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Job Title:            Senior Research Associate

Organisation: International
Potato Center (CIP)

Duty Station: Kampala,
Uganda

Reports to: SweetGAINS,
Seed Component Leader and CIP Uganda Country Manager

About US:

The International
Potato Center (CIP) is a not-for-profit international agricultural
research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweetpotato, and
Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots and tubers improving the lives
of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being,
and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of
the developing world. CIP works with partners to contribute high quality
science, technology, and capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based
solutions. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, with staff and activities in
over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. CIP is a member of
the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, a network of 15
research centers mostly located in the developing world and supported by more
than 50 donor members.

Job Summary:  The Senior Research Associate will be
responsible for strengthening commercial seed producers and marketing networks
in selected geographies or sweetpotato value chains; and implementing timely
research for varietal evaluation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

With guidance from
the Regional SweetGAINS team:

• Lead in-country consultations to plan and design SweetGAINS seed
  supply chain interventions in specific in-country geographies and
  sweetpotato value chains;
• Tap into lessons from existing activities, identify and design
  interventions to address key constraints to sweetpotato seed systems
  linkages between Early Generations Seed (EGS) producers and downstream
  commercial seed produces and root producers;
• Strengthen selected commercial seed producers through:
• Implementation of equity sensitive co-investment packages, and
  training for business orientated quality seed production using a household
  enterprise approach;
• Development of strategies with seed producers for stronger marketing
  networks, with seed sellers and traders in the informal sector;
• Assessment of potential of agro-dealers to play a role in the
  sweetpotato seed inputs and distribution chain;
• Leveraging opportunities to link quality seed producers with root
  production, marketing and processing interventions supported by other CIP
  projects.

In collaboration
with NaCRRI and commercial seed producers:

• Strengthen EGS production of market preferred varieties, through
  improved identification and planning for EGS requirements;
• Ensure multiplication of sufficient quantities of quality seed is available
  before varietal release.

In collaboration
with NaCRRI and breeding component of SweetGAINS:

• Provide technical supervision for establishment of variety trials,
  demonstration plots and field days hosted by seed producers;
• Strengthen participation of seed producers and farmers in the
  evaluation of advanced materials and new varieties;
• In consultation with MEL colleagues implement novel methods (e.g.
  Tricot and crowd sourcing) for real time sex disaggregated farmer feedback
  on varietal traits and preferences, to inform marketing and promotion
  strategies for different market segments.
• Oversee mentoring and development of local associations of
  sweetpotato seed value chain actors, building on lessons from other
  similar initiatives, including:
• Capacity development for trainers of trainers (ToT) in quality seed
  production;
• Managing customer data base;
• Development of marketing and branding plans (labelling, packing,
  quality mark);
• Promotion of internal quality assurance practices and linkages to
  external regulatory bodies;
• Identifying self-financing mechanisms for sustainability.

General
responsibilities

• Identify any emerging bottlenecks to successful implementation of
  activities and work with national research partner institutions and
  private sector to address those constraints;
• Attend in-country meetings with partners on a regular basis;
• Participate as a co-researcher in conducting, documenting and
  present findings from field research in conferences and journals;
• Contribute to the development of new project ideas and proposals;
• Support and collaborate with other CIP sweetpotato initiatives in
  Uganda;
• Actively participate in the Sweetpotato for Profit and Health
  Initiative (SPHI) community of practice for sweetpotato breeding and seed
  systems for exchange of experience and technical debate;
• Prepare brief bi-weekly updates for CIP and project quarterly
  reports on a timely basis;
• Any other duties within the context of sweetpotato seed systems
  research for development in Uganda.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 

• The applicant must hold a Master’s degree in Agronomy, Biology,
  Microbiology, Genetics, Economics or related area;
• Eight  years’ experience with
  sweetpotato seed production or other vegetatively propagated crops,
  working within a value chain perspective;
• Experience in experimental design, implementation and quantitative
  data analysis;
• Experience in farmer participatory, action research, and value chain
  methods;
• Willingness to spend extended periods in the field;
• A good understanding of the current market and main players involved
  in the distribution and commercialization of sweetpotato seed in Uganda;
• Excellent aptitude and ability to maintain close and collegiate
  relationships with NARI and key seed system stakeholders to achieve
  timely, results orientated common goals;
• Excellent communication skills, (oral, written) and publication
  record;
• Ability to manage a multi-cultural and diverse work environment;
• Experience in working in multi-disciplinary teams and demonstrated
  ability to achieve gender intentional outcomes.

How to Apply:

All candidates
should apply online at the link below.

Click Here ->
Senior Research Associate

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