Communication Specialist

Communication Specialist
“Integrated Vegetable Seed System Development for ethnic minority groups
in Northern Vietnam for enhanced nutrition and income security”
Asia Regional Office, Hanoi, Vietnam

The Organization

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (www.ciat.cgiar.org) develops technologies, innovative methods, and research-based based solutions in agriculture and the environment, in order to increase prosperity and improve human nutrition in the tropics, and by doing so, help the world secure a sustainable food future. CIAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org), a global research partnership for a food secure future. The Center’s research focuses on increasing productivity of key crops (cassava, common bean, rice, and tropical forages), developing sustainable agroecosystems and landscapes, and using the information to foster better decisions about issues such as climate resilience and inclusive markets.

About the job and project team

We are currently recruiting a communication specialist for the project “Integrated vegetable seed systems development among ethnic minority communities in Northern Vietnam for enhanced nutrition and income security” (April 2019-March 2022).

Vegetables are the main source of income and nutrition for ethnic minority farmers in Vietnam’s Northern highlands. While value chains for fresh retail produce and seed markets offer huge opportunities for development, particularly for women and youth inclusion, current smallholder systems suffer from multiple problems (production and institutional). The project addresses these issues by elucidating how, and under what conditions, increased access and use of high-quality seed translate into enhanced smallholder income and nutrition security and includes both types of research, capacity building and knowledge sharing activities.

The project is implemented by a consortium of CIAT, Bioversity International, Wageningen University, the Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute, the Vietnamese Farmer Union, Tan Loc Phat, and Vinaseed, and contributes to the CGIAR research program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH), specifically Flagship 1 on ‘Food Systems for Healthier Diets’.

Main duties

The communication specialist plays a critical role in linking research and development by translating research findings and lessons into knowledge sharing and capacity building products and events. The communication specialist is expected to:

• Coordinate overall communication strategy in consultation with project partners
• Support partners in developing capacity building and knowledge sharing material and events (incl. training material for farmers, extension material, exchange visits by farmers, etc.)
• Take lead, coordinate and supervise knowledge sharing/capacity building events (e.g., result/knowledge sharing events, video-production, and editing, a masterclass on seed systems, etc.)
• Facilitate internal and external communication through the organization of webinars, websites, blogs/newsletters, etc.

Requirements for this position

We are looking for a local communication specialist to coordinate, lead and support capacity building and knowledge sharing products and events as implemented by project partners in the project.

Specific requirements are:

• Vietnamese national, proficient in English and Vietnamese writing/speaking
• At least 3 years of working experience as a communication/capacity building specialist
• Hands-on experience with the development of communication and capacity building material and organization of events (preferably in both Vietnamese and English).
• BSc degree or specialized training in communication and/or another relevant degree
• Affinity/background in agricultural and/or rural development (preferably with ethnic minorities)
• Excellent communication skills with interest to be part of an international and interdisciplinary team on a part-time basis for an extended time.

Terms of Appointment

This position concerns a part-time position (50%) or a fixed number of days for 1 year, with possible extension with another year; the terms of and type of contract are to be discussed and agreed upon.

Prefered starting date is March 2020.

Additional information

For more information about this position, please contact Kees Swaans, CIAT senior researcher/project leader ([email protected]) and/or Ysabel Lee, CIAT communication officer for Asia ([email protected]).

Applications

Interested candidates are encouraged to provide a detailed CV and application letter (in English), and minimal two professional references, to CIAT Human Resources Assistant, Ms. Huyen Kieu ([email protected]) by Wednesday, February 5th, 2020; correspondence must clearly indicate in the subject “Application: Communication specialist NWO-SSD”. Selection and interview will be performed in January (only short-listed candidates will be contacted).

Please indicate in your CV the duration of the BSc and MSc programs; add a scan of your BSc and MSc diploma, and a scanned passport or identity card.