The International
Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a versatile Nutritionist with experience and
interest in helping to develop effective food-based approaches to reducing
malnutrition. The position is part of a large and diverse CGIAR agricultural
research and development project in Malawi funded by the Feed the Future
initiative.
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 improv
ing the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food
security, improved wellbeing, 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 CIP Sub-Saharan
Africa (SSA) main regional office is in Nairobi, Kenya. CIP also has an
existing office in 7 other SSA countries.
The Consortium
Project: The Feed the Future Malawi Improved Seed Systems and Technologies (MISST) project is a
technology scaling project jointly implemented in 10 districts in the central
and southern regions of Malawi by four CGIAR centers (CIMMYT, CIP, ICRISAT, and
IITA) with financial support from USAID/Feed the Future. MISST includes
components on scaling out seed systems and other production and utilization
technologies for soybean, groundnut, pigeon pea, sorghum, millet, drought
tolerant maize, and orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP). Additional components
are focused on reducing aflatoxin contamination in groundnut and maize, and
promoting Conservation Agriculture technologies. Achieving better nutrition
outcomes from these improved agricultural value chains is an essential
objective of MISST, and the project is committed to specific nutrition
indicators and targets as part of its results framework. MISST is looking for a
versatile Nutritionist with experience in food-based approaches to develop
effective nutrition strategies and methodologies, and to coordinate
implementation of these approaches across the different crop components of the
project. CIP aims to expand the production and utilization of orange-fleshed
sweetpotato (OFSP). These five project components are coordinated by an
ICRISAT-led Consortium Management Office (CMO) consisting of the Chief of
Party, Finance Manager and M&E Leader.
The
Position:
The Nutritionist will be based in Lilongwe, Malawi with extensive travel within
the country. The position forms part of the Consortium Management Office led by
ICRISAT and supports all project components, but is hosted by CIP in response
to the strong nutrition focus in the OFSP component of the project. The
specialist will report to the CIP Project Component Leader. The principal tasks
and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:
Duties and
responsibilities:
Coordinate
the development and implementation of a nutrition strategy for MISST, focused
on national priorities and based on up-to-date knowledge and methodologies of
food-based approaches and nutrition-sensitive agriculture;
Engage
with partners in the agriculture and health sectors to develop cost-effective
nutrition interventions that can be taken to scale at the community level,
especially those utilizing protein rich legumes and OFSP as a key technology
for combatting vitamin A deficiency;
Take
the lead in work plan development on MISST collaborative nutrition activities
for the five project components;
Participate
with the Consortium monitoring and evaluation team in assessing the performance
of nutrition interventions and reporting on Feed the Future Nutrition
Indicators;
Contribute
to the development of advocacy materials, nutrition messages, food guides,
recipe books, and media strategies to create awareness of the health benefits
of legumes and OFSP in a form that is relevant to rural Malawi;
Design
and coordinate food availability surveys, consumption studies, and other
nutrition related studies to better understand the nutrition context and
outcomes of MISST;
Engage
with current partners and identify new partners and market-based approaches for
the widespread dissemination and adoption of nutrition-focused technologies and
messages in both rural and urban settings;
Design
and coordinate training events for MISST partners to strengthen capacity for
nutrition messaging and counseling utilizing MISST agricultural innovations
(e.g. more nutritious crop varieties);
Co-organize
national technical roundtables on nutrition-sensitive agriculture and share the
benefits of biofortified crop varieties and diversified food systems and engage
with policy makers to advocate for support to food-based responses to
malnutrition.
Selection
Criteria:
- PhD
degree in Nutrition or Public Health with at least 2 years of work
experience in relevant nutrition programs or Master’s Degree in Nutrition
with at least 5 years’ work experience in relevant nutrition programs; - Up-to-date
and thorough understanding of food-based approaches to addressing
malnutrition, in particular micronutrient deficiency; - Excellent
command of quantitative and qualitative methodologies for assessing diet
diversity and diet quality and for designing food-based interventions to
improve nutrition outcomes; - Good
track record of research and/or development work in community-based
nutrition programs, preferably in Africa; - Familiarity
with Feed the Future, Scaling Up Nutrition, and CGIAR objectives and
approaches; - Direct
experience of contributing to rigorous Monitoring and Evaluation efforts,
including community-level activities; - Excellent
written and verbal communication skills in English; - Aptitude
for teamwork, leadership, training, and mentoring; - Willingness
to work and travel extensively in rural Malawi.
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
internationally competitive, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with
experience. CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working
environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth. CIP seeks
diversity and gender balance in its staff.
How to
apply:
Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job Opportunities website (http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/),
including a cover letter, 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 12 February, 2016
and will continue until the post is filled. All applications will be
acknowledged, however 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 from developing
countries are particularly encouraged to apply.
