Basin Leader CGIAR

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 ‘increasing the resilience of agricultural and aquaculture systems in the coastal areas of the Ganges delta’.

The position will be based initially at the WorldFish Center Regional Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh, with the potential to relocate to Khulna. The position reports to the Deputy Regional Director – South Asia. The selected candidate is expected to:

Agree on methodological approaches;

• Report regularly on progress of the five interlinked projects contributing to the Ganges program in fostering outputs and impact;
• Prepare reports on behalf of the Deputy Director, Bangladesh 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.
• Supervise staff of the Ganges Coordination and Change Project ‘CPWF G5’.
• Assist the Deputy Director, Bangladesh in liaising with WorldFish, CGIAR, and other partners regarding the contribution of the Program to CGIAR Research Program 1.3: Aquatic Agricultural Systems
• 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 Ganges 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. Coordination

• 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.
• Commission and conduct outcome and impact evaluations as deemed necessary, in consultation with CPWF Management Team.

2. Adaptive Management

• Build and oversee a system that uses 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 BDC team.
• Discuss and negotiate with the CPWF Management Team on project requests to make changes to milestone plans and budgets.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Regularly monitor projects against delivery and quality of research outputs, reporting back to the CPWF Management Team and ensuring transparency with project leaders.

4. Fostering Change

• Develop and maintain two-way channels to influence policy and other forms of institutional and farmer organization 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

5. 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.

6. Communications

• Supervise the Ganges Communications Coordinator, and work with internal and external Communications specialists, to 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 and WorldFish 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 and WorldFish regarding fundraising initiatives with donors in the basin.

7. Capacity building

• Carry out regular audits of project capacity building needs and coordinate efforts to meet them. In particular:

- Support project efforts to identify and solve bottlenecks to achieving outcome targets relating to capacity of stakeholders involved

- Build project learning, monitoring and evaluation capacity where necessary

8. 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 a leadership role, including ability to analyse progress, identify opportunities, gaps and inefficiencies; develop revised workplans, and implement change once approved. · Negotiation and conflict resolution skills in project management, with the aim of fully utilising adaptive management practices. · Experience in building and fostering partnerships in an international research for development environment. · Experience in motivating teams of people from diverse cultures, backgrounds and expertise, including as part of identifying and planning capacity building needs of project staff, and blockages in dissemination activities. · 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. · Sensitive and supportive of gender issues and tools in development. DESIRABLE · Professional experience in several developing countries is desirable, and particularly in Bangladesh.
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. · DESIRABLE · Fluency or working knowledge of Bangla · Familiarity with WorldFish and CPWF program approach to development interventions.

The WorldFish Center offers a competitive remuneration package, a non-discriminatory policy and provides an innovative work environment. Interested applicants are invited to submit i) a letter of application, ii) a comprehensive curriculum vitae and iii) names and contacts (telephone, fax, and e-mail addresses) of three professional referees who are familiar with your qualifications and work experience. You are required to submit your application (with indication on the subject line “Application for the position Basin Leader) to the Human Resources Strategy and Services Unit at worldfish-hr@cgiar.org. Initial screening of applications will begin on 24 February 2012 but position will remain open until filled. It is desirable that the successful applicant take up the appointment by 1 May 2012, if not before.

This is a global position based at WorldFish Bangladesh office. The appointment will be for two years, subject to renewal, depending on performance and the needs of WorldFish and CPWF. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

For further information visit, http://www.waterandfood.org

WorldFish is an equal opportunity employer and is keen to further diversify its staff in terms of both gender and nationality. Bangladeshi citizens are encouraged to apply.