About the Position

You have excellent research experience and publishing. You love research planning and management. You have experience in and enjoy working in South Asia.  Then this international position is for people like you.  The position reports to the Regional Representative for South Asia.

Duties and Responsibilities
1.    Planning, implementation and reporting:

• Contribute to the development of plans from South Asia that are consistent with ICRAF’S strategy and the new CGIAR Consortium, as well as which integrate across its elements to produce International Public Goods.
• Assist in ensuring the coherence of South Asia regional work with the centres Medium Term Plan output targets, and dialogues with leaders on new outputs and out put targets.
• Mobilize and facilitate the regional and other staff to successfully delivering their planned outputs to the global research projects,
• Undertake one or more research projects, and present and publish in the scientific media.
• In consultation with the Regional Representative, Global Research Project leaders and the Head of Communication plan and coordinate the write up and dissemination of the research results for donor, scientific and public audiences.
• Represent the centre and the Regional Representative in scientific, diplomatic, training and other fora in the region, and occasionally internationally.
• Learn and build additional capacity to gradually fill in for other regional responsibilities.

2.    Resource mobilization

• Identify donors, topics and partners at the country, regional and global level for proposals, institutions, and specific manpower that will contribute to the institutional goals with the GRP leaders and the Senior Leadership Team.
• Participate directly in resource mobilization by maintaining relations, visiting and hosting donor delegations at the regional and international levels.

Essential Qualifications:

• A PhD degree in any branch of forestry sciences, agroforestry, natural resource management, environmental science, or any other related fields.
• Ten years of research and project / program management experience in a related field.
• Proven record of publications in internationally circulated journals.
• A good command of oral and written English language is a must.
• Experience in South Asia region and sensitivity to regional bureaucracy and cultural compatibility will be an advantage.
• Understanding of the CGIAR, including the emerging CG consortium and familiarity with ICRAF will be a plus.

Terms of offer

We offer a collegial, diverse and gender-sensitive working environment, and we strongly encourage applications from qualified women. This position is on international terms.  The appointment will be for an initial period of three years, renewable subject to nine months probation period.     

How to apply

• A cover letter illustrating your suitability and salary expectations
• A detailed and up to date  curriculum vitae
• The names and addresses of three referees, including telephone, fax numbers and email addresses.

Address these to: Human Resources Unit, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya OR via email: icrafhru@cgiar.org. Indicate “Scientist-South Asia” on the application letter. Applications will be considered until 15th August 2011 or until a suitable candidate is identified and selected. Please note that only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.

About us:

Visit our website: www.worldagroforestry.org

The World Agroforestry Centre (also known as the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry or ICRAF) is an independent research institution which generates science-based knowledge about the complex role trees play in agricultural landscapes and rural livelihoods. As part of the Centre’s work to bring tree-based solutions to bear on poverty and environmental problems, researchers – working in close collaboration with partners – are developing new technologies, tools and policy recommendations for increased food security and ecosystem health.

The Centre’s headquarters are located in Nairobi, Kenya, and research is conducted in 23 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We are supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and receive funding from over 50 different donors.

About this position

If research management and coordination, applying research results for development, fund raising and partnering are your strengths then you are probably the person we are looking for! Southern Africa has exciting agroforestry opportunities for such work. Based in Lilongwe, you will cover Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with possible outreach to other countries in the sub-region. You will report directly to the Deputy Director General, Partnerships and Impact.

Your Duties and Responsibilities will include
 
1.    Research and Development Planning and Delivery.

• To refresh the strategy and programme for agroforestry in the region in consonance with ICRAF’s  vision and strategy and contextual realities in the mandate countries;
• To  spot opportunities and mobilize resources to support the research and development agenda for the region;
• To contribute to the design, coherence and implementation of ICRAF’s  global research projects within the region;
• To manage regional staff/teams and resources for successful delivery of planned outputs, both in terms of quality and quantity (especially International Public Goods); and to carry out own research  and publishing in this context;
• To organize and facilitate in collaboration with national partners the strengthening of capacity for agroforestry to be included and implemented in development strategies at all scales (from policy to institutions and programmes); and
• To create a conducive environment for science to thrive and attract students, senior fellows and postdoctoral scientists to collaborate with ICRAF;

2.    Partnerships and Institutional Brokering.

• To represent the World Agroforestry Centre in scientific, diplomatic and other forums in the region, in countries and internationally.
• To initiate and maintain collaborative arrangements between World Agroforestry Centre and strategically-chosen partners at regional and country level.

