Country: India
Closing date: 04 Sep 2015
Bioversity International is a global research-for-development organization. We have a vision – that agricultural biodiversity nourishes people and sustains the planet.
We deliver scientific evidence, management practices and policy options to use and safeguard agricultural biodiversity to attain sustainable global food and nutrition security. We work with partners in low-income countries in different regions where agricultural biodiversity can contribute to improved nutrition, resilience, productivity and climate change adaptation.
Bioversity International is a member of the CGIAR Consortium – a global research partnership for a food secure future.
For further information on Bioversity International, consult our Web page at: www.bioversityinternational.org
****Context****
This position will assist Bioversity advancing its work on neglected and underutilized species (NUS) [1] in the field of marketing and value chain development. The position is funded by the EU in the framework of a newly approved 3-years Project on “Linking Agrobiodiversity Value Chains, Climate Adaptation and Nutrition: Empowering the Poor to Manage Risk” [2] . The Project, which is co-funded by IFAD, will be contributing to the work of the CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) [3] and will be implemented in Guatemala, Mali and India. CCAFS’s mission is to address the increasing challenge of global warming on agriculture and food security through a strategic collaboration between the CGIAR and Future Earth. CCAFS seeks to promote a food-secure world through the provision of science-based efforts that support sustainable agriculture and enhance livelihoods while adapting to climate change and conserving natural resources and environmental services. This project is meant to strengthen CCAFS’s efforts in the field of risk management and preparedness to climate change of local communities and in particular the poor and vulnerable groups through a better deployment of agrobiodiversity in their livelihood systems.
****Main responsibilities****
Under the supervision of the Senior Scientist on marketing diversity, the incumbent will assist Bioversity and its partners in the implementation of the IFAD-EU-CCAFS Project aimed at empowering the rural poor by strengthening their income options, their nutritional security and their sense of identity through the improved use and marketing of NUS. The candidate’s work will focus on assessing NUS-based income generation opportunities and developing ways to enhance these through marketing interventions and through the capacity building of value chain actors of species target of the project. Owing to the highly inter-disciplinary and inter-sectorial approach of the project, the candidate will work closely with experts of different domains of research (e.g. conservationists, nutritionists, policy experts) from Bioversity and partner organizations consistently with the ‘holistic value chain approach’ [4] pursued by Bioversity in its pro-NUS efforts. The candidate will be based in New Delhi, India, with frequent visits in Mali and Guatemala. He/she will be supporting the implementation of Bioversity’s overall marketing strategy for NUS, leveraging lessons learnt through the Project. He/she will be responsible for supporting open communication within Bioversity and between the CGIAR centres and partners involved in different projects related to NUS. More specifically, the incumbent will:
- Support research at Bioversity on marketing and value chains for NUS related to the IFAD-EU-CCAFS Project (“NUS5”);
- Support the capacity building of Bioversity’s partners in upgrading value chains of target crops, enhancing competitiveness and marketing of crops/products, and strengthen entrepreneurial and business skills of value chain actors, through regular contacts, visits and training;
- Assist partners in assessing the value chain of target crops and develop strategies to enhance their efficiency;
- Develop and test approaches for a market intelligence system on target crops and assist partners in understanding emerging market niches for NUS diversity products (e.g. novel ingredients, functional properties, health applications, ethnic food etc.);
- Explore and document trade-offs between market demand for product uniformity and maintenance of biodiversity in production systems;
- Carry out community-based case studies to develop and test methodologies for assessing the economic impact on peoples’ livelihoods of NUS;
- Author and publish articles in peer-reviewed international journals and prepare technical materials to demonstrate scientific quality and enable replication of approaches, methods and tools in other contexts;
- Assist Bioversity’s Policy Unit in identifying policy recommendations related to the use enhancement of NUS through markets;
- Coordinate with other Bioversity and CCAFS researchers;
- Collaborate in the development of proposals to fund research on NUS;
- Contribute to other organizational and programmatic activities as and when required.
Qualifications and competencies
****Essential qualifications & competencies:****
- PhD in agricultural economics or related field.
- Experience in supply chain management or agri-business.
- Experience of working and living in developing countries.
- Well-developed analytical and synthesizing skills including the ability to write clear and concise scientific documents and research proposals.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively interact with people at all levels and build consensus in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment.
- Excellent English language skills, both verbal and written.
- Drive and entrepreneurship to pursue opportunities to garner additional support for research.
Desirable qualifications and competencies:
- Work experience in India, Guatemala or Mali.
- Working knowledge French and Spanish languages.
- Skills in value chain participatory analyses methods.
- Familiarity with the CGIAR system.
****Terms and conditions:****The Post Doctoral Fellow will be offered a three-year contract. Bioversity offers an attractive stipend and contribution to the costs of living, inclusion in Bioversity insurance schemes, contribution to retirement fund, and leave provisions. Additional benefits apply for Post Doctoral Fellows recruited from outside India.
Bioversity is an equal opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity.
How to apply:
****Applications:**** Please apply online through Bioversity Job Opportunities web page (http://www.bioversityinternational.org/jobs/) by clicking the “Apply” button, completing the online application and attaching the required information, no later than 4 September, 2015. Please note that in the application you are required to provide the contact details (address, telephone number and e-mail address) of at least three referees, which Bioversity will contact for short listed applicants.