Basin
Leader
The CGIAR –
Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) is an international initiative
focusing on the provision of water, food and environmental security. A vital
step towards reaching this goal is to increase the productivity of water used
for agriculture, leaving more water for other uses and the environment. The CPWF
is creating research-based knowledge and methods for growing more food with less
water
(www.waterforfood.org).
The
success of this initiative depends in large measure on the capacity of
scientists in the target river basins to carry out the research needed to
achieve these ambitions. To support the advancement of research for development
in the CPWF river basins and at programmatic level, the program is seeking a
candidate to lead a research for development program on small reservoirs and
rainwater harvesting in the Volta Basin.
The newly formed
CGIAR Consortium is preparing its strategic framework and, as a result, the CPWF
will be fully integrated into the Consortium Research Program concerned with
water and food and related aspects. The timescale for this is not yet clear but
all CPWF commitments will be fulfilled.
The position will
be based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The position reports to the CPWF
Associate Director and the selected candidate is expected to:
·
Agree
on methodological approaches;
·
Report regularly on progress in fostering outputs and impact;
·
Prepare reports on behalf of the Associate Director for submission to the CPWF
Management Team or other entities, regarding progress in fostering and achieving
impact;
·
Respond to questions and/ or concerns raised by the CPWF Management Team or
other entities, with regard to impacts and impact pathways and related tools and
strategies.
·
Assist the Associate Director in liaising with the CGIAR Science Council, CGIAR
Centers, Mega-Programs and other partners with regard to all tasks for which
responsibility is held.
·
Be
the CPWF point person in the basin and liaise with basin stakeholders and
decision-makers.
JOB PURPOSE:
The Basin Leader
(BL) is an innovative, energetic, visionary individual who oversees and
coordinates the implementation of a set of CPWF research projects aimed at
addressing a well-defined Basin Development Challenge (BDC) for the Volta basin.
The BL has management, coordination, networking and research management
responsibilities, in addition to his/her role as Project Leader of the
Coordination and Change Project.
DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1.
Volta BDC Coordination, M&E and Adaptive Management
·
Ensure programmatic coherence around commonly agreed outcome and impact pathways
in which projects understand their role and the role of others.
·
Work
to identify and track interdependencies between BDC projects, for example
outputs from one project required by another, and then to monitor that these
outputs are delivered on time in the format required and previously agreed upon
between projects.
·
Ensure common data management protocols between projects, where necessary.
·
Regularly monitor projects against delivery and quality of research output,
reporting back to the CPWF Management Team and ensuring transparency with
project leaders.
·
Query, discuss and make recommendations to CPWF Management Team on project
requests to make changes to milestone plans
·
Commission and conduct outcome and impact evaluations as deemed necessary, in
consultation with CPWF Management Team.
Adaptive management
·
Using
data, evidence and analysis to query and reflect on the logic and assumptions
underpinning outcome and impact pathways, and to re-direct and re-design
research issues in coordination with other projects, leading to more appropriate
pathways with more probability of success
·
Organize and facilitate regular “reflection workshop” for the whole BDC
2.
Fostering
change and strengthened platforms for innovation
Fostering
Change
·
Develop and maintain two-way channels to influence policy and other forms of
institutional change so as to build an enabling environment for the changes BDC
research is aiming to achieve, while ensuring that BDC projects are aware of
emerging opportunities and threats.
·
Engage in, and provide BDC projects access to, multi-stakeholder platforms that
can make use of BDC research results
·
Seek to broker linkages between people, organizations and sectors to further BDC
objectives
Innovation
Research
·
Coordinate documentation of project and BDC efforts to respond to opportunity
and achieve outcomes, draw lessons from what is learnt and ensure that lessons
influence future action in the BDC and beyond.
3.
Communications
·
Ensure effective communication of what BDC research is doing both
inside and outside the program, and so build recognition for this work and
contribute to position the CPWF to influence a wide range of decision makers
based on learning and experience. This
includes identifying, developing, packaging and disseminating key messages, risk
analysis, identifying targets, building partnerships in communication, etc.
