Associate Scientist – Circular Food Systems Specialist At Int’l Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics

ICRISAT seeks applications from dynamic Zimbabwean Nationals for the position of Associate Scientist – Circular Food System Specialist. This position will be based out of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi- arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people and 644 million of these are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower these disadvantaged populations to overcome poverty, hunger and a degraded environment through better agricultural production systems.

ICRISAT is headquartered at Patancheru near Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and eight country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT envisions a prosperous, food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. Its mission is to reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics. ICRISAT conducts research on its mandate crops of chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet in the arid and semi-arid tropics. The Institute focuses its work on the drylands and in protecting the environment. Tropical dryland areas are usually seen as resource-poor and perennially beset by shocks such as drought, thereby trapping dryland communities in poverty and hunger and making them dependent on external aid. Please visit – www.icrisat.org

Key Responsibilities

1. Conduct baseline market research to determine the socio-economic feasibility and circularity of proposed agro-based Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within the targeted smallholder irrigation scheme landscapes.
2. Support the establishment of viable MSMEs by facilitating the formation of business-oriented producer, processing and trading groups, mentoring their operationalization, market linkages and learning during transition to self-sustaining business entities that prioritize and promote circular food systems
3. Develop inclusive rural business models, based on informed business re-organization, business plans, complementary services and capacity development, for the MSMEs to promote circular food systems principles (regenerative production, reduced external inputs and pollution, and ensuring recovery for future uses).
4. Carry out participatory value chain analysis to identify critical social, economic and institutional factors key to enhancing the performance of selected MSMEs.

Technical Support

1. Lead in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of technical, management and financial training and capacity building programs that promote circular food systems, tailored to specific types of MSMEs, and women and youth entrepreneurs in particular.
2. Assess the scaling readiness of agribusiness innovations and complementary farming practices to promote profitable value chains and transitions towards circular food systems, through Agricultural Innovation Platforms, Business Field Schools and other participatory approaches.
3. Leading the development of research project proposals in circular food systems themes with collective efforts for resource mobilization
4. Research informed policy analysis and advocacy on how to improve the policy environment around MSME in the agri-food space.
5. Lead in the monitoring, evaluation and learning of activities related to the development of circular MSMEs.
6. Publish research findings in international peer-reviewed journals and contribute to the dissemination of results to stakeholders via workshops and webinars.

Coordination, Capacity building & People Management:

1. Provide leadership and build teams in the climate adaptation and mitigation cluster in Africa and Asia through continuous guidance and challenge
2. Support the sustainability of identified agro-based MSMEs by initiating partnerships and synergies with in-country support programs and providers of business training, development and mentoring services, such as Government Departments, Parastatals, private sector, NGOs or tertiary institutions.
3. Coordinate financial readiness evaluations of products and services, financial guarantee for product quality and volumes, de-risking mechanisms with financial institutions, contractors, and other actors key in providing tailor-made financial services to the agro-based MSMEs, targeting women and youth as key priority
4. Prepare and manage annual work plans, and reports together with the project team leader.

Skills and Qualifications:

1. Ph. D in Agricultural Economics/Rural Development/Development Studies with at least 2 years of experience in Agri-Business or Entrepreneurship
2. Experience with African smallholder agriculture and business development services an advantage
3. Demonstrated skills in circular food systems and facilitation of public private partnerships
4. Ability to work in multi-stakeholder, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams, and processes
5. Strong written and oral communication skills with demonstrated ability to conduct clear presentations and prepare written reports

Desired skills:

1. Highly motivated and self-driven candidate, with good interpersonal skills and the ability to thrive in a diverse, multidisciplinary environment
2. Aptitude and skills to formulate projects, strong track record of resource mobilization
3. Ability to work with different nationalities and disciplines in a diverse and multi-cultural environment
4. Experience in leading and supervising teams of scientists and development workers
5. Track records in building and leading effective partnerships
6. Demonstrate high level of initiatives and be innovative