The International Potato Center (CIP) works with partners to achieve food security, well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems in the developing world. We do this through research and innovation in science, technology, and capacity strengthening.

Job Summary

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking an agricultural economist or nutritionist with excellent skills in survey design, implementation, and analysis, project management experience, and good communication and writing skills suitable for working with a multi-disciplinary team of agronomists, breeders, nutritionists, food scientists, and extension practitioners.

The Center:
CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world.

CIP works with partners to contribute high quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based solutions. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, with staff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. CIP is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by the 15 research centers who are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.

The Position
The Federal government of Nigeria has included sweetpotato as one of the key crops to contribute towards its agricultural transformation.

The selected scientist will backstop government and non-government partners in designing and coordinating nutrition and income- earning value chains, as well as breeder and multiplication activities in 6 states in Nigeria.  The position is based in Abuja.

In addition, the scientist will lead surveys to assess the baseline situation for sweetpotato in the selected states, and endline surveys to assess adoption. They will guide the team linking orange-fleshed sweetpotato to a school feeding program. The scientist should be willing to travel extensively within Nigeria, with occasional travel to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Qualification Required & Experience

•   The successful candidate will have:
•   PhD in Agricultural Economics or Nutrition or other closely related discipline and at least three years’ experience in managing projects with multiple partners;
•   At least three years’ research experience in the design, implementation, and analysis of household surveys and monitoring systems;
•   Strong interest in food-based approaches to combatting food insecurity and undernutrition;
•   Exposure to participatory approaches and qualitative data collection and analysis desirable;
•   Demonstrated success in working within inter-disciplinary teams and partnerships for research implementation;
•   Prior working experience in Africa;
•   Excellent social skills and a collaborative style;
•   Proactive, innovative and creative attitudes;
•   Willingness to travel extensively;
•   Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required.

Conditions
The employment contract will be for a three-year term with the possibility of renewal. The salary will be internationally competitive, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with experience.

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

How To Apply For The Job

Applicants should apply by email, sending a cover letter summarizing their relevance to this position, a full C.V. and the names and contact information of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to

cip- recruitment@cgiar.org, copied to Jan Low: j.low@cgiar.org

Closing Date: 30 July, 2013

•   The reference name of the position should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email message.
•   Screening of applications will begin on 20 June 2013 and will continue until the post is filled.

CIP seeks diversity and gender balance in its staff.  Women and citizens of developing countries are particularly urged to apply. To learn more about CIP please visit http://www.cipotato.org/cip/jobs.asp