Nutritionist (Post-Doctoral Fellow)

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (www.ciat.cgiar.org) works to reduce hunger and poverty, and improve human nutrition in the tropics through research aimed at increasing the eco-efficiency of agriculture. CIAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org), a global research partnership working many partners for a food secure future. The Center’s research focuses on increasing productivity of key crops (cassava, common bean, rice, and tropical forages); reversing soil and land degradation; and using information to foster better decisions about issues such as climate change and environmental management. Headquartered near Cali, Colombia, CIAT has regional offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Hanoi, Vietnam, with staff posted in other developing countries as well.
 
The Position
CIAT seeks a nutritionist to optimize nutritional outcomes within agricultural value chains through the work of the Pan-African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) and CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (http://www.a4nh.cgiar.org/). The incumbent will participate in design and testing of nutrition-sensitive solutions to increase the availability, affordability, safety, quality and consumption of selected nutritious foods.
PABRA works to promote nutrition-sensitive value chain development in Africa in collaboration with the Linking Farmers to Markets theme of CIAT’s Decision and Policy Analysis (DAPA) Research Area. The aim is to increase the production and consumption of safer, more diverse, and nutrient-dense foods for improved food and nutrition security and higher incomes among smallholder farmers and peri-urban and urban consumers (focusing on the first 1,000-days target groups and other vulnerable populations). A multidisciplinary research team, working in partnership with national and international organizations will apply a holistic, demand-driven, impact- oriented action research approach to assess sustainable food availability, food access, food use, food quality, food safety, and food utilization, giving particular attention to gender equality, inclusive business relationships, and sustainability of agricultural production.
Main responsibilities include:
 The incumbent is expected to bring a nutrition lens to the value chain approach applied by PABRA and DAPA in project development, planning, and implementation and provide support on technical issues related to agriculture, value chains, and nutrition.
 Design and implement research, and analyze quantitative and qualitative survey data for publication in peer-reviewed journals and other impact-oriented products, such as presentations at scientific meetings
 Participate in the development and testing of tools and methodologies for value chain and nutrition analysis to better understand aspects of food supply and demand
 Support research on identifying market opportunities and “value propositions” for products to increase consumer demand and consumption
 Support the development of bean-based nutrient-dense products in target markets, responding to previously identified nutrition priorities, consumer preferences, and market opportunities
www.ciat.cgiar.org
 Contribute to the integration of nutrition-sensitive and/or nutrition-specific market-based solutions into national food and nutrition security plans, policies, projects, and programs in target countries for improved food and nutrition security
 Participate in new project development and fundraising activities
 
Requirements
 PhD in nutrition, food and consumer economics, food science, food technology, or a related discipline
 At least 1 year of research experience at the interface between agriculture, nutrition, and health, with a value chain background, preferably in East Africa
 Experience in applying methodologies and tools to assess household and individual food intake, food security, and dietary diversity and quality
 Proven publication record.
 Experience in project management and product development is an added advantage.
 Knowledge of low-cost processing technology for value addition/processing that can be applied in local communities and small and medium enterprises in target countries of East Africa.
 Experience with food consumption studies, sensory evaluation, and focus group discussions
 Ability to think and work independently as well as in teams
 Frequent travel and field work in both rural, urban and peri-urban area is required.
 Ability and capability to manage professional relationships, working in a complex, intercultural, and highly dynamic working environment.
 Very good English verbal and writing skills.
 
Terms of employment
The position will be based at the CIAT Office in Nairobi, Kenia. The contract will be for an initial 2 year period, subject to a probation period of six (6) months, renewable depending on performance and funding. CIAT offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits; we believe that the diversity of their staff contributes to excellence.
 
How to apply
Applicants are invited to send a CV and cover letter illustrating their suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications, competencies, skills together with a detailed curriculum vitae, including names and addresses of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. All correspondence should be addressed to the CIAT Human Resources Office to Alice Kareri (a.kareri@cgiar.org). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Closing date for applications: March 13th, 2014 or until a suitable candidate is identified.