icipe is a pan-African and non-profit Centre of Excellence for research and development and capacity building in insect science and its applications. Its mission is to help alleviate poverty, ensure food and nutritional security and improve the overall health status of peoples of the tropics by developing and extending management tools and strategies for harmful and useful arthropods, while preserving the natural resource base through research and capacity building. Since its establishment in 1970, icipe has become a significant contributor to science and innovation required to meet the health and food security challenges of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The Centre has achieved this status by developing alternative and environmentally friendly pest and vector management technologies and products that are effective, selective, non-polluting, non-resistance inducing, and are affordable to resource-limited rural and urban communities. icipe is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with offices in Ethiopia and Uganda, a major station on the shores of Lake Victoria, and several other field stations in Kenya. Employing close to 500 international and national staff, icipe also has approximately 150 graduate students who contribute to its research portfolio annually. The Centre currently has operations in more than 40 African countries, and thriving partnerships with universities and research organizations across the world. (www.icipe.org).

The job purposes

The International Centre of Insect Physiology & Ecology (icipe) seeks to hire a Research Assistant who will be responsible for undertaking field-based project operation in push pull technology in selected woredas in SNNP, Sidama and Oromia regions of Ethiopia. S/he will sensitize communities on project objectives and activities and be responsible for day to day activity implementation. In collaboration with staff of local partnering institutions, s/he shall also coordinate technical and logistical arrangements for the project activities at community level, engaging community groups and structure and liaising with private sectors and all stakeholder at the local level.

Specific Duties

• Assists in establishing push pull technology demonstrations for community based Brachiaria and Desmodium seed production
•  Assists in seed data collection from farmers and seed companies
•  Assists in training farmers and extension agents in multiple benefits of the push pull technology.
•  Liaises with forage seed producers or seed collectors and create a market linkage with farmers
• Liaises with the district ministry of agriculture, agricultural research centers and other local partners to facilitate the project implementation.
• Carries out additional technical tasks given by the project leader
  

Reporting

This position reports to the Country Head of Ethiopia Office.

Duration – 2 years           

Requirements/Qualifications

• Diploma in general agriculture, natural resources, or related fields.
• At least three years’ working experience in general agriculture field-based operations.
•  Proven experience in crop production and protection.

Core Competencies

• Knowledge of field trials and data collection
• Knowledge in push pull technology and forage seed production
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in English
• Skills in training farmers and working with farmers and extension agents