NEW OPENING, IITA UGANDA
ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONAL OFFICER – AGRONOMIST (COFFEE AND BANANA SYSTEMS) BASED IN KAMPALA (UGANDA) (REF: DDG-R4D/APO/A/12/10)
GENERAL INFORMATION
TITLE OF THE POSTING: ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONAL OFFICER – AGRONOMIST
SECTOR: COFFEE AND BANANA SYSTEMS IN SSA HUMID HIGHLANDS
LOCATION: KAMPALA, UGANDA
DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT: Initially one year with the possibility to extend up to 3 years
GRADE: IITA offers a competitive remuneration package paid in US dollars. Starting salary scale will depend on the level of education and experience.
NOTE: This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands and is open to Dutch and European Union nationals or permanent residents of the Netherlands (for criteria refer to the website of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
http://www.minbuza.nl/en/Key_topics/Development_Cooperation/Associate_Experts_Programme
II. SUPERVISION
NAME OF DIRECT SUPERVISOR: PIET VAN ASTEN
TITLE OF SUPERVISOR: SYSTEMS AGRONOMIST – CIALCA PROJECT MANAGER
CONTENT AND METHODOLOGY OF SUPERVISION:
The supervisor will provide scientific supervision and assist the incumbent in preparation of a three-year work with details of activities to be executed and milestones for performance monitoring. This will form the basis for regular monitoring of progress and adjustment of work plans, if necessary. The incumbent will participate in scientific meetings of IITA and its affiliated projects/programs. The candidate will undergo the formal IITA-institute wide annual performance appraisals. The incumbent will be able to liaise with researchers at advanced research institutes outside Africa for training and backstopping in research methodologies.
III. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Review and strengthen IITA’s conceptual framework of research for development opportunities and constraints in banana and tree crop systems based on literature review and interactions with stakeholders.
Develop a work plan that is complementary to, but in line with, IITA’s existing research strategy and projects, based on the research questions derived from the conceptual framework and building on the APO’s specific expertise and interests. The work plan will contain details on data collection, analysis, and publication, combining exploration of existing data with complementary field data collection efforts.
Actively engage in communication with a wide range of banana and coffee stakeholders in the target areas to achieve research objectives, to ensure their research participation during the data collection phase, and to get their feedback on results obtained and the way forward.
Apply quantitative methods to analyse trade-offs in banana and tree crop systems in African smallholder farmers, taking into account resource requirements, profitability, sustainability of the natural resource base, food security, and long-term changes in environmental conditions such as climate change and soil fertility depletion.
Lead and assist in the writing of manuscripts for publication and assist in translating research findings into recommendations for stakeholders.
IV. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
QUALIFICATIONS:
M.Sc. or Ph.D. in agricultural systems with a strong agronomy background and basic knowledge of applied economics and participatory research methods.
EXPERIENCE:
Preferably 2 years relevant working experience. Familiarity with rural institutions and rural livelihoods in both Francophone and Anglophone Africa is desirable.
COMPETENCIES:
Fluency (oral and written) in both English and French.
Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural environment and to interact effectively with farmers and staff from national institutions and the private sector.
Willingness to travel regionally in challenging conditions.
V. TRAINING COMPONENTS AND LEARNING ELEMENTS
TRAINING COMPONENTS:
Regular mentoring by the supervisor and other senior scientists during research proposal development, design of study, data collection, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.
Regional and country-level meetings in relevant IITA-led projects (CIALCA, LEAD)
Participation in the annual planning and review meetings of IITA
Participation in scientific conferences related to institutional development
Linking with collaborating scientists and professors at advance research institutes in Europe (e.g. Wageningen University), possibly supported by short-term training events at these institutes.
LEARNING ELEMENTS:
In the first year:
conduct literature review;
improved knowledge of the agronomy of perennial-based cropping systems (with emphasis on coffee, cocoa, and bananas),
improved knowledge of the socio-economic context of smallholder farming systems and participatory research methods
develop detailed research proposal and work plan that is in line with IITA’s existing strategy and projects on tree crop x banana systems
IN THE SECOND AND THIRD YEAR:
improved understanding of on-farm and participatory research methods,
improved knowledge of quantitative research methods for trade-off analysis,
understanding of value and knowledge chains in agricultural systems,
learn how to process, evaluate, publish, and present research results;
improved capacity to help translate research results into recommendations for stakeholders at different levels.
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