Job
description
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 Building
Nutritious Food Baskets (BNFB) project: This three-year project funded by the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foun
dation, 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.
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.
