Market and Value-Chain Researcher (ICRAF)

About our organization

The World Agroforestry Centre (also known as the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry or ICRAF) is an independent research institution which generates science-based knowledge about the complex role which trees play in agricultural landscapes and rural livelihoods. As part of the Centre’s work to bring tree-based solutions to bear on poverty and environmental problems, researchers – working in close collaboration with partners – are developing new technologies, tools and policy recommendations for increased food security and ecosystem health.

To learn more about our organization, please visit our website: www.worldagroforestry.org

Project or Program and duration of same:

The project "Partnering with trading companies to sustainably enhance smallholders’ livelihood in the Central Highlands of Vietnam through pilot chain interventions towards high-quality Robusta coffee" is an add-on to the V-SCOPE project and funded by ACIAR (2023-2025). This add-on project intends to test pathways to improve the current low profile coffee towards high-quality product segments through co-design and co-investment with coffee companies, and to derive and share innovative learnings from these. 

The Position

The post holder will be based in Hanoi, with frequent travels to project sites, working in particular with the private sector, coffee cooperatives and coffee and pepper farmers with the V-SCOPE project.

Main Responsibilities

• Coordinate pilot/prototype activities with the private companies and cooperatives, the quality expert consultants, local input providers and the local authorities involved in the pilots:
• Building on the pilot designs and associated workplans agreed upon with private partners, ensure the actual establishment, timely implementation, and coordinate the possible needs for adjustments of the value chain pilot activities in the field for the 3 V-SCOPE pilots.

• Co-chair the pilot technical committees
• Collaborate and maintain on a routine basis the partnership with the companies, cooperatives, quality experts and local provincial and district level authorities, and ensure timely implementation of the activities and investment (combining periodic reporting to the project coordinator with local feedbacks to pilot stakeholders)
• Contribute to maintaining the cohesion and development of good practices and trust among value chain actors, proactively identifying ways to increase engagement of local stakeholders and opportunities to make the value chain development processes more efficient and inclusive.

• Conduct field research and desk study research activities on value chains and markets for coffee and black pepper, including extensive data collection and sharing through working with local and international stakeholders of these commodities, as well as relevant local and national government officials.
• Fieldwork methods will include, among others, quantitative data collection and qualitative interviews, focus group discussions and participatory workshops.
• Coordinate field research activities with other research partners, private partners and local stakeholders (mainly with regard to the pilot activities but also to a lesser extent in relation to other project activities):

1. Including ensuring proper data collection (e.g., on-farm surveys) for monitoring the pilots/ prototypes together with the V-SCOPE project officer and data manager
2. Take charge of supervising and managing staff (research assistants, field technicians) reporting to the position, when needed.

• And overall, contribute to data analysis, synthetic reports. and actionable recommendations, mainly regarding value chain pilot activities and to a lesser extent regarding other project activities:

1. Contribute to the assessment of enabling factors and obstacles for pilot broader development and possible upscaling.
2. Contribute to the documentation of methodology, practical tools. and field guidelines for scaling up, based on experience from the pilot and field activities.
3. Lead (author) and co-author academic peer-reviewed publications based on relevant research/ study results, with possible guidance from the project coordinator and other research partners as relevant.

• Join project coordination meetings with other national and international (Australian partners, CGIAR and CIRAD) team members, participate to project schedules, and supervise the logistics and partners arrangements for WP3 activities, to ensure timely delivery of project activities.
• Ensure periodic synthetic reporting for internal and external communication purpose, and development of external communication materials, coordinating closely with the project communication officer and the project officer.

• Contribute to academic publications based on relevant research/ study results.
• Represent ICRAF and relevant projects at national and regional events where necessary.
• Ensure efficiency in the utilization of ICRAF resources.
• Contribute to fund raising for project up-scaling, notably to develop the next phase project proposal, and more generally, to the development of relevant concept notes and project proposals dealing with agricultural value chains and markets.
• Perform other tasks as deemed necessary

Qualifications and Skills Required

• Master’s degree in agricultural economics, agrobusiness or related fields.
• Publication record will be a major plus.

• At least five years of relevant experience, preferably related to value chain, market, agribusiness, economic analysis, and quality management in agricultural products in Viet Nam
• Experience in working with the private sector and with not-for-profit organizations, government institutions.
• Experience in the coffee sector will be a major plus. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well in multi-cultural teams.
• Excellent written skills in English.
• Demonstrating effective verbal communication skills and strong ability.
• Well organized; able to meet deadlines.
• Having good command of English.
• Generating creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations.
• Computer literate.
• Good knowledge of negotiations.
• Open to receiving feedbacks from others.
• Good understanding of time management.
• Multitasking person and able to work under pressure.

Terms of offer

• Initial two-year contract with a competitive salary, to be renewed until project end.
• The contract is subject to 3 (three) months probation period, assessment of performance and availability of resources

How to apply

• A cover letter illustrating your suitability for the position against the listed requirements
• A detailed curriculum vitae.
• The names and addresses of three referees, including telephone, and email address

Applications will be considered until the 31st August 2023. Please note that only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

www.worldagroforestry.org/regions/southeast_asia/vietnam