification. This will include designing and applying methods for assessing the performance of multi-stakeholder platforms with the intent of scaling up successes across action sites with particular emphasis on livestock-related livelihood options.

Responsibilities:

• Developing gender sensitive approaches for participatory identification of intensification options with farming communities followed up by action research to integrate existing practices and to adapt and test options for local contexts.
• Designing equitable processes for stakeholder engagement and participatory development of intervention strategies through multi-stakeholder processes/platforms.
• Designing and applying methods for assessing performance of multi-stakeholder innovation platforms and intervention strategies using a livelihoods analysis or other appropriate frameworks.
• Analysing and synthesizing results to support scaling (of approaches, knowledge, capacity and “best bets”) through dialogue and action within innovation platforms.
• Evaluation methods/processes and interventions from a livelihoods/institutional/policy perspective.

Requirements:

• Ph.D in a relevant social science applied in an agricultural setting.
• Familiarity with aspects of livestock production systems in developing countries.
• Proven success in analysis of agricultural systems, having experience in collection of primary data and survey design in developing countries.
• An understanding of innovation systems concepts and the role of local and higher level institutions in farming systems change.
• Demonstrated skills in qualitative data analysis and an ability to relate livelihoods and innovation systems approaches to technical agricultural intervention strategies.
• Ability to collaborate with researchers using quantitative/modelling approaches.
• Experience of participatory approaches with farming communities.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of innovation platforms.
• Good publications record with strong written and oral communication skills in English.
• Ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams in developing countries.
• Proven ability to engage with farmers and front-line extension staff in developing world rural settings.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage technical teams at research sites.
• Strong English language skills, both written and spoken (proficiency in French is strong advantage).
• Willingness to travel frequently, often to rural areas in developing countries.

Position level: Scientist/Research Level 1, dependent on qualifications and experience.

Post location: The position will be based at ILRI’s Principal Campus in Addis Ababa with significant periods spent collaborating with other CGIAR scientists based around ILRI’s West Africa offices in Ibadan, Nigeria and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Duration: 3 years with the possibility of renewal contingent upon individual performance and funding.

Terms of appointment: ILRI offers a competitive international and salary and benefits package which includes 15% Pension, Medical insurance, Life insurance and allowances for: Education, Housing, Relocation, Home leave, Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days + public holidays.

*Benefits and salary are tax free subject to compliance with tax regulations of country of citizenship.

Applications: Applicants should provide a cover letter, curriculum vitae, list of publications and the names and addresses (including telephone, fax and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Applications should be sent to the Human Resources Office by email: ilri-SLMSP-CRP@cgiar.org. The position title and reference number: REF: SLMSP/CRP1.2/05/2013should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the online application.

Closing date: The position will remain open until 30 June 2013.

To find out more about ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org

To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/ilricrowd/

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer. Suitably qualified women and developing country citizens are particularly encouraged to apply.