Basin Leader at CGIAR – Challenge Program on Water and Food

Location: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Last Date: July 31, 2010

Basin Leader

The CGIAR – Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) is an international initiative focusing on the provision of water, food and environmental security. A vital step towards reaching this goal is to increase the productivity of water used for agriculture, leaving more water for other uses and the environment. The CPWF is creating research-based knowledge and methods for growing more food with less water(www.waterforfood.org). The success of this initiative depends in large measure on the capacity of scientists in the target river basins to carry out the research needed to achieve these ambitions. To support the advancement of research for development in the CPWF river basins and at programmatic level, the program is seeking a candidate to lead a research for development program on small reservoirs and rainwater harvesting in the Volta Basin.

The newly formed CGIAR Consortium is preparing its strategic framework and, as a result, the CPWF will be fully integrated into the Consortium Research Program concerned with water and food and related aspects. The timescale for this is not yet clear but all CPWF commitments will be fulfilled.

The position will be based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The position reports to the CPWF Associate Director and the selected candidate is expected to:

· Agree on methodological approaches;

· Report regularly on progress in fostering outputs and impact;

· Prepare reports on behalf of the Associate Director for submission to the CPWF Management Team or other entities, regarding progress in fostering and achieving impact;

· Respond to questions and/ or concerns raised by the CPWF Management Team or other entities, with regard to impacts and impact pathways and related tools and strategies.

· Assist the Associate Director in liaising with the CGIAR Science Council, CGIAR Centers, Mega-Programs and other partners with regard to all tasks for which responsibility is held.

· Be the CPWF point person in the basin and liaise with basin stakeholders and decision-makers.


JOB PURPOSE:

The Basin Leader (BL) is an innovative, energetic, visionary individual who oversees and coordinates the implementation of a set of CPWF research projects aimed at addressing a well-defined Basin Development Challenge (BDC) for the Volta basin. The BL has management, coordination, networking and research management responsibilities, in addition to his/her role as Project Leader of the Coordination and Change Project.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Volta BDC Coordination, M&E and Adaptive Management

· Ensure programmatic coherence around commonly agreed outcome and impact pathways in which projects understand their role and the role of others.

· Work to identify and track interdependencies between BDC projects, for example outputs from one project required by another, and then to monitor that these outputs are delivered on time in the format required and previously agreed upon between projects.

· Ensure common data management protocols between projects, where necessary.

· Regularly monitor projects against delivery and quality of research output, reporting back to the CPWF Management Team and ensuring transparency with project leaders.

· Query, discuss and make recommendations to CPWF Management Team on project requests to make changes to milestone plans

· Commission and conduct outcome and impact evaluations as deemed necessary, in consultation with CPWF Management Team.

Adaptive management

· Using data, evidence and analysis to query and reflect on the logic and assumptions underpinning outcome and impact pathways, and to re-direct and re-design research issues in coordination with other projects, leading to more appropriate pathways with more probability of success

· Organize and facilitate regular “reflection workshop” for the whole BDC



2. Fostering change and strengthened platforms for innovation

Fostering Change

· Develop and maintain two-way channels to influence policy and other forms of institutional change so as to build an enabling environment for the changes BDC research is aiming to achieve, while ensuring that BDC projects are aware of emerging opportunities and threats.

· Engage in, and provide BDC projects access to, multi-stakeholder platforms that can make use of BDC research results

· Seek to broker linkages between people, organizations and sectors to further BDC objectives

Innovation Research

· Coordinate documentation of project and BDC efforts to respond to opportunity and achieve outcomes, draw lessons from what is learnt and ensure that lessons influence future action in the BDC and beyond.



3. Communications

· Ensure effective communication of what BDC research is doing both inside and outside the program, and so build recognition for this work and contribute to position the CPWF to influence a wide range of decision makers based on learning and experience. This includes identifying, developing, packaging and disseminating key messages, risk analysis, identifying targets, building partnerships in communication, etc.

· Provide support to projects in developing and implementing communications strategies

· Evaluate effectiveness of various strategies for dissemination as input to on-going adaptation of communication strategies

· Wider influence through improved communication with the wider stakeholder community at the “process level”

· Consult with the CPMT regarding fundraising initiatives with donors in the basin



4. Capacity building

· Carry out regular audits of project capacity building needs and coordinate efforts to meet them. In particular:

o Support project efforts to identify and solve bottlenecks to achieving outcome targets relating to capacity of stakeholders involved

o Build project learning, monitoring and evaluation capacity where necessary



5. Gender mainstreaming

· Responsible for ensuring integration of a gender perspective in project design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation to ensure that it remains visible as part of the BDC way of working contributing to achieving BDC outcomes

SELECTION CRITERIA:

The following table outlines attributes the ideal candidate will possess. These form the criteria against which applications will be assessed.

Qualifications:	ESSENTIAL PhD and/or equivalent in a field related to agricultural science or water science.
Experience:	ESSENTIAL 10 years significant professional experience in building partnerships in a research for development environment. Experience in motivating teams of people from diverse cultures, backgrounds and expertise Experience and/or understanding of the concepts of monitoring, evaluation, impact assessment, network management (partnerships for impact), impact pathways and related tools, innovation systems, participatory approaches, gender analysis, facilitating stakeholder group interaction, logical frameworks, and quantitative cost benefit analysis techniques. Experience, and/or understanding, and appreciation of the role of communications in an impact strategy, including working with communications professionals to identify innovative ways in which to use a variety of media to reach a range of audiences. DESIRABLE Professional experience in several developing countries is desirable.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:	ESSENTIAL Sound, proven ability to interact effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, among them research managers and scientists, policymakers, government officials, representatives of the private sector (including farmers, fishers and other members of the rural community), leaders and staff of NGOs and other extension and development institutions both public and private. Outstanding communication skills, verbal and written, in English. Fluency in French is essential.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The terms and conditions of the role are governed by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) who acts as host to the CPWF and its staff. This is an international position with a competitive salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include a housing allowance, transport, education, shipping assistance, annual home leave, retirement, and health insurance package. The appointment will be for 3 years, subject to renewal, depending on performance and the needs of CPWF or the Consortium Research Program of which CPWF forms a part.

HOW TO APPLY:

· Complete application form http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/About_IWMI/Vacancies/

· Attach your résumé and list of publications,

· Attach a letter of application, which specifically addresses the selection criteria outlined in the table above and include the names and addresses of 3 referees who may be contacted if you are short-listed.

· Submit online.

Our on-line HR recruitment system is quite new and you should receive an automated reply. If you have not received this acknowledgement e-mail within 24 hours of sending your application, then contact: The Human Resources Office, IWMI, P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Email: work-at-iwmi@cgiar.org

Application deadline: 31 July 2010 – or until the position is filled.

It is desirable that the successful applicant take up the appointment by 1 October 2010.

For further information visit - http://www.waterandfood.org

INTERNATIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Tel: 94-11-2880000, Fax: 94-11-2786854, Email: work-at-iwmi@cgiar.org

IWMI is an equal opportunity employer and is keen to further diversify its staff in terms of both gender and nationality.