Research Officer I – Internal/External

•  Feb 19, 2025
•  Moyale, Somali, Ethiopia
•  Full-time
•  Livestock Climate Environment Program

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Research Officer I to supervise and coordinate rangelands activities in the field as part of a multi-partner One Health project. It is anticipated that the Research Officer will have strong knowledge and skills in participatory rangeland management and rangeland health and long experience in working with communities  in pastoral areas of Somali and Oromia regions. Ability to speak both Somali and Afaan Oromo is essential.

This position will have two main aspects. One to oversee, coordinate and strengthen a group of community rangeland health workers recently established under the HEAL Project. And two, strengthening of participatory rangeland management (PRM) interventions already established to build capacities of communities to better manage and restore their rangelands and resolve local resource-related conflicts.

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centers dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. www.ilri.org.

Key Responsibilities:

• Undertake a participatory assessment of local rangeland health problems, challenges and opportunities including examples of communities already taking action to address these;
• Develop plans of action with each community to address the problems and challenges, and support their implementation likely including dealing with invasive species and land restoration;
• Strengthen the capacities of community rangeland health workers (CRHWs) to carry out their responsibilities including trainings, ongoing on-the-job support and development of written or other materials;
• Develop methods and activities to sustain the CRHWs independently of external funding;
• Support the undertaking of consultations with government on establishing a rangeland health extension system, the undertaking of a feasibility study and development of proposals with government to fund this;
• Build the capacities of local government including those contributing to the government One Health Units on rangelands health;
• Facilitate learning across sites such as exchange visits;
• Document lessons learned and good practices of CRHWs including regular blogs and reports;
• Raise awareness and build support for CRHWs  at different levels, including within HEAL multi-stakeholder innovation platforms to increase demand for and more responsive service delivery;
• Technically support the implementation of participatory rangeland management (PRM) implementation being undertaken by partner NGOs and/or government in project areas.
• Support coordination of group rangeland health and management related activities;
• Assist in the integration of community livelihood activities to support One Health;
• Contribute to the undertaking of action research and activities on PRM and peacebuilding and assist in organisation of peace dialogues where appropriate;
• Support the continuation and where appropriate new establishment of school environmental health clubs and local information campaigns and events on rangelands health;
• Build the capacities of different stakeholders particularly communities to integrate gender and social equity into rangeland health and PRM activities;
• Liaise between the rest of the HEAL team (ILRI and partner organisations) at field level, represent ILRI and contribute to HEAL meetings as needed;
• Contribute to project reporting as required;
• Other activities as agreed with the ILRI HEAL project team.

Academic and professional qualifications:

Education:

• Masters’ degree in livestock, natural resource management, drylands or other relevant subject

Experience:

• At least three years’ experience working in rangeland management and related issues in Somali and Oromia regions, Ethiopia.
• Experience of working on rangeland health and preferably in a One Health context.
• Track record of working with NGOs, communities and other stakeholders in these areas.
• Experience of mainstreaming gender and social inclusion in environment and development processes and activities.
• Capacity to write well-structured reports, blogs and communication materials.

Skills:

• Strong coordination skills, ability to handle multiple tasks as the same time, work both independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge and skills in training and developing training materials and guidelines.
• Ability to write and speak Somali and Afaan Oromo as well as Amharic and English.

Duty Station:    Moyale

Grade:  HG 13

Minimum Base Salary:  

• Birr 42,084 per month

Terms of appointment:  This is a National Staff (NS) position, initial appointment is for two years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and the availability of funding. The ILRI remuneration package for nationally recruited staff in Ethiopia includes a very competitive salary and benefits such as life and medical insurance, offshore pension plan, etc. The ILRI campus is set in a secure, attractive campus in Addis Ababa. Dining and sports facilities are located on site .

Applications: Applicants should provide a cover letter and curriculum vitae; names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to be included in the curriculum vitae. The position and reference number: REF: RO/HEAL/03/25 should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the cover letter. All applications to be submitted online on our recruitment portal: http://ilri.simplicant.com/ on or before 18 Feruary 2025

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