The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit an Epidemiologist or Food Safety Expert for a two year research project in Zambia. The objective of the project is to rapidly assess the food safety and related issues in Western Zambia in order to a) identify the priority food safety problems; b) assess their impacts on health and livelihoods; c) identify opportunities for managing priority risks; d) develop a proposal for risk management.
ILRI works to enhance the roles livestock play in pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a global research partnership of 15 centres working with many partners for a food-secure future. ILRI has two main campuses in East Africa and other hubs in East, West and southern Africa and South, Southeast and East Asia. www.ilri.org.
CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by 15 research centres that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. www.cgiar.org.
Background:
Millions of poor farmers, many of them women, supply the rapidly increasing markets for fish, livestock products and fresh fruits and vegetables in developing countries. These high value perishable foods offer pathways out of poverty for producers and traders as well as highly nutritious foods for poor consumers; but they are also a major source of food-borne disease. As food safety becomes more important among the public and policymakers alike, agricultural research needs to support the ability of poor farmers to produce safe food and to reduce the food safety risks associated with the informal sector.
Agricultural research programs:
The CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Aquatic Agricultural Systems (AAS) is undertaking research in Barotse, Western Zambia to transform the livelihoods of poor farmers dependent on aquatic systems. The CRP on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH) is contributing to this research by providing resources for addressing food safety challenges in this system. The work is linked to a broader portfolio of research on agriculture associated disease in poor countries.
Responsibilities:
- Project planning, budgeting, implementation and reporting.
- Support meetings and functioning of a Food Safety Advisory Committee.
- Assist in review of material and preliminary scoping studies.
- Assist in development of detailed study design.
- Co-ordinate a rapid assessment of food safety in Western Zambia.
- Co-ordinate additional linked activities to be determined.
- Maintain regular communication with the research team in WorldFish and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
- Assist in development of a phase 2 proposal for risk management.
Essential Skills and Qualifications will include:
- MSc in epidemiology, environmental science, public health or a related degree.
- At least two years experience working on zoonoses/ ecohealth /public health research in developing countries.
- Experience of Zambia an advantage.
- Experience in conducting literature reviews, field surveys, participatory appraisals.
- Experience with sociology, economics, ecology, nutrition, gender analysis, impact assessment an advantage.
- Experience of working in multi- and trans-disciplinary teams.
- Strong English language skills, both written and spoken (proficiency in other language is an advantage).
- Willingness and ability to travel frequently, sometimes to rural areas in developing countries.
Post location: The position will be based in Lusaka, Zambia.
Position level: The position is Research Associate level (4A) dependent on qualifications and experience.
Duration: 2 years fixed term.
Terms of appointment: ILRI offers a competitive international remuneration and benefits package which includes: Medical insurance for staff and dependents, Life insurance, Education allowance for children, Housing allowance, Baggage Allowance, Home leave, Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days+public holidays.
Base salary from USD 35,000 per annum with an attractive international benefits package (tax free*) dependent on skills and experience.
*Benefits are tax free subject to compliance with tax regulations of country of citizenship.
Applications: Applicants should submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae which includes a list of publications and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the applicant’s professional qualifications and work experience. The position title and reference number: EFSE/02/2014 should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the cover letter.
All applications to be submitted online on our recruitment portal: http://ilri.simplicant.com on or before 26 March 2014.
To find out more about ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org
To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/ilricrowd/
ILRI is an equal opportunity employer.
