Main duties and responsibilities:

• Facilitate the implementation of activities related to the expansion of the production of nutritious OFSP varieties, strengthening of rural and urban market demand, and improved utilization of OFSP among rural and urban consumers;
• Support institutional and policy support to nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Tigray region;
• Initiate and coordinate a campaign for the promotion of sweetpotato for improved nutrition and food security;
• Develop and document a behavioural-change strategy for new sweetpotato dishes and food products with emphasis on orange-fleshed sweetpotato;
• Identify public and private actors and food processors for the large-scale use and distribution of innovative sweetpotato-based food products;
• Ensure high quality implementation of project activities required for the achievement of project objectives;
• Provide and arrange training of staff of public and private partner institutions;
• In collaboration with partners, implement participatory agronomic research activities and ensure high quality implementation and documentation;
• Manage and supervise staff assigned to the project;
• Ensure timely procurement of supplies and services required for effective and efficient project implementation;
• Ensure the utilization and disbursement of project finance strictly as per agreed budget procedures;
• Draft, review and submit technical and financial reports as per the required guidelines and schedule;
• Contribute to the development of a Monitoring and Evaluation plans for the project, implement a baseline and endline surveys and subsequent follow-up studies, with particular emphasis on consumption and nutrition;
• Document and present findings in peer-reviewed international journals;
• Contribute to the development of new project ideas and proposals;
• Perform any other related duties as may be required.

Academic and professional qualifications:

Education:

• Masters or PhD degree in Agronomy, Horticulture, Agricultural Extension or relevant field
• Indepth knowledge in a technical or specialized field

Experience:

• Masters degree and ten years relevant experience Or PhD degree with three years relevant experience

Additional Skills:

• Proficient in English, with outstanding written, oral communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Advanced proficiency in the MS Office suite and adept at using internet tools.
• Experience in project management.
• Excellent organizational, administrative and time management skills
• Effective analytical, research and problem-solving skills
• Project Management-Budget Monitoring-Advanced studies in specific field related to agriculture.
• Field-based rural development project promoting agricultural or other technological innovation, preferably in Potato and sweetpotato.
• Excellent knowledge of innovation systems research and underlying social science methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative.
• Experience of coordinating multi-institutional collaboration in support of rural communities and their governance structures.
• Experience of coordinating rigorous M&E and hands-on technical reporting.
• Strong experience of using communication technologies as research and development tools