Research Assistant Job for the IITA AS4Y Project – ZOA International

Organisation:  International Institute for Tropical
Agriculture (IITA)
Duty Station: West Nile, Uganda
Reports to: IITA Senior Researcher
About IITA:
International Institute for Tropical Agriculture is one of the world’s
leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and
poverty. ZOA Uganda is an international development agency focusing on
rehabilitation of displaced communities with main focus on livelihoods support.
IITA will support ZOA Uganda to perform a practically oriented research during
39 months to benefit the Agri Skills For You development project in West-Nile
sub region. The AS4Y project targets 3,300 subsistence farmers by promoting
adoption of improved agronomic, business and marketing skills. The research
will be performed during the full project period and will allow to identify the
most constraining factors in the current agricultural production system,
tailor-fit the farming recommendations to the Vocal situation and monitor its
effectiveness to improve the position of the benefiting households.
Job Summary: The Research assistant will be responsible for a
diagnostic farming system survey in the West-Nile region. The survey focuses on
key crops, nutrient cycles, land management, crop pests and diseases,
integration of crop farming and livestock livelihood strategies. Out of the
survey appropriately adapted training materials will be developed for use in
the project. Secondly, the research assistant will also perform a Practical
Action Research to assess the effectiveness of the developed training materials
and the agricultural extension approach of the project.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
  • Summarize earlier research findings and
    organize feedback to regional stakeholders Initiate farmer community
    participatory discussions to validate research findings and initiate a
    process of farmer led agro-production analysis leading to secondary
    research questions
  • Analyze crop performance data, interpret
    results and develop scientific-based intervention recommendations to the
    project
  • Develop demo-packages with farming
    recommendations, set up and evaluate field-trials and convert into
    understandable training materials
  • Intuitively review farmers skills adoption
    under project extension model and develop alternatives with attention for
    effectiveness and innovation
  • Exchange with national research
    organisations and agricultural institutions
  • Perform any other duties and
    responsibilities
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience: 
  • The applicant must possess a Masters of
    Science in Agriculture or related fields
  • At least four years of practical
    scientific research experience
  • Good knowledge and understanding of
    challenges by subsistence farmers in Northern Uganda.
  • Excellent communication and report writing
    skills
  • Excellent analytical skills and proven
    knowledge of relevant computer packages for statistical data analysis
  • Very pro active attitude, having the
    ability to work with limited supervision
  • Love to combine field based community work
    with data analysis and statistical components
  • Ability and willingness to ride a
    motorcycle in remote area with a valid driving/riding license
  • Knowledge of West-Nile languages is an
    added advantage
How to Apply:
All candidates who suitably qualify for the position should send their
application letters together with curriculum vita, names and contacts of three
referees to: HR@zoa.ug  in subject header “Application
Research Assistant AS4Y
.”
NB: Please apply by e-mail and send ONLY
application letter and CV (3 pages maximum). Only shortlisted candidates will
be contacted.
Deadline: 10th August 2014

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