CAREER at IITA

REGIONAL PROJECT COORDINATOR (REF: DDG-R4D/PC/05/11)

BACKGROUND: The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the position of a Project Coordinator.

IITA is an international non-profit research-for-development (R4D) organization created in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and supported primarily by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Our R4D is anchored on the development needs of sub-Saharan Africa. We develop agricultural solutions with our partners to tackle hunger and poverty by reducing producer and consumer risks, enhancing crop quality and productivity, and generating wealth from agriculture. We have more than 100 internationally recruited scientists from about 35 countries and 900 nationally recruited staff based in various stations across Africa. Please visit Home - Agricultural Research for Development in Africa - IITA for more information on IITA.

IITA intends to implement projects that will integrate small scale farmers into the market economy through promoting soybean value chains. The overall goal of these projects is to commercialize the use of soybean through local processing, improved marketing and trade of soy-products, and promote use of environmentally sound production practices to sustainably increase agricultural productivity. The project will be implemented in Malawi and Mozambique.

POSITION/RESPONSIBILITIES
The primary responsibilities will include:
Provide management and leadership, guidance, cohesion, accountability and profile to the project.
Identify and facilitate collaboration among stakeholders encompassing all key actors along the soybean sub-sector (farmers’ associations, small and large scale processors, end-users, national research and extension institutions, NGOs, industrialists, micro-finance institutions, agro-industry, market actors, policy makers).
Carry out soybean sub sector studies to assess the bottlenecks and potential market opportunities for small-scale farmers.
Facilitate the identification of development domains for targeting soybean production in the project countries.
Design functional organizational structures to facilitate participation of diverse stakeholders in the soybean value chain.
Establish a sustainable system for the supply of raw soybean in quantities and quality required by the industry through promoting modern science-based production techniques by small-scale farmers.
Promote small-scale industrial processes for the production of diversified home-based soybean food items and new intermediate products for use as raw materials in local industries.
Test and promote appropriate small-scale industrial processing systems for the supply of high quality soy-products to identified markets.
Design strategies to scale out and up the knowledge and experience gained from this pilot project to other interested parties.
Strengthen skills of key stakeholders along the soybean value chain to enable them participate more effectively and efficiently in the development of the soybean subsector.
Organize reporting and annual review and planning meeting.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
At least an MSc degree in the food technology, agri-business or agricultural engineering but a PhD is preferred.

CORE COMPETENCIES:
Knowledgeable of the research-extension-production-marketing continuum
At least 5 years experience in leading and managing collaborative research-for-development projects
Experience in managing complex, inter-institutional partnerships
Excellent leadership, management, interpersonal, and team building skills
Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural environment
Fluency in oral and written English and Portuguese.
Knowledge of East and Southern Africa is also an added advantage
Experience in commodity value-chain development.

DUTY STATION: Nampula, Mozambique. Frequent travel to Malawi is expected.


GENERAL INFORMATION: Initial appointment is for three years. IITA offers a competitive remuneration package paid in US dollars.


TO APPLY
Applications: Applications including curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three referees should be addressed to the Human Resources Manager. Please complete our online application form using this link: http://www.iita.org/irs-online-application

CLOSING DATE: June 15, 2011

IITA is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from women candidates.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.