The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a versatile Nutritionist with experience and interest in helping to develop effective food-based approaches to reducing malnutrition. The position is part of a large and diverse CGIAR agricultural research and development project in Malawi funded by the Feed the Future initiative.
The 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 wellbeing, 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 CGIAR Consortium. CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by the 15 research centers who are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. The CIP Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) main regional office is in Nairobi, Kenya. CIP also has an existing office in 7 other SSA countries.
The Consortium Project: The Feed the Future Malawi Improved Seed Systems and Technologies(MISST) project is a technology scaling project jointly implemented in 10 districts in the central and southern regions of Malawi by four CGIAR centers (CIMMYT, CIP, ICRISAT, and IITA) with financial support from USAID/Feed the Future. MISST includes components on scaling out seed systems and other production and utilization technologies for soybean, groundnut, pigeon pea, sorghum, millet, drought tolerant maize, and orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP). Additional components are focused on reducing aflatoxin contamination in groundnut and maize, and promoting Conservation Agriculture technologies. Achieving better nutrition outcomes from these improved agricultural value chains is an essential objective of MISST, and the project is committed to specific nutrition indicators and targets as part of its results framework. MISST is looking for a versatile Nutritionist with experience in food-based approaches to develop effective nutrition strategies and methodologies, and to coordinate implementation of these approaches across the different crop components of the project. CIP aims to expand the production and utilization of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP). These five project components are coordinated by an ICRISAT-led Consortium Management Office (CMO) consisting of the Chief of Party, Finance Manager and M&E Leader.
The Position: The Nutritionist will be based in Lilongwe, Malawi with extensive travel within the country. The position forms part of the Consortium Management Office led by ICRISAT and supports all project components, but is hosted by CIP in response to the strong nutrition focus in the OFSP component of the project. The specialist will report to the CIP Project Component Leader. The principal tasks and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:
Duties and responsibilities:
- Coordinate the development and implementation of a nutrition strategy for MISST, focused on national priorities and based on up-to-date knowledge and methodologies of food-based approaches and nutrition-sensitive agriculture;
- Engage with partners in the agriculture and health sectors to develop cost-effective nutrition interventions that can be taken to scale at the community level, especially those utilizing protein rich legumes and OFSP as a key technology for combatting vitamin A deficiency;
- Take the lead in work plan development on MISST collaborative nutrition activities for the five project components;
- Participate with the Consortium monitoring and evaluation team in assessing the performance of nutrition interventions and reporting on Feed the Future Nutrition Indicators;
- Contribute to the development of advocacy materials, nutrition messages, food guides, recipe books, and media strategies to create awareness of the health benefits of legumes and OFSP in a form that is relevant to rural Malawi;
- Design and coordinate food availability surveys, consumption studies, and other nutrition related studies to better understand the nutrition context and outcomes of MISST;
- Engage with current partners and identify new partners and market-based approaches for the widespread dissemination and adoption of nutrition-focused technologies and messages in both rural and urban settings;
- Design and coordinate training events for MISST partners to strengthen capacity for nutrition messaging and counseling utilizing MISST agricultural innovations (e.g. more nutritious crop varieties);
- Co-organize national technical roundtables on nutrition-sensitive agriculture and share the benefits of biofortified crop varieties and diversified food systems and engage with policy makers to advocate for support to food-based responses to malnutrition.
Selection Criteria:
- PhD degree in Nutrition or Public Health with at least 2 years of work experience in relevant nutrition programs or Master's Degree in Nutrition with at least 5 years' work experience in relevant nutrition programs;
- Up-to-date and thorough understanding of food-based approaches to addressing malnutrition, in particular micronutrient deficiency;
- Excellent command of quantitative and qualitative methodologies for assessing diet diversity and diet quality and for designing food-based interventions to improve nutrition outcomes;
- Good track record of research and/or development work in community-based nutrition programs, preferably in Africa;
- Familiarity with Feed the Future, Scaling Up Nutrition, and CGIAR objectives and approaches;
- Direct experience of contributing to rigorous Monitoring and Evaluation efforts, including community-level activities;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English;
- Aptitude for teamwork, leadership, training, and mentoring;
- Willingness to work and travel extensively in rural Malawi.
Conditions: The employment contract will be for a three-year term (with a three month probation period) with the possibility of renewal, subject to availability of funding. The salary will be internationally competitive, paid in US dollars, and commensurate with experience. CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth. CIP seeks diversity and gender balance in its staff.
HOW TO APPLY:
How to apply: Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job Opportunities website (http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/), including a cover letter, 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 12 February, 2016 and will continue until the post is filled. All applications will be acknowledged, however only short listed candidates will be contacted.
Learn more about CIP by accessing our web site at http://www.cipotato.org.
CIP is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women and professionals from developing countries are particularly encouraged to apply.