·
Provide support to projects in developing and implementing communications
strategies
·
Evaluate effectiveness of various strategies for dissemination as input to
on-going adaptation of communication strategies
·
Wider
influence through improved communication with the wider stakeholder community at
the “process level”
·
Consult with the CPMT regarding fundraising initiatives with
donors in the basin
4.
Capacity building
·
Carry
out regular audits of project capacity building needs and coordinate efforts to
meet them. In particular:
o
Support project efforts to identify and solve bottlenecks to achieving outcome
targets relating to capacity of stakeholders involved
o
Build
project learning, monitoring and evaluation capacity where necessary
5.
Gender mainstreaming
·
Responsible for ensuring integration of a gender perspective in project design,
implementation and monitoring and evaluation to ensure that it remains visible
as part of the BDC way of working contributing to achieving BDC outcomes
SELECTION
CRITERIA:
The following table
outlines attributes the ideal candidate will possess. These form the criteria
against which applications will be assessed.
Qualifications: |
ESSENTIAL
·
PhD and/or equivalent in a field related to agricultural science or water
science.
|
Experience:
|
ESSENTIAL
·
10 years significant professional experience in building partnerships in a
research for development environment.
·
Experience in motivating teams of people from diverse cultures, backgrounds
and expertise
·
Experience and/or understanding of the concepts of monitoring, evaluation,
impact assessment, network management (partnerships for impact), impact
pathways and related tools, innovation systems, participatory approaches,
gender analysis, facilitating stakeholder group interaction, logical
frameworks, and quantitative cost benefit analysis techniques.
·
Experience, and/or understanding, and appreciation of the role of
communications in an impact strategy, including working with communications
professionals to identify innovative ways in which to use a variety of media
to reach a range of audiences.
DESIRABLE
·
Professional experience in several developing countries is desirable. |
Knowledge,
Skills & Abilities: |
ESSENTIAL
·
Sound, proven ability to interact effectively with a wide range of
stakeholders, among them research managers and scientists, policymakers,
government officials, representatives of the private sector (including
farmers, fishers and other members of the rural community), leaders and
staff of NGOs and other extension and development institutions both public
and private.
·
Outstanding communication skills, verbal and written, in English.
·
Fluency in French is essential.
|
SALARY AND
BENEFITS:
The terms and
conditions of the role are governed by the International Water Management
Institute (IWMI) who acts as host to the CPWF and its staff. This is an
international position with a competitive salary commensurate with experience.
Benefits include a housing allowance, transport, education, shipping assistance,
annual home leave, retirement, and health insurance package. The appointment
will be for 3 years, subject to renewal, depending on performance and the needs
of CPWF or the Consortium Research Program of which CPWF forms a part.
HOW TO APPLY:
·
Complete application form
http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/About_IWMI/Vacancies/
·
Attach your résumé and list of publications,
·
Attach a letter of application, which specifically addresses the selection
criteria outlined in the table above and include the names and addresses of
3 referees who may be contacted if you are short-listed.
·
Submit online.
Our on-line HR
recruitment system is quite new and you should receive an automated reply. If
you have not received this acknowledgement e-mail within 24 hours of sending
your application, then contact: The Human Resources Office, IWMI, P.O. Box 2075,
Colombo, Sri Lanka; Email:
work-at-iwmi@cgiar.org
Application
deadline: 31 July 2010
– or until the
position is filled.
It is desirable
that the successful applicant take up the appointment by 1 October 2010.
For further
information visit
- http://www.waterandfood.org
IWMI is an
equal opportunity employer and is keen to further diversify its staff in terms
of both gender and nationality.
Was
this job of interest to you?
Receive 20-25 jobs & consultancies each day via
3 Months DevNetJobs Value Membership. Only USD 44 for 3 months. Over 1380
positions filled in 2009.
Click here to
proceed
|