Job Title: Post doctoral Fellow – Social Scientist
Ref: DDG-R4D/PDF/SS/10/13
Employer: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Background: The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Wageningen University (WUR) invites applications for the position of Post doctoral Fellow – Social Scientist.
IITA is an international non-profit agricultural research-for-development (R4D) organization established in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and a member of the CGIAR Consortium. Our R4D approach is anchored on the development needs of tropical nations. We work with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. We have more than 100 internationally recruited scientists from about 35 countries and 900 nationally recruited staff based in various stations across Africa. Please visit http://www.iita.org/ for more information on IITA. IITA commits to turning 7.5 million ha of farm land into sustainable use, one of the two Key Performance Indicators in its Refreshed Strategy 2012-2020.
Wageningen University and Research centre is a research institution that works across the globe in the field of agriculture, food, and natural resource management. It combines top quality fundamental research with an applied orientation geared towards improving the quality of life. It fosters close collaboration between the natural and the social sciences in order to understand and achieve responsible innovation and development.
Humidtropics is the IITA-led CGIAR Research Program on Integrated Systems for the Humid Tropics. This exciting new global research for development (R4D) program targets systems that affect up to 1.5 billion rural people, most of whom operate within smallholder farming systems in which livestock and production are intimately linked. The program focuses on increasing the available options and strengthening the capacity of poor and vulnerable people to improve their livelihoods and living environment. The strategy is based on promising innovations and technologies for agricultural systems in the humid tropics that will result in vibrant communities, economic success, educated people, and environments that encourage health and well-being. Innovations should aspects of sustainable intensification of agriculture, enhancement of the natural resource status, and improving income to smallholder farmers. IITA is focusing its investments in the Humidtropics in the West and East/Central African Action Areas.
We are looking for a suitably qualified and enthusiastic person to fill the position of Post doctoral Fellow – Social Scientist who will lead the social science research efforts in the East/Central African Action Areas of the Humidtropics. The Post doctoral Fellow will work in close cooperation with other institutes engaged in this research area and report to the Director for Central Africa and NRM of IITA and to the chair of the Knowledge, Technology and Innovation group at Wageningen University.
Position/Responsibilities:
• Conduct social science research in the Humidtropics that could include (i) documenting and analyzing initiation and formation of R4D platforms in Humidtropics Action Areas / Action Sites, (ii) comparing the efficiency and (long-term) potential to impact of 'innovation platforms' centered around value chains with the more holistic R4D platforms, (iii) research on drivers of technology adoption, including the importance of gender and markets and/or (iv) apply system innovation theory to analyze cases of failed interventions in several Action Areas, and explore integration of the system innovation perspective with ongoing farming systems design approaches.
• Guide the platform facilitators and communication specialists on the form and content of messages aimed at encouraging ownership of the learning process in the R4D platform.
• Assistance in proposal writing in various SRT3 research lines of the Humidtropics.
• Publish scientific results in high quality journals.
• Communicate research findings to the larger scientific community in Africa and globally.
• Co-supervision of PhD and MSc students.
• Lead the technical and financial reporting to the Humidtropics and CIALCA.
• Participate actively in the Central Africa and NRM teams at IITA.
Educational Qualifications: The candidate should have a PhD in social sciences related to African agriculture.
Core Competencies:
• Proven experience in the use of both 'soft' and 'hard' tools to understand technology adoption and livelihood constraints.
• Knowledge of African farming systems.
• Proven publication record in top scientific journals.
• Excellent English speaking and writing skills with French skills and important added advantage.
• Readiness to travel extensively in the West and EC African Action Areas of the Humidtropics.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work with multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams.
Duty station: Kigali (Rwanda) or Bujumbura (Burundi) with regular visits to WUR.
General information: Initial appointment is for two years. IITA offers a competitive remuneration package paid in US dollars.
Applications: Applications which must include covering letter, curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three referees should be addressed to the Head, Human Resources Service.
Please complete our online application form using the link below.
Closing Date: The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.
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