Development and Value Chain Specialist Jobs in Guwahati - International Potato Center

• International Potato Center (CIP) is looking for a creative and enthusiastic Development and Value Chain Specialist who can contribute understanding and using the potential of potato markets and market-based interventions to reduce rural poverty in Assam, India.
  
• The Project: The Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation project (APART) is a comprehensive development project involving national and international partners funded by the World Bank. 
• The project objective is to add value and improve resilience of selected agriculture value chains in targeted districts of Assam. 
• CIP’s engagement is to provide technical backstopping, innovations, and capacity building along the entire potato value chain to increase its productivity, and improve the livelihoods of small-scale and marginal farmers. 
• CIP will work in close collaboration with Assam government, university and private sector partners.
  
• The Position: This position will be based in Guwahati, India and will report to the Project Manager. 
• The selected candidate will have a deep commitment to advancing rural development with smallholders. 
• He/she will have proven experience in designing and implementing research on markets and value chains, smallholders production systems, and small and medium rural businesses, including cooperatives and producers’ associations. 
• Candidates with experience in gender relations and consumer-oriented research, including nutrition, will be prioritized.
•  The candidate will work with interdisciplinary science teams at CIP’s regional office in New Delhi, India and headquarters in Lima, Peru. 
• The work duties include frequent travel within Assam.
  

 Duties and Accountabilities:

• Support partners in potato market research and value chain analysis.  
  
• Support the development of rural enterprises and the formation of Value Chain Schools for linking smallholders to dynamic value chains and exploiting emerging market opportunities.  
  
• Provide key technical input into training programs to strengthen the capacity of local partners and farmers especially encouraging rural women’s enterprises.
  
• Contribute to writing training materials, technical progress reports and annual reviews and workplans as directed by the Project Manager.
  

 Selection Criteria:

• Master’s degree in agricultural economics or social sciences, preferably with undergraduate in agriculture or rural development.
  
• At least 5 years relevant research experience in markets and value chains, including linking producers to consumers through participatory approaches.
  
• Experience in working with private sector partners for post-harvest and value chain innovations.
  
• Good data management and statistical skills and proficiency in the use of key software applications (MS Word, MS Excel)
  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Hindi (knowledge of regional languages would be an advantage).
  
• Extensive experiences in training programs and ability working in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
  

 Conditions:

• CIP’s assignment in the APART project is for five years. 
• This position is for one-year, with three-month probation period, and the possibility of annual renewal based on performance and the continuing availability of funds.
•  The position is local thus limited to Indian nationals and permanent residents. 
• CIP prides itself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth.