Description:     

The CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE), led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), is looking for an experienced Focal Region Manager to help ensure that there is impact from its research towards achieving the vision of WLE (‘a world in which agriculture thrives within vibrant ecosystems, where communities have higher incomes, improved food security and the ability to continuously improve their lives’). The role of the position holder will be to ensure the smooth operation of WLE’s work in the focal region. The person will support the Focal Region Coordinator and be the primary point of contact for WLE activities in the focal region. The position holder will be based at the West Africa Office of IWMI in Accra, Ghana, where the WLE Volta River Program is conducted, and will report to the Volta Focal Region Coordinator.

Job Description     

•   facilitate coordination between new and existing WLE research activities being conducted in the region;
•   strengthen and/or establish relationships with users of WLE research, such as policymakers, investors, private sector and development organizations;
•   facilitate and coordinate between WLE activities and those of other CGIAR Research Programs in the region;
•   ensure coherence around agreed research outcomes and impact pathways;
•   oversee the development and implementation of regional communication and gender strategies, which are linked to regularly updated Focal Region impact pathways;
•   ensure gender integration and innovation within the research activities for the region;
•   regularly track the progress of Focal Region projects via communication materials against agreed deliverables, with a focus on the quality of research outputs of regional relevance;
•   monitor and document the progress made towards outcomes, interest from other parties in the research conducted, adjustments that need to be made to the impact pathways and process documentation, and provide regular technical and financial reports to WLE management;
•   ensure effective coordination between and amongst individual research project teams;
•   convene meetings of the Focal Region Advisory Committee, and monitor progress of recommendations made by the Committee;
•   oversee all finance and administration issues, while also ensuring that 20% of the Focal Region budget is assigned to gender; and
•   liaise with the WLE Regional Coordinator and Program Manager, and with the finance and administration departments at IWMI head quarters.

Qualification Required & Experience   

•   a PhD or equivalent degree in a relevant discipline;
•   a minimum of 10 years of progressive and relevant experience;
•   demonstrated professional experience and leadership in a field related to water, land and ecosytems in developing countries;
•   demonstrated experience in program management, administrative procedures, budgeting and business development;
•   experience of building partnerships in a research for development program;
•   the capacity to work with and influence partners, especially senior decision makers at national and regional levels;
•   experience in motivating teams of people from diverse cultures, backgrounds and expertise;
•   experience and/or understanding of the concepts of monitoring, evaluation, impact assessment, network management (partnerships for impact), gender analysis and facilitating stakeholder interaction;
•   experience, and/or understanding, and appreciation of the role of communications in an impact strategy, including working with communications professionals to identify innovative ways in which to use a variety of media to reach a range of audiences;
•   demonstrated skills in managing programs, including experience of forming, operating in and leading interdisciplinary teams that have delivered high-quality outputs on time and according to budget;
•   strong communication skills in written and oral English and French, including the capacity to write reports and to communicate with stakeholders at different levels; and
•   strong interpersonal skills and the proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people, and to interact effectively with a wide range of stakeholders in a multicultural setting, with sensitivity and respect for diversity. a West African citizen with experience of working in, and familiarity with, agricultural development issues in the region.
    
Terms & Conditions:     

This is a regionally recruited position with a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes a housing allowance, transport, education, shipping assistance, annual home leave, retirement and health insurance package. The duration of the contract will initially be for a 2-year period, with possible extension.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Interested and qualified candidates should click below:

Click Here To Apply Online

If you have any difficulty submitting the completed form, please send your letter of application together with the CV to:-

work-at-iwmi@cgiar.org

Closing Date: 25 September, 2014

•   This is a nationally recruited staff position and only citizens of Ghana are encouraged to apply.
•   IWMI offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes transport and health insurance.
•   The duration of the contract will initially be for a 2-year period, with possible extension.

IWMI is an equal opportunity employer and is keen to further diversify its staff in terms of both gender and nationality.