The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) advances human wellbeing, environmental conservation and equity by conducting research to inform policies and practices that affect forests in developing countries. CIFOR is a CGIAR Consortium Research Center. Their headquarters are in Bogor, Indonesia, and they have offices in Asia, Africa and South America.
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) advances human wellbeing, environmental conservation and equity by conducting research to inform policies and practices that affect forests in developing countries. CIFOR is a CGIAR Consortium Research Center. Their headquarters are in Bogor, Indonesia, and they have offices in Asia, Africa and South America.
Supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CIFOR is looking for an Associate Professional Officer to work on CIFOR research.
Title: Associate Professional Officer (APO)
Programme: Forests and Livelihoods Programme, Food Security and Rural Livelihoods
Supervisor: Scientist, Forests and Livelihoods Programme
Duty Station: Bogor, Indonesia
Eligibility
The position is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to people with Dutch nationality. For the criteria, please go to the website of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs at
www.minbuza.nl/contact/werken-bij/internationale-organisaties/assistent-deskundigen-programma
Duties and reponsibilities
To focus their work on forests and food security they require an additional researcher to focus on issues related to the interconnected nature of food security issues and the role of biodiversity within complex landscape mosaics. Issues such as land sparing and land sharing will play a prominent role in the research focus of a potential APO. These activities are listed in the CRP6.3 Operational Plan and, as such, the APO will contribute immediately to achieving current planned outputs. Appointing an APO focusing on food security issues will substantially contribute to the development of our research portfolio in this field.
The APO, in close collaboration with the CIFOR forests and food security team, will specifically contribute to the following outcomes:
- Documentation of the direct contribution of humid and dry forests, as well as managed and diverse agroforests, to the food and income security of rural and urban households, as well as research on policies and practices that enhance the productivity and sustainability, including market aspects, of these contributions
- Analysis of the role of forests in maintaining the genetic diversity of food plants, including the wild relatives of important tree crops, and of the processes and policies that sustain these resources
- Documentation of the contribution of forests and forested landscapes to maintenance of a variety of crucial ecosystem services that forests offer to agriculture, including regulation of water flow and quality, pollination services, and others, as well as research on policies and practices that minimise the tradeoffs and enhance synergies between conservation and food production needs
- Analysis of opportunities and assessment of the policy implications of interventions to enhance food security in the face of climatic change while also promoting climate mitigation
- Promotion of positive impacts and reduction of the negative impacts of global trade and investment as drivers of landscape change affecting forests, agroforestry, trees and the well being of local people.
Details of duties, assignments and objectives will be further discussed and laid out in the staff's annual performance contract.
Requirements
Education, experience and technical skills
- Masters of Science (or higher qualification) in an appropriate discipline (e.g. agronomy, food security, forestry, environmental services), with excellent understanding of issues related to forests, food security and rural livelihoods
- Preferably 2 – 4 years of relevant experience in collaborative research; experience in a developing country is an advantage
- Proven ability to write scientific publications in English
- Fluency in English is required. Additional language skills are desirable.
Personal attributes and competencies
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with people in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment
- Able to work independently, showing initiative, as well as in a team environment
- Good analytical and synthesis skills
- Good organisational skills, priority setting and managing multiple tasks
- Values sharing information and continuous improvement in a cooperative atmosphere of constructive evaluation and learning.
They are looking for people who share their mission and their commitment to professionalism, innovation, impact and collaboration.
Terms and conditions
- This is an internationally recruited position. CIFOR offers a competitive remuneration in US dollars commensurate with skills and experience.
- The appointment is initially for one year with possibility of extension up to a total of three years.
- The duty station will be at CIFOR headquarters in Bogor, Indonesia.
Applications process
- The application deadline is 28 September 2012.
- We will acknowledge all applications, but we will contact only short-listed candidates.
Please send your letter of interest and CV in English, including contact information for three referees, to:
Human Resources Department, CIFOR
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please indicate the position and its reference number in the email subject line.
For more information, kindly visit the official website: CIFOR Vacancy: Associate Professional Officer