Value chain specialist (Research Fellow)

The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis.

The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

About the position

The value chain specialist will lead the implementation of a research project currently carried out in Vietnam. The specialist/Research Fellow will lead the co-design process, the implementation and the monitoring of impactful value chain interventions for smallholder farmers, as well as documenting their outcomes and possible impacts. He/She will work with multiple value chain stakeholders, including private companies that source coffee in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, as well as other value chain stakeholders such as farmers’ cooperatives, input providers and collectors.

The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience in value chain development and experience with participatory methods applied to value chain and business development, working with farming communities and the private sector. Previous experiences in user-centered design (UCD), to co-design innovations with and for a target group, would be an advantage.

The specialist/Fellow Research will work in a multi-disciplinary team composed of national and international experts, working at different scales from laboratory and farm to value chain and landscape levels. The most important qualities of any candidate will be that they are independent, rigorous, have excellent social skills, and are passionate and motivated by the social and environmental impact potential of their work.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate field and participatory research activities, including research design, research implementation, preparation of technical reports and publications.
• Supervise data collection and data analysis. Fieldwork methods will include quantitative data collection and qualitative interviews, focus group discussions and participatory workshops.
• Lead the co-design, implementation and monitoring of value chain interventions.
• Collaborate with multiple stakeholders, including coffee and pepper value chain actors, as well as national and international researchers, in order to implement research activities.
• Provide guidance and support to local research staff.
• Contribute to the cohesion and development of good practices and trust among value chain actors, proactively identifying ways to increase engagement of local stakeholders and opportunities to make the value chain development processes more efficient, inclusive and resilient.
• Join coordination meetings with other team members, participate to project schedules, and supervise the logistics to ensure timely delivery of project activities.
• Contribute to fund-raising efforts through participation to project proposal writing.

Required qualifications and experience

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience, in a research organization or an NGO.
• PhD or Master’s degree in a relevant field, including social sciences, international development, marketing and business development, or environmental sciences.
• Proven experience in implementing qualitative research-action activities. Expertise in value chains, business model analysis or human-centered design approaches are highly desirable.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, verbally and in writing, and to produce high-quality deliverables in English.
• Strong command of Vietnamese language. Significant working experience in Vietnam and knowledge of the national institutional landscape.
• Strong drive to learn new topics and skills, and to see research and ideas having positive impact in practice.
• Ability to work collaboratively in an international team environment.

Terms of employment

This is a full-time position and available for Vietnamese nationals based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Contracts are issued and renewed annually, based on performance and availability of resources. This position is subjected to an initial two-month probation period and is graded at a level BG8 in a scale of 14 levels being BG14 the highest level. The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is an equal opportunity employer, strives for staff diversity and offers competitive packages.

Applications

To be considered for this position, please send an email to Mr. Brice Even ([email protected]) and Ms. To Mai Trang, ([email protected]) with the subject line “Application – Vietnam VC specialist – Candidate’s full name”. In your email, please include:

1. A cover letter illustrating your motivation to apply and suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications and work responsibilities.
2. A detailed curriculum vitae, including the names and email addresses of three professional referees who have worked either as your professional or academic supervisors and are knowledgeable about your skills and professional abilities.

Only qualified applicants with relevant skills and experience will be contacted. We recommend applying as soon as possible and no later than 25 September 2022. We invite you to learn more about us at: https://alliancebioversityciat.org/

Organization: CIAT
Location: Hanoi
Application deadline: 2022-09-25
Send application to: [email protected]; [email protected]