Assistant Site Coordinator - (4)

Vacancy Number: A/041/14
Department: Animal Science and Sustainable Productivity (ASSP)/Africa RISING
Duration: One year contract

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit 4 (Four) Assistant Site Coordinator positions for Africa RISING Project – Animal Science and Sustainable Productivity Program in ILRI who will be based in South Tigray region at Maychew, Oromia region at Bale Robe, in Southern Nation, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR) at Hosaena and Amhara region at Debre Berhan.

General: The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality livestock science, communications and capacity building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development. ILRI is one of 15 centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ILRI has campuses in Kenya (headquarters) and Ethiopia, with other offices located in other regions of Africa (Mali, Mozambique, and Nigeria) as well as in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam) and East Asia (China).  

Job Purpose:

The purpose of recruiting the Assistant Site Coordinators is to assist the Research Site Coordinators in facilitating, coordinating, communicating and monitoring of Innovation Platforms at woreda, kebele and farmers level and assist the various research activities in Africa RISING intervention kebeles.

Specific duties of the successful applicant will include:

• To support analysis of existing actors and networks at learning sites in the Africa RISING project in  Ethiopian highlands with a view to identifying institutional constraints to bring sustainable intensification in mixed crop livestock systems to improved livelihoods,
• Support the Research Site Coordinators on the implementation, facilitation and data collection of Africa RISING research protocols,
• Assist Research Site Coordinators in facilitating and coordinating of  training, workshops and meetings,
• Support the Research Site Coordinators in delivering any research activities required to the project sites,
• Provide report to the Research Site Coordinator on progress and problems associated with the on-farm action oriented research activities and exploration studies,
• Contribute to the development of strategies for engaging local actors more effectively to accelerate innovations contributing to sustainable intensification,
• To be responsible at field level for engagement of local actors in stakeholder groups called innovation platforms at different level including establishment and/or strengthening of innovation clusters/farmer groups, facilitating communication and developing rolling action plans at local level,
• To collect data required for effective innovation process monitoring and evaluation at field level,
• Support in capturing and documenting reports and minutes of Innovation Platform meetings at different level, field trips and field days,
• Organizing and processing quantitative and qualitative data emerging from the field around innovation system  through different tools including photos, videos and stories,
• Closely work with the technical group members of woreda and kebele level Innovation Platforms in strengthening the capacity of farmers and key actors through organizing trainings, field days and experience sharing visits,
• Assist site coordinator in finance and admin and also represent ILRI in the absence of site coordinator.

Skills and Competencies

•    BSc/BA in a relevant discipline such as Agriculture, Development Studies and Extension
•    At least 2 years of relevant experience in agricultural research in Ethiopian highlands
•    Skills and experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods and analysis
•    Experience of working with participatory research approaches, facilitation skills will be important for the role
•    Experience with contemporary monitoring and evaluation approaches
•    Social science research experience, particularly related to livelihood issues
•    Research communication skills or experience with communication and popularisation of scientific outputs
•    Collaborative skills, ability to work in multi-cultural teams and different projects, excellent oral and written communication skills (English)
•    A sense of creativity and ability to work with minimal supervision
•    Working experience in the same woreda announced for this position is advantageous (who is familiar with the woreda, culture, actors and the local languages)

Duty Station:      South Tigray region at Maychew, Oromia region at Bale Robe, in South Nation, Nation, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR) at Hosaena and Amhare region at Debre Berhan

PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICANTS NEED TO SPECIFY THE DUTY STATION THEY ARE APPLYING FOR AND THAT APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT HAVE THIS INFORMATION WILL BE DISREGARDED.

Grade: 2C

Minimum Base:    Birr 14,839 (Negotiable, depending on experience, skill and salary history of the candidate)

Terms of appointment:  This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position, initial appointment is fixed term for one year with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and the availability of funding. The ILRI remuneration package for nationally recruited staff in Ethiopia includes very competitive salary and benefits such as life and medical insurance, offshore pension plan, etc. The ILRI campus is set in a secure, attractive campus on the outskirts of Addis Ababa.  Dining and sports facilities are located on site.

Applications: Applicants should provide a cover letter and curriculum vitae; names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to be included in the curriculum vitae. The position and reference number: REF: A/041/14 should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the cover letter. All applications to be submitted online on our recruitment portal: http://ilri.simplicant.com on or before 03 July 2014.

Suitably qualified women are particularly encouraged to apply.