The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is looking for an Associate Expert to work on CIFOR research.

• Title: Associate Expert
  
• Programme: Forests and Livelihoods Programme: Building Sustainable Forests based Enterprises in Production Forests
  
• Supervisors: Scientist and Regional Coordinator, Central Africa
  
• Duty station: Yaoundé, Cameroon
  
• Duration: Appointment is for one year with possibility of extension up to a total of three years.

ELIGIBILITY:

• The position is open to Dutch national and permanent residents of the Netherlands or nationals from eligible developing countries;
• Under 32 years of age at the time of application;
• Nationals of the duty station are not eligible.

For further information on eligibility criteria and the list of eligible developing countries, please refer to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: http://www.minbuza.nl/nl/organisatie/
Werken_bij,werken_bij_io/assistent_deskundigen and http://www.minbuza.nl/en/developmentcooperation/ExpertProgramme or http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/Careers/APO-JPO/eligibility.htm

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The AE will have two synergistic roles: undertaking research and development on forest-based enterprises in the Congo Basin, and contributing to the global theme on this topic. The AE will contribute to collecting and analyzing data on various forest products (e.g. Prunus africana), to prepare papers on forest-based enterprises, to writing policy briefs on these topics, and to stimulate discussion with key stakeholders, including government and civil society, on forest-based enterprises. In engaging with policy makers the team working on this will be expected to make significant contributions to policy debates on forests, forest enterprises and trade. For the global theme, the AE will assist the theme leader in distilling key messages for forest-based enterprise development in production forests. As a global team member, the AE will be expected to report on the progress in the Congo Basin case work. CIFOR has the unique advantage in being able to work at local levels and then be able to bring that experience to international fora, such as the United Nations Convention for Biodiversity (UNCBD) and UNFF. The AE will have a role in this regard, by assisting the global theme leader in preparing for side events and preparing policy briefs.

Specifically, the AE will:

• Prepare policy briefs that will include one or all: Prunus, Pausinystalia, Irvingia, Acacia, Gnetum
• Facilitate the establishment of a network of institutions involved in enterprise development in the sub-region
• Prepare a journal paper on production-to-consumption systems for selected NTFPs (listed above)
• Analyse the potential of Prunus africana in the main production regions in Cameroon through inventories

Expected outputs:

Year 1:

• Finalise review of on-going initiatives in forest enterprise development in the Congo Basin.
• Facilitate the establishment of a network of institutions involved in enterprise development in the sub-region.
• Develop a work plan with key partners.
• Workshops for the global theme on enterprise development conducted, including key contributions to this by the AE (e.g. preparation of background materials).
• Field surveys on the production to consumption chain for two forest products completed.

Year 2:

• Action research on specific processes or weaknesses in the production to consumption chains of the two forest products implemented early in Year 2, and first major report completed by year end.
• Prepare policy briefs that will include one or all: Prunus, Pausinystalia, Irvingia, Acacia, Gnetum.
• Prepare a journal paper on production-to-consumption systems for selected NTFPs (listed above).
• Analyse the potential of Prunus africana in the main production regions in Cameroon through inventories.
• At least one policy roundtable conducted in Cameroon, involving those involved in enterprise development.
• Contribute to materials prepared by CIFOR scientists to global fora (such as UNFF and UNCBD).

Year 3:

• Collaborate with the members of the global theme on enterprise development to distil concrete proposals for forest-based enterprises.
• Contribute to materials prepared by CIFOR scientists to global fora (such as UNFF and UNCBD).
• At least one policy roundtable conducted in Central Africa, involving mainly civil society actors.
• Two papers on forest based enterprise development completed.

REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifications:

Masters degree (required) in a relevant area (e.g. micro-economics, rural development, agricultural economics, business, natural resources economics).

Relevant Experience:

• Experience with household or market surveys is required.
• Experience with action research would be an asset.
• Experience in working with multiple partners in developing countries is desirable.

Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent written and spoken English and French.
• Good interpersonal and inter-cultural skills, good in teamwork
• Good analytical and synthesis skills.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Letter of interest and curriculum vitae in English should be sent by email to:

Human Resources Department CIFOR,
Email: cifor-hr@cgiar.org
(Please indicate the Job Code in the e-mail subject)

The curriculum vitae should include personal data; contact details; detailed description of higher education including special assignments/projects; other trainings; work experience; language capabilities and other skills; publications (if any); and details of three referees including telephone and fax numbers and email address.

Deadline for applications is June 30, 2008. All applications will be acknowledged, however only short listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.