The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources. CIFOR-ICRAF is looking for a
Technical Assistant Wood Energy – Production site
Overview
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), shifting agriculture and the production of fuelwood are the main income-generating activities for peri-urban populations but are also the main causes of deforestation and forest degradation. In the Yangambi landscape, which covers 220,000 hectares of tropical forest in the DRC's Tshopo province, the supply of charcoal to the large urban center of Kisangani has led to forest degradation, in the absence of practices sustainable in terms of supply and inefficient carbonization. About 81% of households in Kisangani use charcoal for cooking, for a total demand of 2.7 million m3 of firewood per year. Only 16% of households used any type of improved stove in 2021.
To address the overexploitation of firewood resources and ecosystem disruption in the Yangambi landscape, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) has been testing since 2020 several options on sustainable wood energy to contribute to the reducing anthropogenic pressure on forests and improving the livelihoods of local communities in the Yangambi landscape.
In fuelwood production areas, CIFOR helps producer households establish agroforestry plantations that are sustainable sources of fuelwood. Acacia auriculiformis trees have been intercropped with food crops such as maize, cassava, groundnuts, cowpea and rice in agroforestry rotation plantations. In a 6–7-year rotation system, the tree plantations will contribute to two main objectives: first, to create a reliable source of firewood that can be harvested annually (from 2026) to meet growing urban demand; and second, to reduce the pressure on the surrounding intact forests.
About 900 hectares of plantations (750 ha of acacias and 150 ha of native trees) have already been established in the Yangambi landscape (between January 2020 and May 2023) to help reduce pressure on natural and intact forests, but also to diversify the sources of income for wood energy producers.
Producers are also trained in improved carbonization techniques to improve the performance of their kilns and increase their yield to avoid the loss of woody biomass during the wood carbonization process. Producer yields have doubled from an average of 11% for traditional earthen ovens to 22-24% for improved traditional earthen ovens based on seasoned wood.
In the city of Kisangani, 4 local microenterprises which manufacture improved stoves, and which have been supported on the basis of their performance, have produced more than 10,000 additional stoves for the year 2022 to contribute to the reduction of wood energy consumption and the reduction in household fuel expenditure. The performance of these improved stoves varies between 35 and 46% fuel savings and 18% reduction in cooking time. These companies have formed a platform for sharing experiences. This platform is open to all other companies in the city of Kisangani who wish to learn from the technical and organizational experiences of these four companies already supported by CIFOR-ICRAF.
Given its objectives and the progress made, CIFOR-ICRAF is expanding its team to contribute to the sustainability of these achievements in the sector of sustainable production and consumption of wood energy in the Yangambi landscape with the following ambitions in the medium and long term: - The planting and maintenance of 4,000 hectares of agroforestry systems including trees for fuelwood, including 2,000 hectares, planted between 2020-2026, becoming productive from 2026 and a total of 4,000 hectares becoming productive from 2032. - The manufacture and distribution of improved stoves for a production of 50,000 stoves from 2026. (2023: 20,000, 2024: 30,000, 2025: 40,000 improved stoves). - Promotion of improved yield ovens to efficiently transform (
Duties and responsibilities Establish and monitor activities of nurseries and agro-forestry plantations for sustainable wood energy. Support the producers and members of associations in their activities and capacity enhancement for wood fuel plantations, efficient carbonization, and related activities. Actively engage with association members and other actors in the villages to create a strong will to cooperate and recognize the value and ownership of established fuel wood plantations. Facilitate the cohabitation of the different social classes of the village during the construction of nurseries and village plantations. Other Responsibilities Participate in the support of transversal activities of the project, including farmer schools and other relevant activities and exchanges. Planning, budgeting and reporting of activities.
Education, knowledge and experience
- Solid experience working in the field with communities
- Technical experience in nurseries, plantations and agroforestry
- Relevant educational background (sociology, environmental studies, forestry).
- Have knowledge of integrated soil fertility management.
- Languages requested: Lingala, French. English, Swahili and other local languages are desired.
Terms and conditions
- This is a Locally Recruited Staff (LRS) position. CIFOR-ICRAF offers competitive remuneration in local currency, commensurate with skills and experience.
- The appointment will be for 1 (one) year, inclusive of a three-month probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
- The duty station will be in Kisangani, DRC.
To apply, please visit our career site at: https://www.cifor.org/careers and https://www.worldagroforestry.org/working-for-icraf
To learn more about CIFOR-ICRAF, please visit our websites at: https://www.cifor-icraf.org
CIFOR-ICRAF promotes Gender Diversity – Applications from women professionals are encouraged.
CIFOR-ICRAF is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity.Application process The application deadline is 20 Oct-2023
We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.