Closing date: 30 Jun 2024

Background

In Africa, cereal is an important source of food security but also income and employment for smallholders, particularly in the rural areas. The recent invasion of fall armyworm (FAW) in Africa, however, threatens maize production for millions of smallholder farmers in the continent because few agroecological pest management innovations exist against the pest. In partnership with the private sector and national agricultural research and extension organizations (NARES), icipe has developed climate-smart, gender-responsive, agro-ecological approaches such as habitat management (push-pull companion plants) and biorational products (biologicals, parasitoids, and sex pheromones) for FAW management. Some of these innovations are already used by farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa but are unavailable in southern African countries. This project aims to test, adapt, and demonstrate the suitability of these innovations in the context of smallholder farming systems in a multi-environment through a public-private-people partnership (PPPP) approach, and scale promising combinations of innovations using innovative and inclusive dissemination mechanisms in Uganda, Malawi, and Zambia.  The project will use diverse strategies including digital approaches to monitor FAW dynamics, assess demand for innovations by smallholders, establish a multi-stakeholder platform for knowledge exchange among actors related to agroecological FAW management, enhance targeting disadvantaged groups (women, youth), and ensure feedback from end-users. It will also use various dissemination approaches (social media networks, digital extension, nudging, field days and demonstrations, and early-warning systems) to create awareness and stimulate adoption within the multi-stakeholder platforms.

 On a gender lens, the project will assess the socioeconomic and environmental drivers of value chains of FAW innovations and estimate the demand for innovations to support awareness creation, facilitate adoption, inform policy decisions, and ultimately ensure project sustainability. The project is seeking a candidate to support the project to conduct this assessment in Malawi. A highly motivated candidate will be engaged to carry out this study in 12 months.

 The successful candidate is expected to undertake a comprehensive literature review and develop a concept/proposal for the study, conduct data curation and analysis, write a report, a thesis, and at least one manuscript, and communicate research findings to the project partners and other stakeholders.

 Eligibility criteria

• MUST be a national of Malawi.
• Degree in Gender and Development Studies or related disciplines.
• MUST already have registered in a university in Malawi and completed and passed course work before commencing the research study.
• The MSc student will be engaged for 12 months and will be supported with research funds (Note: The project does not provide funds for tuition fees).
• Knowledge in data collection and analytical software (e.g. Cspro, ODK and STATA, SPSS)
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills.
• Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Candidates who are staff members of a public university, or considered for university teaching or research staff recruitment, are encouraged to apply.
• Qualified female candidates and candidates from less privileged regions or groups as well as candidates with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

 The MSc position is based in Malawi. 

 How to apply

Applications will be accepted up to 30^th June 2024.

• Fill in the application form.
• A concise letter of motivation.
• A detailed CV (name, contact details, age, and gender), the names of at least 3 relevant referees.
• Copies of BSc and MSc diplomas and transcripts indicating all courses and obtained degrees.
• Do not submit your application by email. Only applications and supporting documents submitted online will be accepted.
• Applications submitted by email will be rejected.

Please note that: -

• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
• Short-listed candidates are subject to an interview/written assessment.

Timeline

Closing date for applications 30^th June 2024.

 Questions

If you have any questions regarding the Programme or your application to icipe, kindly contact Ms. Vivian Atieno, Capacity Building Officer, icipe. Email: vatieno@icipe.org