Scientist – Water-livestock Research

Closing date  30/4/2006  Date of issuance     Organisational unit  Water-livestock research team  Duty station  Addis Ababa Ethiopia with travel in other anticipated work areas elsewhere in Africa and Asia.  Vacancy announcement no.  Ref: SC/T5/04/2006

Responsibilities

General: The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) are international not-for-profit research and capacity building institutions supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). With its headquarter in Sri Lanka, IWMI’s mission is to contribute to improving water and land resources management for food, livelihoods and nature (www.iwmi.org). IWMI has its sub-regional offices for Southern, Western and Eastern Africa in South Africa, Ghana and Ethiopia respectively. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality science and capacity-building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development for poor livestock keepers and their communities. ILRI’s headquarter is located in Nairobi, Kenya, but it maintains a principle research campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where this position will be based. The position: ILRI seeks to recruit a highly qualified and innovative researcher to join the water-livestock research team under the ILRI IWMI partnership on water-efficient integration of livestock production with water resources development and management especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The work to be undertaken is interdisciplinary in nature and requires “systems thinking” involving social, economic and biophysical sciences to ensure that animal production uses water and nutrient resources effectively and in a sustainable manner to improve livelihoods of the poor. The priority research topics include: a) developing livestock-water management approaches that minimize degradation of natural resources, b) providing animal feeds through more efficient and productive use of agricultural water c) contributing to reduction of conflict between livestock keepers and other users. The specific duties include: • Plan, manage, conduct and or supervise activities and funded projects related to integrated natural resources management focusing on improving livestock-water interactions of smallholder crop-livestock mixed systems and grazing systems in sub-sub-Saharan Africa with some work anticipated in Asia. • Facilitate and contribute to joint ILRI-IWMI research collaboration with particular focus on developing technologies and policies and encouraging human behavioural changes that will ensure that livestock production makes efficient, effective and sustainable use of water resources. • To contribute under the direction of ILRI and IWMI to: a) CGIAR Challenge program on Water and Food and multi-institutional and interdisciplinary collaborative efforts to intergraded livestock and water research and management in the Nile River Basin and elsewhere in Sub-Saharan b) lead and /or assist in developing new proposals for INRM research highlighting issues germane to both water and livestock, submit them to appropriate investors and partners and assist implement them. C) Advance in collaboration with colleagues and partners, the theoretical and practical understanding of how livestock interact with water within broader contexts of agricultural systems, watersheds and river basins and how animals and water can be better managed and disseminate this knowledge synthesis of research results and secondary knowledge through formal presentations, contributions to web sites, publications in peer reviewed papers and extension materials • To contribute to ILRI’s and IWMI’s efforts to build effective partnerships involving national agricultural research institutes, universities, investors, NGOs and other CGIAR research centres.

Core competencies

Education

PhD. Or equivalent in a bio-physical engineering or social science relevant to the needs and principles of integrated natural resources management.

Work experience

At least 5 yrs experience in research related to both livestock and water resources management in either or both South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa within a multi-institutional and interdisciplinary working environment.

Languages

Excellent command of English and knowledge of French, Arabic, or other working languages of Asia and Africa is desirable.

Other desirable skills

• Knowledge of integrated methods and tools such as IWRM, INRM, Systems Ecology, Farming Systems Research, Watershed Management and Integrated River Basin Management is needed. • Strong team and communications skills including writing and public speaking are expected. • Ability to maintain effective working relations with investors and research partners is essential.

Terms of appointment

Initial appointment is for three years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and the availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive remuneration package paid in US dollars.

Applications

Applicants should send a cover letter (quoting Ref: SC/T5/04/2006), curriculum vitae and the names and addresses (including telephone, fax and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience, to the Human Resources Office, ILRI, P.O. Box 30709 00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Telephone: 254-020-4223000; Fax: 254-020-4223001; e-mail: recruit-ilri@cgiar.org. The name and reference number of the position for which the application is made should be clearly marked on the envelopes of mailed, or on the fax or email applications. The application deadline is: 30th April 2006.To find more about ILRI, visit our Website at http://www.ilri.org/ ILRI is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women and professionals from developing countries are particularly encouraged to apply.

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