Mozambique: Agronomists (16-32)

Job description: The International Potato Center (CIP) is recruiting Two (2) Agronomists to support the implementation of the activities under the Mitigating Drought Impacts in Southern Mozambique through Resilient, Nutritious Sweetpotato Project in the South of Mozambique. Overall, the agronomists will provide technical support for the implementation of the project’s agronomic and marketing activities in the project target areas.

Location: Maputo (1), and Gaza & Inhambane (1) provinces, Mozambique

The Center: CIP (www.cipotato.org) 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.

The Project: In response to the current drought affecting the majority of Mozambique, with severe effects in the South, the project aims to increase food security and improve the diets of 25,000 poor households in a total of 13 districts of Gaza (Guija, Chigubo, Chicualacuale, Mapai, Mabalane, and Massangena), Inhambane (Funhalouro, Govuro, and Mabote), and Maputo (Moamba, Magude, Boane, and Matutuine) provinces through the production and consumption of nutritious, orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP). Other specific objectives of the project include: 1) improve access to climate resilient, drought tolerant and nutritious OFSP varieties for households in the target regions; 2) increase capacity in the management of multiplication material, as well as improved production and storage among drought-affected communities; and, 3) to enhance nutrition knowledge and capacity for OFSP utilization in vulnerable households with children under 5 years of age.

The Position: The Agronomist will directly report to the Project Coordinator.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate the multiplication of clean sweetpotato planting material in the targeted districts, including the day to day management of casual field labor. This also includes the selection of farmers as Decentralized Vine Multipliers (DVM) and establishment of vine multiplication plots;

• Provide vine multipliers with complete technical assistance. Assist the local implementing partners in the management of multiplication (small and large scale) and dissemination of planting material is required;

• Coordinate the distribution activities of planting material to farmers;

• In collaboration with the M&E Assistant, support the implementation of operational research to strengthen sweetpotato production and delivery of extension support, including establishment of participatory trials, monitoring, and data collection and analysis;

• Work in close collaboration with District Agricultural Departments (SDAEs) to provide them with technical assistance. This technical assistance will involve vine multiplication, roots and vines conservation, and yield evaluation;

• Conduct yield assessment to determine the performance of the varieties in the targeted districts;

• Lead OFSP Promotional Days and establish linkage between OFSP growers with traders, agro-processors enabling the enhancement of the OFSP value chain

• Promote interventions to improve storage and post-harvest management;

• In collaboration with the M&E team, coordinate data collection on vine multiplication, productivity, and other key indicators at farmer level;

• Prepare technical bi-weeklies, monthly, quarterly and contribute to the annual reports.

Selection criteria:

• Degree in Agronomy;
• Mozambican Nationality;
• Knowledge of sweetpotato agronomy including experience in irrigation;
• Knowledge of the nutritional benefits of orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties;
• Experience in management of field staff;
• Good interaction capability with farmers;
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in both Portuguese. English is an advantage; Knowledgeable and familiarity with local languages is an added advantage;
• Willingness to travel frequently to the field and work under field conditions;
• Interest in a career in research for development.

Conditions: The employment contract will be for a one-year term (with a three-month probation period). The salary will be very competitive, paid in Meticais, and commensurate with experience. This is a local position, and CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth.

Applications: Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job Opportunities website (http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/ ), including a letter of motivation, a full C.V with the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Screening of applications will begin on 30 September, 2016 and will continue until the post is filled. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.