THE ORGANIZATION
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT deliver research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people's lives. Alliance solutions address the global crisis of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.
The Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.
About the position
The Senior Research Associate - Markets and Seed Systems will contribute towards facilitating the scaling out of quality seed of improved varieties, enterprise development and creating linkages in output markets in the commodity corridor. In addition, the position holder will support the development of tools and methodologies for value chain analyses, supporting scaling of multi-stakeholder platforms (MSP) and other related market research work necessary to develop the value chains.
Key duties & responsibilities
- Collaborate with relevant public and private sector institutions, contribute to deploying and scaling up climate-resilient legumes in Sub-Sahara Africa (focusing on PABRA countries).
- Provide support in research designs, field work, data collection and analyses, research syntheses, policy engagements, publications, as well as in monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning.
- Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis of the bean market value chain data and document the impact of market interventions on the smallholder farmers.
- Provide advice related to business development services to bean seed producers, grain traders and processors to enhance delivery of business services in a sound manner.
- Strengthen the capacity of the national research partners, private sector and non-private sector in value chain research, market linkages and other facilitation skills
- Design and support the implementation of market value chain research in Africa including beans and associated value chains
- Prepare investment plans for private and public sector investments in bean value chains including seed supply
- Facilitate the establishment, support, monitor and strengthen the multi-stakeholder platforms (MSP) in different countries
- Participate in the development and testing of sustainable market linkages and business models that enhance market access for smallholder farmers in collaboration with market value chain actors and other stakeholders
- Design and develop marketing and promotional strategies including working with health and nutrition teams to promote bio-fortified beans and materials for products promoted in different countries in collaboration with national partners
- Perform other tasks as assigned as a member of Pan African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) team
Requirements
- MSc degree in agricultural science (agricultural economics/Agribusiness, Agriculture etc.), Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, social science or related field with an understanding of seed systems and strengthening partnerships for delivery of agricultural programs in developing countries.
- Experience in research, supporting enterprise development and facilitating marketing activities with partner
- Experience in market surveys of different actors along the crop value chain
- Experience working with National Agriculture Research Systems (NARES) and smallholder farmers is a plus.
- Ability to prepare research and project reports, manuals and other dissemination materials such as blogs, newsletters,
- communication reports etc
- A good understanding of the problem of market access in Tanzania and Africa
- Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision but also participate as a team member in accomplishment of
- duties.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with advanced written and verbal communication skills in English and Swahili.
- Strong ability to co-ordinate, prioritize and organize workload; take initiative and work under pressure.
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
- Commitment to The Alliance of the Bioversity International and CIAT's mission and core values.
Terms of employment
This position is a nationally recruited position based in Arusha, Tanzania. The initial contract will be for 1 year subject to a probation period of 3 months and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.
This position is graded at BG07, level, with a minimum basic salary of TZS 3,929,704 in a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to insurance, retirement plan, staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working arrangements.
The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
Applications
Applicants are invited to visit https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number RFP300671- Senior Research Associate - Markets and Seed Systems as the position applied for. Cover letter and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate's last name, first name for ease of sorting. The Alliance collects and process personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
Applications closing date: 11th July 2025
- MSc degree in agricultural science (agricultural economics/Agribusiness, Agriculture etc.), Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, social science or related field with an understanding of seed systems and strengthening partnerships for delivery of agricultural programs in developing countries.