Project Manager / Kulima - Malawi

International Potato Center POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Ref: 17-41/PM/IRS/SSA

Project Manager

The International Potato Center (CIP) is seeking a dynamic and results-oriented Researcher (social, agricultural, or environmental sciences) to lead the technology component of a new agricultural

innovation project, KULIMA: Improving the access to and use of agriculture research innovations by Malawian farmers.

The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweet potato, 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. CIPworkswithpartnersto contribute high quality science, technology, andcapacity strengtheningfor 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 isa global agriculture researchpartnership fora food securefuture.Itsscience iscarriedout by the 15research centerswho aremembersoftheCGIAR Consortium incollaboration with hundredsof partner organizations.

TheProject:CIPiscoordinatingcontributionsbytheCGIARcentersfortheEUfundedKULIMAproject in Malawi. The goal of this 5-year project is to promote sustainable agricultural growth to increase incomes, employment and food security in Malawi in the context of a changing climate. The CGIAR component will focus specifically on the objective to increase agricultural productivity and diversify production in a participatory, sustainable and climate-change resilientmanner.This will be done inter alia by improving the organization and delivery of national research and extension services, and by strengthening supply systems of appropriate inputs and related technologies to support increased, diversified and sustainable production. The Project will be coordinated by the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) working closely with relevant departments of Government of Malawi, and with FAO Malawi. CIPwill be coordinating the activitiesof seven CGIAR research centers to provide a wide range of productive technologies, technical and scientific advice, and policy related inputs. The Project provides an excellent opportunity for demonstrating and further improving the value of CGIAR technologies in the context of a forward-looking innovation systems approach.

The Position: The Project Manager should be driven by the desire to achieve impact on poverty and hunger through high quality agricultural research and development interventions. The Project Manager will have overall responsibility for all aspects of project implementation and reporting and willrepresenttheprojectwiththedonorandpartners. ThispositionwillbebasedinLilongwe,Malawi and will report to the CIP Country Manager and the Leader of the Resilient Nutritious Sweetpotato Program for Africa, Asia and Haiti.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Coordination of research and development activities

• BuildandmanageastrongandproductivepartnershipacrosstheparticipatingCGIARcenters, ensuring fair and equitable participation.
• Provide quality control of work plans and ensure that overall research priorities, technology dissemination and delivery goals are well understood and effectively met across the multi- institutional partnership.
• Establish flexible and accountable processes for timely planning and delivery of research and development activities, including technology dissemination, and reporting.
• Provide intellectual leadership for the design and implementation of operational research to determine opportunities and constraints for agricultural innovation in project target areas.

Reporting and Representation

• As responsible manager for all technical and financial reporting to the donor, ensure timeliness, quality, and responsiveness to donor requests in all areas of reporting.
• Work with relevant units at CIP Malawi and in regional and global CIP offices to obtain technical and administrative support.
• Work with the M&E staff to ensure that monitoring of project indicators is timely and of excellent quality to support adaptive management.
• Represent the project vis-à-vis GIZ, EU, GoM, and research partners.
• Participate in regular planning and review meetings with GIZ and EU and ensure that the project is well understood and highly regarded by the donor and all project partners.

Project Management

• Providemanagement,leadershipandstrategicvisioninallaspectsofprojectimplementation.
• Ensure that project implementation is responsive to communities and partners and aligned with CIP’s principles, values and strategic plan.
• Work with administrative and finance units at CIP and other CGIAR partners, oversee the development of sub-agreements and works plans.
• Monitor adherence to grant agreement, CIP policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations.

Staff Management, Professional Development and Team Building

• Create a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellent personnel at all levels.
• Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees, and ensuring that all staff members are effectively using the performance planning and management system.
• Contribute to project team-building efforts, and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Project Support Operations

• Coordinate with M&E, finance and administration staff to ensure operational systems are in place to support field activities including logistics, procurement, security, administration and human resources.
• In coordination with the CIP Country Manager, propose and design new local operational policies as needed and in accordance with donor and CIP regulations.

Gender

• Takealeadershiproleinthemainstreamingofgendersensitiveprojectinterventions,through support and promotion of gender throughout all areas of the project. 
Selection Criteria:
• PhD level degree in relevant discipline in the social sciences, agriculture, or environmental sciences. MSc degree in relevant field with formal training in innovation systems will be considered. 

• Strong experience of at least 5 years in a field-based rural development project promoting agricultural or other technological innovation, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa. 

• Excellent up-to-date knowledge of innovation systems research and underlying social science methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative.
• Experience of coordinating multi-institutional collaboration in support of rural communities and their governance structures.
• Strongunderstandingofintegratinggenderandothersocialequityconsiderationsintoproject design and delivery.
• GoodknowledgeofCGIARresearchobjectivesandproductsandtheirrelevancetoagricultural development.
• Experience of coordinating rigorous M&E and hands-on technical reporting.
• Strong experience of using communication technologies as research and development tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are a must.
• Record of scientific and technical publications and citations.
• Willingness to travel frequently in-country and work under field conditions.

Conditions: International position with a three-year term with six-month probation period, with the possibility of renewal. Selection will be subject to award acquisition or funding. 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 July 21 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.