The
International Potato Center (CIP)
is seeking to recruit a highly skilled and experienced Capacity Development and
Communications Specialist for the Building Nutritious Food Baskets (BNFB)
project.
The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit
international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus
on potato, sweet potato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots
and tubers improving t
he 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, a network of 15 Research
Centers and 16 Research Programs mostly located in the developing world and
supported by more than 50 donor members.
The Building
Nutritious Food Baskets (BNFB) project: This three-year project funded by the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation, seeks to reduce hidden hunger by catalyzing
sustainable investment for the utilization of biofortified crops (vitamin A
cassava, vitamin A maize, vitamin A sweetpotato and iron rich beans) at scale.
The project will be implemented in Nigeria and Tanzania, to demonstrate how
multiple biofortified crops can be scaled up together at country level. The
project is led by CIP and is implemented by a consortium partnership of six
core partners – the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the International
Potato Center (CIP), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
(IITA), HarvestPlus and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).
The
position:
The Capacity Development and Communications Specialist will be responsible for
coordinating and backstopping capacity building and training activities of all
partners. S/He will work closely with the Regional Advocacy Advisor, the
National Coordinators, CIP Communications team and representatives of partner
organizations on all aspects pertaining to training and capacity building. The
specialist will also be responsible for coordinating development of advocacy
and behavior change communication materials and messages of the project. The
selected candidate will be based in either in Dar-es-Salaam-Tanzania or
Nairobi-Kenya with extensive travel in Nigeria and Tanzania. This position
reports to the Project Manager and co-reports to the Head of Communications.
Duties and
Responsibilities:
A key part of this role will be to design and develop a capacity building plan
and implement learning activities, contributing to the strengthening of
individual, institutional and community capabilities to produce and consume
biofortified crops. The Specialist also has the role to translate various
formal inputs from the consortium partners into a series of advocacy messages,
quality communications materials, learning modules and lessons learned. The
specific duties and responsibilities include to:
Lead and
coordinate the training and capacity building activities (60%)
· Develop and
implement a capacity development plan for the project;
· Work closely with
the Regional Seed Systems Coordinator and seed systems experts to develop
training manuals on priority areas along the value chain for the crops, and
implement training programs in the two target countries;
· Work closely with
selected training institutions (national, NGOs, CBOs and private sector) to
ensure capacity to produce and consume biofortified crops is strengthened;
· Work closely with
the Regional Advocacy Advisor and the National Coordinators and coordinate
development of advocacy and behaviour change communication materials and
messages of all partners;
· Work closely with
the Regional Seed Systems Coordinator, the technical team and national partners
to plan, facilitate training events;
· Organize,
facilitate and backstop training programs in the two target countries;
· Based on the
capacity building objective, work with national training institutions towards
strengthening their institutional capacity;
· Coordinate the
project’s major meetings and events.
Implement the
communication strategy plan (40%)
· Working closely
with the Project Manager, develop and guide implementation of the project’s
communications strategy;
· Effectively manage
the project’s communications and knowledge management function including
management of the project’s component on the knowledge portal on biofortified
crops / Sweetpotato, online tools ( blog, facebook, twitter, flickr), print and
audio-visual materials;
· Work closely with
the Regional Advocacy Advisor, the National Coordinators, the Seed Systems
Coordinator and relevant target groups to ensure quality control for design and
implementation of communication outputs (e.g. summaries of key findings, press
releases, flyers, leaflets, fact sheets, stories from the field, journal
articles, media kits, photographs, videos, documentaries, radio programs,
learning materials and training modules and booklet of lessons learned);
· Support the
dissemination of project information and materials through a variety of
channels designed to reach diverse target audiences;
· Strengthen and
coordinate information and knowledge for the specific platforms (beans,
cassava, maize and sweetpotato);
· Maintain CIP
branding standards;
· Coordinate media
relations;
· Contribute to
CIP’s organizational communications such as blogs, annual report, other
publications and participate in monthly meetings.
Requirements:
· Masters level
degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Biological
Science or Development field. PhD degree in relevant field is desirable.
· At least 5 years
of professional experience, including at least 2 years leading training and
capacity building activities.;
· Demonstrated
experience in managing communities of practice, online platforms and forums;
· Exposure to video
making, experience in web-based tools online platforms, and moderating of
communities of practice / discussion groups) would be an advantage;
· Effective use of
social media for technical application;
· Good photography,
radio and video, and media skills;
· Excellent written
and spoken skills in English and Swahili are a prerequisite;
· Exemplary
communication (written and oral)and advocacy skills;
· Ability to work
under pressure and prioritize assignments;
· Proactive
approach, with ability to find creative ways to solve problems or exploit
potentials;
· Teamwork and
ability to work in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams;
· Familiarity with
international agricultural researches for development, CGIAR is a plus.
Conditions: Employment contract will be
for a three-year
term (with a 6 month probation period). Salary will be internationally
competitive, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with experience. CIP provides
additional benefits including employer-paid medical, life and disability
insurance and retirement benefits. Allowances toward relocation, housing, home
leave travel, dependents’ education and annual leave are also provided. 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 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 05 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. @
