The Person and the job
If you are a dynamic and seasoned practitioner or scientist with a great grasp of irrigated agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, you could be just the person we need. Together with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is launching an exciting and challenging four-year research for development project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) that aims to transform irrigation in Ethiopia. We seek a confident and visionary water
expert to lead the irrigation component of the project. You will be based at IWMI’s East Africa and Nile Basin Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and will report to the relevant Theme Leader. While the incumbent will focus on the Livestock and Irrigation Value-chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) project, all IWMI staff form part of a larger team contributing to poverty reduction through better agricultural water management.
The Livestock and Irrigation Value-chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) Project
The goal of the LIVES Project is to “contribute to enhanced income and gender equitable wealth creation for smallholders and other
value chain actors through increased and sustained market off-take of high-value livestock and irrigated crop commodities.” The purpose of the project is to “improve competitiveness, sustainability and equity in value chains for selected high-value livestock and irrigated crop commodities in target areas of four regions of Ethiopia.” This will be achieved by working alongside high caliber national partners to build capacity and provide knowledge and skills through action-oriented research. More detail is given in the Executive Summary appended below.
As a Senior Expert to the LIVES project, you will:
• with support of IWMI’s Office Head and the LIVES project manager, provide scientific and administrative leadership for the water components of the work and ensure they fit into the overall activities and aims of the LIVES project;
• seek consensus for change with officials and political authorit ies within the Government of Ethiopia and regional governments ;
• oversee the complete implementation of the joint vision and pro ject, and ensure timely delivery of project outputs;
• create an environment that is collegial, encourages creativity and enhances productivity;
• lead diagnosis of irrigated agriculture production systems, and design of appropriate irrigation and agronomic interventions;
• provide technical assistance to project staff and partners for the development of irrigated agriculture in selected project sites;
• lead capacity building of partners on irrigated agriculture;
• lead and synthesize research on irrigated agriculture in the selected project sites;
• communicate successful interventions with the wider research and development community;
• take part in the project governing and technical committees; and
• be part of, and contribute to, IWMI’s global program on irrigation revitalization.
You will possess:
• a PhD in irrigation, agricultural water management, irrigation agriculture or a closely related field;
• extensive experience, of more than 10 years, of water managemen t in developing countries;
• a significant scientific reputation and publication record;
• experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team;
• an ability to work with existing organizations to build capacity in novel and exciting ways for a variety of skills (practical through to academic); and
• excellent communication skills with a variety of people from household communities, extension workers, private businesses to government representatives and academics.
This is an internationally recruited position with a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes a housing allowance, transport, education, shipping assistance, annual home leave, retirement, and health insurance package. IWMI’s policy is to appoint staff initially on three-year contracts which are subject to renewal, depending on performance and the Institute’s needs. However, all IWMI staff form part of a larger team contributing to poverty reduction through better agricultural water management, and there is an expectation that the successful candidate will work on other initiatives and potentially stay beyond the initial contract period.
Initial review of applications will begin on 15 May 2012.
Please submit your application online at: www.iwmi.org/About_IWMI/Vacancies/
Complete Application Form + attach your résumé + attach your letter which addresses IWMI’s requirements shown above with names and email addresses of 3 professional referees, to be contacted if you are short-listed
Your application will be acknowledged automatically within 24 hours. If not, please email us at gro.raigc@imwi-ta-krow