Back Research Officer

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources. CIFOR-ICRAF is looking for a

Research Officer

Overview

The CIFOR \"Value Chain, Finance and Investment\" team has been studying the legality and sustainability of the value chains associated with tropical forests for many years. More specifically, in Central Africa, numerous studies have been carried out on this topic for the wildlife and timber sectors, and more recently on cocoa. The challenge today is to understand how these commodity chains can become sustainable and formal under the pressure of external events, such as the covid crisis, media campaigns in favour of green consumption or changes in consumer attitudes.

Three projects will cover this research : • RIOFAC project is to strengthen and support the institutionalization process of the Observatory for the Forests of Central Africa (OFAC). The RIOFAC project supports the efforts of the OFAC to provide relevant, credible and timely information on the forest ecosystems of Central Africa, and promotes the use of such information by governments and other stakeholders for an improved management of the forests resources of the Congo Basin. RIOFAC builds on 10 years of support to OFAC by the EU through three previously completed projects. The activities of RIOFAC cover the 10 member countries of the Commission for The Forests of Central Africa (COMIFAC): Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic (CAR), Rwanda, and Sao Tome and Principe. RIOFAC provides not only support to OFAC which is based within the Executive Secretariat of COMIFAC in Yaoundé (Cameroon), but also to the national coordination teams of COMIFAC based in each of the member countries. • the project « Appui à la conservation de la forêt communautaire de la COPAL » supports measures for forest conservation in a community forest, accompanied by investments in the surrounding area for sustainable eco?development for the benefit of the communities, through legal and efficient cocoa production, forest plantations and the legal small?scale exploitation of timber. • The necessity of Profeaac project is based on the current state and future development of artisanal logging undermine the implementation of actions for the sustainable management of forest resources undertaken by the States of Central Africa. Already on a remarkable scale, artisanal logging will clearly grow in the coming years, being driven by the development strategies drawn up by the States of Central Africa and which are built on the growth of cities and on the increased agricultural and mining production. The general objective of the project is to reduce the degradation of rural forests in Central Africa by formalizing and rationalizing artisanal logging based on a pilot experiment to be carried out in Cameroon. Two specific objectives are to be achieved through this position: (i) develop local measures for the regeneration and reforestation of woody species and agroforestry, (ii) promote artisanal logging in the development strategies of decentralized territorial entities by improving the governance of artisanal logging.

Duties and responsibilities

This assignment will involve providing support to the project leader of RIOFAC 2 (Strengthening and Institutionalization of Observatory for the Forests of Central Africa (OFAC) especially for conducting complementary studies the; Advocate for consuming timber with legal origin in the Cameroonian domestic markets; Integrate sustainable value chains in the revision of the Simple Management Plan for the COPAL Community Forest and on the process of rehabilitation of degraded forest by local population.

• Assist in the design of data collection methodology and procedures following OFAC indicators framework
  
• Contribute to the design of complementary studies on topics identified by CIFOR and its partners
  
• Provide GIS expertise for the project as needed
  
• Organize data collection as needed for complementary studies
  
• Provide support to the project manager in the preparation of donor reports (technical and financial)
  
• Manage entrusted project resources as needed per CIFOR’ procedures and regulations
  
• Ability to contribute to the design of research projects
  
• Ability to contribute to implementation of projects of various scope and scale.
  
• Ability to contribute to/participate in dissemination activities (of research outcomes) which are on a national level.
  
• Contribute in organizing project events such as workshops and conferences
  
• Contribute to CIFOR wider mission in Central Africa
  
• Co-author scientific publications with special emphasis on peer-review publications
  
• ·When requested, works with multi-stakeholders, both in and outside the scientific field by attending meetings and giving project overview; preparing and delivering oral presentation on project issues; and communicating complex or substantive project information provided by or at the direction of the Project Leader
  
• Ability to follow specific instructions and existing samples and protocols in assisting with proposals, presentations and reports for donors
  
• Ability to participate in research and to contribute to data synthesis and analyses in support of a particular CIFOR research area
  
• Ability to contribute to successful collaboration with only one partner, for the purpose of exchanging and discussing information relevant to a project, including compilation of general background information on projects and the investigation of specific project activities
  
• Ability to contribute to supervisor’s review of CIFOR scientific literature by examining sufficiency of clarity, accuracy and level of detail in the manuscripts
  
  
  

  Education, knowledge and experience

  • Completion of master’s degree or higher in forestry sciences and/or rural development and/or rural economics.
  • At least 3 years of working experience in research or development organizations
  • Expertise in qualitative data collection and analysis with proven experience conducting semi? structured interviews; expertise in quantitative data collection and analysis an asset
  • Proven experience in the analysis of rural economies and in the study on social and ecological topics in Central Africa
  • Deep knowledge of the processes of creation and management of a community forest, and of the limits of this approach;
  • Deep knowledge on the process of putting in place “local governance platform”
  • Strong communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills
  • Proven experience in organizing and facilitating workshop with partners in urban and rural areas.

    Personal attributes and competencies

    • Demonstrated experience producing written products (in English and French) for a variety of audiences, including academics, nongovernmental organizations, or governments
    • Good level of computer literacy (Office)
    • Good level of GIS and remote sensing
    • Good level of statistical software
    • Good oral and written communication capacities
    • Ability to interact with people in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment
    • Knowledge of the working Environment of Central Africa

      Terms and conditions

      • This is a locally recruited position. CIFOR-ICRAF offers competitive remuneration in local currency commensurate with skills and experience.
      • The appointment will be for two years, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
      • The duty station will be in CIFOR Yaoundé Hub, Cameroon.
        
        To apply, please visit our career site at: http://www.cifor.org/careers
        To learn more about CIFOR-ICRAF, please visit our websites at: https://www.cifor.org and www.worldagroforestry.org
        CIFOR-ICRAF is an equal opportunity employer. Staff diversity contributes to excellence.

        Application process The application deadline is 08 Jul-2022
        We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.