Research Officer on Sustainable Domestic Value Chains of Wildlife, Timber and Cocoa

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SEND TO EMAILReference number: 2109
Job Status: In-progress
Job Category: Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS)
Duty Station: Yaounde
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CIFOR-ICRAF
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where forestry and landscapes enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR-ICRAF are non-profit, scientific institutions that conduct research on the most pressing challenges of forest and landscape management around the world. Using a global, multidisciplinary approach, we aim to improve human well-being, protect the environment, and increase equity. Our work focuses on innovative research, developing partners’ capacity, and actively engaging in dialogue with all stakeholders to inform policies and practices that affect forests and people. Our work spans the globe, with expertise in the ‘global South’. Founded in 1993 and 1978 respectively, CIFOR-ICRAF began merging on January 1, 2019. They 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

Research Officer on Sustainable Domestic Value Chains of Wildlife, Timber and Cocoa

Overview

The CIFOR Value Chain, Finance and Investment (VFI) team has been studying the legality and sustainability of value chains associated with tropical forests for many years. In Central Africa, numerous studies have been carried out on value chains for the wildlife and timber sectors, and more recently for cocoa. The challenge today is to understand how these commodity chains can become sustainable and formal under the pressure of external events, such as the COVID crisis, media campaigns in favor of green consumption or changes in consumer attitudes.Three projects will cover this research.First is the project entitled “Identifying and mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on legal and sustainable wildlife trade in low and middle income countries” (LMICs). The aim of this project is to develop evidence-based guidelines for regulating wildlife trade to address the risks of COVID-19 without undermining legal and sustainable wildlife trade economies. This project will use trade data, interviews and the Delphi method to achieve the following objectives: (1) track changing wildlife trade trends during the pandemic; (2) assess the impacts of these changing trends on people engaged in wildlife economies; and (3) formulate new guidelines for safe, legal and sustainable wildlife trade in the COVID-19 era.Second, the project entitled “Essor des transactions de sciages d’origine légale au Cameroun” aims to increase the use of legal timber in Cameroon by increasing the quantity of legal timber produced, supporting the emergence of national demand for legal timber, and facilitating transactions between suppliers and consumers of lega timber products.Lastly, the project entitled “Appui à la conservation de la forêt communautaire de la COPAL” supports measures for forest conservation in the COPAL community forest, accompanied by investments in the surrounding area for sustainable eco-development for the benefit of local communities, through legal and efficient cocoa production, forest plantations and the legal small-scale exploitation of timber.This assignment will involve conducting semi-structured interviews with participants in bushmeat supply chains, including exporters (if relevant), intermediaries and harvesters/hunters; advocating for consuming timber with legal origin in Cameroonian domestic markets; and integrating sustainable value chains in the revision of the Simple Management Plan for the COPAL community forest.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior Scientist and Hub Leader, the Research Officer will:

• Contribute to the design and implementation of survey protocols in commodity chains
• Data collection and analysis: contribute to data synthesis and analyses in support of CIFOR-ICRAF research on value chains and livelihoods
• Coordinate field operations and assist in ensuring project financial obligations are met in accordance with existing procedures
• Engagement actions: When requested, work with multiple stakeholders from both within and outside the scientific community by attending meetings and presenting project overviews; preparing and delivering oral presentations on project issues; and communicating complex or substantive project information provided by or at the direction of the Project Leader
• Reporting and scientific writing: A track record of co-authoring or contributing to one (1) publication (journal, book chapter, policy brief, OP, etc.).

Education, knowledge and experience

• A minimum of a master’s degree in forestry sciences and/or rural development and/or rural economics
• A minimum of 3 years of experience working in research or development organizations
• Expertise in qualitative data collection and analysis with proven experience conducting semi-structured interviews. Expertise in quantitative data collection and analysis an asset
• Proven experience in the analysis of rural economies and in the study of the exploitation of forest resources by local populations in Central Africa
• Deep knowledge of the processes of creation and management of a community forest, and of the limits of this approach
• Proven experience in organizing and facilitating workshops with partners in urban and rural areas
• Demonstrated experience producing written products (in English and French) for a variety of audiences, including academics, nongovernmental organizations or governments
• Experience in the use of current geomatics software (GIS, remote sensing) and statistical processing
• Experience in teamwork and fieldwork with rural people
• Fluency in English and French.

Personal Attributes and Competencies

• Competent in personal organization and priority setting, with the ability to work effectively under time pressure and to manage multiple priorities
• Demonstrate initiative, be capable of working independently and as an effective team player
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with people in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment
• Experience working with a wide and diverse network of groups and individuals.

Terms and conditions

• This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position. CIFOR offers competitive remuneration in local currency, commensurate with skills and experience.
• The appointment will be for a period of 2 years, inclusive of a 6-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 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
  
  To apply, please visit our career site at: https://www.cifor.org/careers or http://worldagroforestry.org/working-for-icraf/vacanciesTo learn more about CIFOR-ICRAF, please visit our websites at: https://www.cifor.org and https://www.worldagroforestry.orgCIFOR-ICRAF is an equal opportunity employer. Staff diversity contributes to excellence.

Application process

The application deadline is 08 Mar-2021
We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.