3.    Administrative aspects

• To provide direction and oversight for the region’s contributions to ICRAF’s annual planning and management process e.g. the annual science Meeting, medium term plans, and Plan of Work and Budget.
• To lead the development of a bi-annual regional operational plan that integrates dimensions of regional science, regional management and regional finance.
• To guide, mentor, motivate  and evaluate performance of regional staff/teams;

Requirements

• PhD in agriculture, agroforestry, forestry, or natural resource sciences, preferably with a focus on agroecosystems.
• A minimum of 10 years post PhD experience working in the area of research and/or education in agriculture or natural resources; of which at least 4 years in developing countries, especially in Africa;
• Natural instinct for research and  its application to solve development problems, with some experience in achieving impact
• Some experience in leading or coordinating a multi-country, multi-institutional research project  
• Experience in supervising staff and in mentoring young scientists
• Substantial publishing record with publications in or related to agroforestry;
• Evidence of capacity to mobilize resources;
• Proof of positive experience to manage a large programme, staff and teams
• Good communication skills in English is absolutely necessary; knowledge of Portuguese or other languages is an advantage
• Familiarity with CGIAR and partnering will be an advantage.

Terms of offer

We offer a collegial, diverse and gender-sensitive working environment, and we strongly encourage applications from qualified women. This position is on international terms.  The appointment will be for an initial period of three (3) years, renewable subject to nine (9) months probation period.     

How to apply

• A cover letter illustrating your suitability and salary expectations
• A detailed and up to date  curriculum vitae
• The names and addresses of three referees, including telephone, fax numbers and email addresses.

Address these to: Human Resources Unit, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya OR via email: icrafhru@cgiar.org. Indicate “Regional Coordinator-Southern Africa” on the application letter.

Applications will be considered until 15th August 2011 or until a suitable candidate is identified and selected.

Please note that only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.

About us

Visit our website: www.worldagroforestry.org

The World Agroforestry Centre (also known as the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry or ICRAF) is an independent research institution which generates science-based knowledge about the complex role trees play in agricultural landscapes and rural livelihoods. As part of the Centre’s work to bring tree-based solutions to bear on poverty and environmental problems, researchers – working in close collaboration with partners – are developing new technologies, tools and policy recommendations for increased food security and ecosystem health.

The Centre’s headquarters are located in Nairobi, Kenya, and research is conducted in 23 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We are supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and receive funding from over 50 different donors.

A new exhibition at Nairobi National Museum was launched last week to highlight the many ways farm trees are combating poverty, boosting incomes and restoring rural ecosystems.

‘Working Trees that Keep on Giving’, a new exhibition by the World Agroforestry Centre to celebrate the 2011 International Year of Forests was launched by Dr Dennis Garrity, Director General of Centre, at the Nairobi National Museum on Wednesday 6 July, 2011.

“Agroforestry is a crucial bridge between forestry and agriculture. Essentially, agroforestry is about the role of planting trees in agricultural landscapes, agricultural systems incorporating trees increase overall productivity and incomes. This is especially important in the face of more frequent droughts and the impacts of climate change,” said Dr Garrity.

The exhibition shows how agroforestry deals with many of the challenges facing the world today, such as poverty, hunger, poor health, declining livelihoods, land degradation and loss of biodiversity.

“The International Year of Forests is a momentous opportunity to more fully recognize the tremendous importance of agroforestry in building a better world,” noted Dr Garrity.

“Agroforestry is one of mankind’s best hopes to create a climate-smart agriculture, increase food security, alleviate rural poverty, and achieve truly sustainable development. And, thereby, better ensure that our world’s forests can indeed be conserved far into the future.”

The 2011 International Year of Forests was declared by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. It’s an opportunity to celebrate people’s action to sustainably manage the world’s forests.

The exhibition will be on display at the Nairobi National Museum until at least the end of August 2011, before touring other global events and locations at which the Centre and its partners have a presence.

Read the full article in Africa Science News here.

Find out more about agroforestry and the 2011International Year of Forests here.

Since 2001, a 2,000 hectare plot of deforested land in East Kalimantan has been regenerated by an agroforestry project to create habitat for rare orangutans, reports the Worldwatch Institute last week.

The reforestation effort has not only established a safe haven for orangutans, it has improved food security and incomes of the local community, stabilized the local micro-climate, increased the availability of water, and begun to establish a sustainable agroforestry system managed by local people.

Project Director Willie Smits, of the organization Borneo Orangutan Survival, believes that the only way to help the orangutans is to integrate local people in the restoration of their habitat. “We have to make sure that local people are the ones that benefit,” he says.

Smits devised a recipe for reforestation that incorporates agriculture at each stage, and ends with a functioning sustainable agroforestry system. The crops provide income and healthy food for both orangutans and the community.

With the return of the forest, wildlife has begun to reemerge, including 137 bird species (up from 5) and 9 species of primates. According to Smits, 3,000 people are getting an income from the reforestation activities.

Read the full article from the Worldwatch Institute here.

The Centre’s Vietnam Country Coordinator, Minh Ha Hoang, had the great honor of meeting US President Barrack Obama on 7 July at the White House.

“I managed to send him regards from all friends at the Centre and farmers in Vietnam and Kenya, and spoke to him about the work we are doing with farmers in using trees to improve livelihoods”. Minh Ha said. ”

Minh Ha visited the White House while her husband, Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States, was being presented to the President.

Minh Ha coordinates the Centre’s work in Vietnam on projects that range from the use of agroforestry to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers to climate change adaptation and mitigation, and rewards for environmental services.