Reference number: 2619
Job status: In-progress
Job category: Local Position
Duty station: Matale, Sri Lanka
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CIFOR-ICRAF
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.
Researcher – Community and Stakeholder Engagement Officer
Overview
This position is to get coordinating support for implementation activities of the GCF Knuckles project with respect to engagement with implementing agencies and individuals, assisting to form different levels of stakeholder platforms, collecting relevant information & analyses, motivating actors for sustainable land management practices and connecting them with value chain upgrades & Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanisms leveraging existing mechanisms including market and administrative/management networks.Duties and responsibilities
Science production
- Support in conducting research activities (data collection and analysis), particularly in collecting data at the provincial and district levels.
- Assist the project team in developing tools, manuals, and guidelines.
- Develop monthly and annual (detailed) work plans (including stakeholder engagement plan) with appropriate approaches in consultation with the ICRAF project management and relevant scientists.
- Liaise and network with local (and national) stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and local community representatives, to ensure smooth project coordination and implementation.
- Deploy suitable community engagement and analysis methods with relevant stakeholders as required in coordination with ICRAF scientists.
- Support the project team leaders to ensure high-quality outputs and timely submissions of consultant and partner research outputs.
-
Document,
communicate and advocate progress in the implementation of Green Value Chains,
Payment for Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Landscape Management and Capacity
Development processes.
Human capital
- Support in research activities of students and interns, including facilitating and evaluating their work.
-
Assist
the project team in strengthening the capacity of partners at national and
sub-national levels, including facilitating and organizing training, workshops,
and other events in collaboration with partners and country teams.
Game-changing solutions
- Engage in setting up and functioning of soft institutions and stakeholder platforms with relevant stakeholders/stakeholder institutions for upgrading green value chains that support effective application of sustainable land management practices as per project requirements.
- Assist in developing green value chain and sustainable financing networks connecting both existing value chains and those developed by the project at different levels.
- Examine the benefit sharing across the different actors of the value chains and sustainable financing and propose actions to ensure equitable benefit sharing.
- Motivate actors for sustainable landscape management practices and connect them effectively with value chain upgrades & PES mechanisms.
- Contribute to strengthening coordination and synergies among external consultants engaged by both ICRAF and the PMU.
- Represent the organization in engaging with public, private, and smallholder farmers in various events – as a resource person, participant, and other relevant capacity.
-
Contribute
to local and national discussions on relevant topics of expertise in close
coordination with the supervisor and Sri Lanka senior researchers.
Structural capital
- Support the project team leaders to ensure accountability processes to donors by contributing to timely submissions of reports and activities on the ground.
- Contribute to project reporting, monitoring, and evaluation in collaboration with other team members and project partners.
- Participate in adaptive management reviews of implementation.
- Maintain records on stakeholders and community engagements (e.g. prior notice, list of attendances and contacts, gallery of photos, agenda & minutes preparation).
- Track the follow-up actions of the decisions taken in the meetings.
- Provide monthly summary reports comprising type of engagement/meeting, decisions taken, progress of follow up actions and remarks, and contribute to the annual donor reporting as required.
Education, knowledge and experience
• BSc in Agriculture/Forestry/Science/Plantation management or BA in Economics/Marketing/ or BCom with management subjects, or a degree in any other relevant field• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in stakeholder engagement and teamwork (priority will be given to those who have worked on time-bound projects successfully)
• Knowledge and experience in agroforestry systems/ watershed & landscape management and participatory nature-based solutions will be an added qualification
• Demonstrated experience in managing multiple implementation activities and budgets will be a bonus
Terms and conditions
• This is a Locally Recruited Staff (LRS) position. CIFOR-ICRAF offers competitive remuneration in local currency, commensurate with skills and experience• The appointment will be for 1 (one) year with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position, and available resources
• The duty station will be in Matale, Sri Lanka To apply, please visit our career site at: https://www.cifor-icraf.org/about/work-with-us/ To learn more about CIFOR-ICRAF, please visit our websites at: https://www.cifor-icraf.org CIFOR-ICRAF promotes Gender Diversity – Applications from women professionals are encouraged. CIFOR-ICRAF is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity.
Application process
The application deadline is 15 May 2026We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.