Council Members - CGIAR Independent Science and Partnership Council

The CGIAR Independent Science and Partnership Council (ISPC) is seeking to appoint three Council Members in July 2015:  one with expertise in Crop science, one in Social Science and one in Water research and management. A fourth Council Member will be appointed in March 2016 with expertise in plant genetic resources and their management.

The Council’s primary mission is to enhance and promote the quality, relevance and impact of science in the CGIAR. ISPC’s roles and responsibilities are further described at:  http://ispc.cgiar.org.

A Council member will be serving in his/her personal capacity. This would require devoting about 30 days per year, including time spent in two meetings with other interactions with members of the ISPC Secretariat, and other colleagues in the System, taking place in virtual mode. Initial appointments are for a two-year term, which may be renewed.

The general criteria for selection are given below. Each candidate has to meet at least two of these criteria, and all should have professional and personal attributes and language skills appropriate to the workings of the ISPC. 

• Eminence in a field of biological, physical or social science, including international recognition of research achievements; 
• Internationally recognized experience in agricultural science for development; knowledge of smallholder agriculture and natural resources management; and good understanding of policy dimensions in the context of sustainable development: 
• Visionary with global perspective and strong ability to think strategically and analyze complex issues.
• Experience in research management and partnership, and cross disciplinary approach to scientific agricultural and natural resources research for international development; knowledge of evaluation, impact assessment, and strategic planning approaches; 
• Relevant experience in working in partnership with national agricultural research institutions, universities, Civil Society Organisations or the private sector;

Specifically:

The crop scientist should possess extensive knowledge of agronomy, and the physiology of crops and cropping systems relevant to developing countries. Experience of modern breeding approaches will be an asset.
 
The social scientist will have research experience in policy, institutional or household analyses holding (preferably) disciplinary qualification in the non-economic social sciences and with expertise in relation to the enhancement of gender research and equity.

The water research and management scientist will have research experience in agricultural projects in developing countries which focus on water use. Experience emphasising integrative approaches to natural resource management will be favoured over engineering approaches or the provision of water for other services. 

The plant genetic resources scientist will have detailed international knowledge of the conservation, management and use of plant genetic resources for agriculture.  Experience of strategic planning approaches to agricultural research will be an asset.

The CGIAR is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of gender and nationality but, as women are currently under-represented, we would particularly encourage applications from women, and applicants from Asia and Latin America at this time. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Applications for all four positions will be considered simultaneously.  Applications, including a covering letter stating interest in, and suitability for, one of the positions, a full c.v. with publication list (not the actual publications), the names and current contacts of three referees, should be sent by e-mail to ISPC-Membership@fao.org by March, 10th 2015.

Nominations of candidates by third parties will be considered if contact with nominees and submission of all relevant documents can be completed in the same time frame.