Training and Information Specialist

Supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) is a non-profit organization that conducts socially and environmentally progressive research aimed at reducing hunger and poverty and preserving natural resources in developing countries.

The Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility research area of CIAT (CIATTSBF) operates as an integral part of the CIAT research areas and has its offices located at ICIPE Complex, Kasarani, Nairobi.

The goal of CIAT-TSBF is to contribute to human welfare and environmental conservation in the tropics by developing adoptable and suitable soil management practices that integrate the biological, chemical and socioeconomic processes that regulate soil fertility and optimize the use of organic and inorganic resources.

Position Summary

The Training and Information Specialist will facilitate capacity building in rhizobiology, inoculant manufacture and quality assurance, and legume management for high biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) as required at several levels (international networks, professional societies, NARS, universities, CBO’s, private sector, etc.).

The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya and reports to the Africa Network (AfNet) Coordinator and through him to the N2Africa Project Leader.

Main Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a strategy for communication, networking and knowledge sharing among the several stakeholders and partners in the project.
• Develop realistic training action plans, especially training materials to support capacity building activities.
• Facilitate short-term, high level technical training for project scientific and technical staff in essential microbiological skills and BNF technologies.
• Backstop an elite young cadre of African scientists undertaking advanced training to MSc and PhD level focused on topics filling identified knowledge gaps.
• Coordinate and/or conduct training workshops on legume and inoculants technologies for agrodealers and officers of farmer associations and community-based organizations and develop training, educational and extension resource materials to support this task.
• Coordinate the compilation, maintenance and web-publication within AfNet of elements of a database comprising externally sourced and N2fixAfrica generated training and capacity building results and other relevant data.
• Assist technical specialists in incorporating the information strategy into the delivery of participatory research approaches and other agricultural services to the communities.
• Facilitate information sharing, documentation and publication with specific reference to different levels of stakeholders and target groups.

Requirements

• The ideal applicant will have a Master of Science in Agriculture/Agronomy (or related field) with good knowledge in their area of expertise.
• Demonstrated expertise (at least 3 years) experience in training and capacity building in natural resources management (NRM) research and interventions.
• Proven experience with producing dissemination tools for different stakeholders.
• Proven experience in N2-fixation and in participatory R4D work will be an added advantage.
• Good knowledge of communications and information management issues in natural resources management is an asset.
• Fluency in English or French is a must with either French or English as a second language an added advantage.
• Willingness to travel extensively.

CIAT is an equal opportunity employer and offers a collegial and gender-sensitive working environment.

This is a national position and will be for an initial period of one year ten months, renewable subject to three (3) months’ probation, assessment of performance, and availability of resources.

Applicants are invited to send a cover letter illustrating their suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications, competencies, skills together with a detailed curriculum vitae, including names and addresses of three referees.

All correspondence should be addressed to the

Human Resources Unit, CIAT,
P.O. Box 823-00621,
Nairobi, Kenya

OR via email: tsbfinfo@cgiar.org.

Email applications and CV’s should be saved as one file using the applicant’s last name and first name and should indicate “Application for Training and Information Specialist” on the subject line.

Applications will be considered until 10th February 2012.

Only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about us at:www.ciat.cgiar.org/ourprograms/tropicalsoil