Research Assistant, Agronomy At International Potato Center

The International Potato Center (CIP) is looking for a dynamic and experienced Research Assistant, Agronomy.

About CIP

CIP, a member of the One CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. One CGIAR science is dedicated to transforming food, land and water systems in a climate crisis, and it is carried out by 13 CGIAR Centers/Alliances in close collaboration with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations and the private sector.

Sweet potato and potato are highly significant food crops in Rwanda, and potato is a valued cash crop. Nevertheless, smallholder farmers and rural communities in Rwanda still face the challenge of accessing and availability of quality seeds of improved varieties of potato and sweetpotato. This challenge is hampered by generally weak seed systems, with farmers heavily reliant on their own saved “seed” as a source of planting material. While the use of quality seed is the most important yield-determining factor of potato and sweetpotato, other production constraints such as pests and diseases and poor soil fertility further constrain productivity levels. CIP is working with partners to strengthen national and local capacities in seed production and system coordination, and to improve agronomic practices to increase productivity.

About the role

The Research Assistant will support the implementation of a series of projects and initiatives aimed at strengthening seed value chains, improving farmers’ access to high-quality seeds, and increasing the productivity of potato and sweetpotato in Rwanda.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide technical backstopping to partners and seed producers to ensure timely production of sufficient quantities of early-generation seeds from farmer-preferred potato varieties to distribute to seed growers for further multiplication.
• Provide technical backstopping to national partners for the implementation of potato agronomic trials, and related activities.
• Monitor the progress of digital data collection by partners in multi-location agronomic trials and related activities.
• Update, test, and streamline farmer-led potato trial implementation protocols.
• Support CIP scientists in monitoring project activities, trials, data collection, data analysis, and publication.
• Liaise with project and administrative staff to ensure timely and effective project management and reporting.
• Support CGIAR/ CIP- scientists with other project-based tasks that are relevant to the skillset.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Seed Systems, Plant Science, or a related field
• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in a similar position
• Good knowledge of seed production techniques, preferably for potato and/or sweetpotato,
• Experience with the implementation of agronomic trials under on-station and on-farm conditions.
• Experience with backstopping and/or training of farmers and extension agents.
• Advanced knowledge in database management.
• Skills in statistical research analysis.
• Experience with digital data collection tools is an advantage.
• Strong communication and writing skills in English.
• Knowledge in Kinyarwanda and French is an advantage.
• Analytical Thinking.
• Planning & Organization.

Why should you consider this opportunity?

• CIP works with partners in over 20 countries to improve diets and incomes of poor people in Africa, Asia and Latin America through scientific research, innovation, and capacity strengthening.
• CIP’s programs seek to strengthen broader agri-food systems to generate economic, social and nutritional benefits for farmers, enterprises and consumers emphasizing the priorities of women and youth in particular.
• CIP emphasizes the synergies between social and bio-physical sciences as a core strategy for making breakthroughs in our understanding of complex development challenges in food and agriculture and for our ability to overcome these.

What are we offering?

• Excellent working environment.
• Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience.
• Fixed term contract of 1 year with possibility of renewal.
• Work in an equal and diverse workplace.