Africa Rice is an association of 24 African member states and one of the 15 international Centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). AfricaRice’s mission is to contribute to poverty alleviation and food security in Africa, through research, development and partnership activities aimed at increasing the productivity and profitability of the rice sector in ways that ensure the sustainability of the farming environments. AfricaRice is temporarily headquartered in Cotonou, Benin.
Responsibilities
The social scientist will be part of a multi-disciplinary research team working to sustain and improve the productivity of rice-based systems in rainfed, irrigated and lowland ecologies of Africa consistent with AfricaRice’s mission and mandate. She/he will conduct strategic and applied research on institutional and organizational constraints to collective action and governance in NRM, with special emphasis on inland valley systems in West Africa. His/her specific tasks will include the following:
o Develop and implement a research program focused around social, cultural, organizational and institutional dimensions of rice sector development, related to land tenure, water management, group formation and collective action and governance in NRM
o Provide leadership to social science activities conducted at the household – community level and ensure that these are captured in mid-term plans and future R&D projects
o Interact closely with other AfricaRice programs
o Actively link with R&D partners that operate at district – national or watershed level to ensure out-scaling of results
o Build capacity within national programs and universities in social science, supervise MSc and PhD students
o Participate actively in ongoing research projects
o Develop annual work plans and budgets in consultation with the Program Leader, project coordinators and team members
o Publish research results in peer reviewed journals and other relevant outlets
o Actively participate in the dissemination of research results of direct relevance to farmers and other rice development stakeholders
o Participate in and contribute to resource mobilization efforts
o Undertake any other duties as required by the Center
Qualification
The selected candidate should have:
• A PhD in innovation systems research, sociology or related fields
• More than five years work experience, preferably in Africa
• Strong statistics and systems analysis skills
• Excellent communication skills in either English or French, with a working knowledge of the other
• An excellent publication record
Duration of the Appointment:
The appointment is for two years with possibility for renewal
Application procedure:
Candidates should send an application (including date of availability and a statement of any special qualifications for the position) and an up-to-date curriculum vitae with the names and addresses (including telephone / fax / e-mail) of three referees to:
Human Resources Manager
AfricaRice
01 BP 2031 Cotonou, Benin
F: + (229) 21 35 05 56; T: (229) 21 35 01 88
Email: africarice-hr@cgiar.org
Applications will be considered up to August 20, 2010 or until the position is filled.
AfricaRice believes that staff diversity promotes excellence in its operations, and encourages applications from women and developing country professionals. AfricaRice thanks all applicants but only the short listed candidates will be contacted.
Research Scholarship, The Africa Rice Center, Africa
NGS Scholarship (NGSS),NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
The NGS Scholarship is awarded to talented students with an aptitude for innovative, high calibre PhD research.
Terms
* Monthly stipend of S$3,200 up to 4 years of the PhD studies, or up to date of graduation, whichever is earlier.
* Payment of full tuition fees up to 4 years of PhD or up to date of graduation, whichever is earlier.
* Other allowances include
1. computer allowance
2. book allowance
3. conference allowance.
* Student must commit to PhD from the outset, cannot exit with MSc.
* No bond
Eligibility
* Opens worldwide.
* Graduates with a passion for research.
* Graduates with at least 2nd Upper Honours, or equivalent qualifications.
* GRE is compulsory for students applying from overseas. Only strongly recommended for graduates from local institutions, e.g. NUS or NTU.
* TOEFL is compulsory (ONLY applicable for applicants whose native tongue or medium of undergraduate instruction is not in English).
Condition
* Students are not eligible for the President’s Graduate Fellowship (PGF).
* Award is renewable, subject to satisfactory academic performance of CAP ? 3.8 at the end of every semester.
Supervisors
NGS members in NUS and Duke-NUS in integrated research programmes.
Closing Date 15 September 2010
AGMARDT Postdoctoral Fellowship, New Zealand
This is to ensure that the research and training capabilities and capacity are maintained at the level needed to achieve and maintain competitive advantage within the global agribusiness sector.
The Trust shall achieve this purpose by awarding Fellowships pursuant to these Regulations and on the recommendation of the AGMARDT Advisory Panel provided however that the Trust may at any time choose not to offer further awards.
Number:
A maximum number of up to three postdoctoral fellowships may be awarded to New Zealand Universities and CRIs in October of each year. The University or CRI will, in association with an AGMARDT representative, identify the Fellow proposed to carry out the research.Fewer Fellowships will be awarded if it is the opinion of AGMARDT that fewer than three applications of sufficient merit have been received.
Research Areas:
Fellowships are available to Universities and CRIs within New Zealand for research in line with AGMARDT’s purpose as set out in AGMARDT Postdoctoral Fellowship Regulations.
The AGMARDT Trustees will consider research applications in any field related to agriculture, horticulture or forestry for each funding round where a significant capability or capacity short-fall has been identified.
The closing date for applications is 31 August 2010.
