Mozambique: AGRONOMIST (16-17)

Job description: The International Potato Center (CIP) is recruiting an Agronomist to support the activities of the expanded Viable Sweetpotato Technologies in Africa (VISTA) Project in Mozambique. Overall, the agronomist will provide technical support for the implementation of the project’s agronomic activities to improve food security and nutrition and income of smallholder farming families in the project target areas.

Location: Nampula, Mozambique

The Center: CIP (www.cipotato.org) 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.

The Project: The overall goal of VISTA Mozambique is to contribute to improved nutrition, food security and incomes of 100,000 smallholder farming families through increased production and better utilization of the biofortified orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) varieties, especially by those most at risk of vitamin A deficiency - children under five years of age and pregnant and lactating women. With continued support from USAID / Feed the Future, the project is expanding its current activities to 16 districts in Nampula and Zambezia Provinces for the next 5 years. VISTA is a research and development collaboration between CIP and national and local partners and emphasizes the importance of technical excellence, rigorous evidence base, and capacity development of Mozambican stakeholders.

The Position: The Agronomist will directly report to the Senior Agronomist and the Project Leader.:

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Support the multiplication of sweetpotato planting material in Nampula province, including the day to day management of casual field labor. This also includes the selection of farmers as vine multipliers and establishment of vine multiplication plots;

• Support vine multipliers through technical assistance and monitoring. This includes the support of local implementing partners for the management of multiplication (small and large scale) and dissemination of planting material;

• Assist in the implementation of operational research to strengthen sweetpotato production and delivery of extension support, including establishment of participatory trials, monitoring, and data collection and analysis;

• Work in close collaboration with District Agricultural Departments (SDAEs) to provide them with technical assistance. This technical assistance may involve vine multiplication, roots and vines conservation, and yield evaluation;

• Participate in interventions to improve storage and post-harvest management;

• Participate in the distribution activities of planting material to farmers;

• Participate in the promotion of OFSP at district level and in the market;

• In collaboration with the M&E team, coordinate data collection on vine multiplication, productivity, and other key indicators at farmer level;

• Prepare technical bi-weeklies, monthly, quarterly and annual reports.

Selection criteria:

• Degree in Agronomy;
• Mozambican Nationality;
• Knowledge of sweetpotato agronomy including experience in irrigation;
• Knowledge of the nutritional benefits of orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties;
• Experience in management of field staff;
• Good interaction capability with farmers;
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in both Portuguese and English; Knowledgeable and familiarity with local languages such as Emacua and Lomue is an added advantage;
• Willingness to travel frequently to the field and work under field conditions;
• Interest in a career in research for development.

Conditions: The employment contract will be for a three-year term (with a three-month probation period) with the possibility of renewal, subject to availability of funding. The salary will be very competitive, paid in Meticais, and commensurate with experience. This is a local position, and CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth.

Applications: Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job Opportunities website (http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/ ), including a letter of motivation, a full C.V with the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Screening of applications will begin on 1^st October, 2016 and will continue until the post is filled. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Learn more about CIP by accessing our web site at http://www.cipotato.org CIP is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women and professionals are particularly