Columbia Global Centers, Africa is part of Columbia University’s
global network of centers, which together aim to create opportunities in
research, scholarship and teaching around the world, and expand Columbia’s
mission as a global university.
The Columbia Global Center (CGC) for Africa hosts The MDG (Millennium
Development Goal) Center for East and Southern Africa.
The MDG Center is supporting the implementation of the
Millennium Villages Project (MVP) in six core countries (Ethiopia, Kenya,
Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda) and a number of other countries.
The Millennium Villages Project employs a community based
integrated development approach to help lift rural communities out of the
poverty trap that afflicts more than a billion people worldwide.
The Centre also focuses on policy support at the national level
and provides advocacy services to the MVP with an intention of scaling up MDG
related activities to district and national levels in order to achieve the MDGs
by 2015 and end extreme poverty by 2025.
The CGC also support other agricultural projects of Columbia
University in the region. One such project is the Rapid Soil Development
Project conducted in the region by Tropical Agriculture of the Earth Institute
of Columbia University.
There will be other regional agricultural projects in future.
The position
The Columbia Global Centers, Africa is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of a Regional Agriculture Specialist to be based at its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya working in East and Southern Africa and reporting directly to the CGC-Africa Director.
Duties and responsibilities:
In the framework of the Millennium Villages Projects and the Rapid Soil Development Project, the incumbent will advise on agricultural strategies, innovations and policies specified in the description below:
The position
The Columbia Global Centers, Africa is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of a Regional Agriculture Specialist to be based at its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya working in East and Southern Africa and reporting directly to the CGC-Africa Director.
Duties and responsibilities:
In the framework of the Millennium Villages Projects and the Rapid Soil Development Project, the incumbent will advise on agricultural strategies, innovations and policies specified in the description below:
- Advise
governments on the design and implementation of agricultural productivity
improvement programmes, including the Millennium Villages Project, Rapid
Soil Development Project and any other agricultural activity of The MDG
Centre and The Columbia Global Centers|Africa
- Assist
governments in mobilizing additional domestic and international resources
in support of these programmes and their policies for agriculture
development
- Facilitate
high-level policy dialogue among national policy makers and development
partners to advocate and support action for the Rapid Soil Development
Project and other Columbia Global Center’s agriculture projects for The
Africa Green Revolution (AGR)
- Synthesize
relevant lessons from MVP and other programs to identify and document best
practices and guidelines for wide adaptation and adoption in Africa
- Develop
and nurture strategic partnerships and NGOs and other institutions that
can contribute effectively to these agriculture projects
- Collaborate
with national, regional and international research centers with an
emphasis on exchanging information and the best available technology for
improving subsistence farmer livelihoods
- Actively
promote green agriculture, while balancing the practical requirements to
improve yields through the use of improved seeds, fertilizer and
irrigation
- In
collaboration with Ministries of Agriculture and NGOs, prepare and provide
training/training material in agriculture technologies and extension
systems.
- Implement
other assignments provided by the Director
Minimum qualification and experience required for this position:
- Post-graduate
qualification (MS/MA or PhD) in agriculture soil sciences or related
field;
- Minimum
of 5 years’ experience in agriculture extension/research and/or policy;
- Work
experience in more than one of the core countries;
- Success
in working in cross-sectoral and multi-cultural teams;
- Excellent
communication skills;
- Creative
and dynamic leader and team player.
How to apply:
The CGC-Africa is an equal opportunity employer offering a competitive salary and benefits package, and a collegial working environment.
The CGC-Africa is an equal opportunity employer offering a competitive salary and benefits package, and a collegial working environment.
The contract is for an initial period of one (1) year, renewable
subject to a three (3) months probation period, assessment of performance, and
availability of resources.
The CGC Africa offers a gender-aware working environment and
qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Applicants are invited to send a cover letter illustrating their
suitability for the position against the listed
qualifications/competencies/skills and a detailed curriculum vitae, with names
and addresses of three referees (including telephone and email
addresses).
Applicants should indicate “Application for the Regional
Agriculture Specialist” in their applications letters and in the subject line
of email submissions.
All correspondence should be addressed to the
Human Resources Manager, CGC-Africa,
PO Box 51412,
Nairobi-00100, Kenya
or via email to recruitment@cgcafrica.org .
Applications
will be considered until 20th September 2012 or until a suitable candidate is
identified and selected.
Only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.
We invite you to learn more about us at:
www.mdgcentre.org www.globalcenters.columbia.eduwww.millenniumvillages.org
Only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.
We invite you to learn more about us at:
www.mdgcentre.org www.globalcenters.columbia.eduwww.millenniumvillages.org