Post Doctoral Fellow (Aquatic Food Postharvest Solutions)

“WorldFish is a leading international research organization working to transform aquatic food systems to reduce hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. It collaborates with international, regional, and national partners to co-develop and deliver scientific innovations, evidence for policy, and knowledge to enable equitable and inclusive impact for millions who depend on fish for their livelihoods. As a member of CGIAR, WorldFish contributes to building a food- and nutrition-secure future and restoring natural resources. Headquartered in Penang, Malaysia, with country offices across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, WorldFish strives to create resilient and inclusive food systems for shared prosperity. For more information, visit: www.worldfishcenter.org”
About the Project

Animals, plants and microorganisms harvested and grown in water play a significant role in sustainably feeding and nourishing the world. Globally, 800 million people depend on small-scale fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods. But these vital aquatic food systems are hindered by the insecure livelihoods of those in related jobs, their low capacity to adapt to climate change, and the loss of marine nature.

The Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway project, supported through the UK’s Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition (COAST) program under the umbrella of the Blue Planet Fund (BPF), will focus on enabling communities to adapt to and mitigate against climate change as well as responsibly and sustainably manage marine and coastal nature and resources resulting in improved food and nutritional security as well as employment and income opportunities. The project will be implemented in two phases over seven years, starting with Phase 1 in Bangladesh, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

The position of Post Doctoral Fellow (Aquatic Food Postharvest Solutions) will find solutions for postharvest issues in the aquatic food sector. The fellow will play a role in executing WorkPackage 3 of the Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway in Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique. This position will support activities in advancing climate-smart solutions, particularly drying and cooling systems, to reduce aquatic food loss and waste along the selected value chains in three target countries, namely Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique. The project’s primary focus is on small-scale fisheries in the coastal areas of Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique. The role involves innovative research, adapting and deploying technologies, and collaborating closely with local stakeholders.

The Person

The successful candidate will be responsible to:

• Analysis and Research: Undertake comprehensive research to understand the extent, causes, and impacts of aquatic fish loss and waste in target countries.
• Participatory Pilot Project based research: Co-Design, manage, and evaluate pilot projects to test the effectiveness, scalability, and sustainability of the drying and cooling technologies (climate-smart) in aquatic food value chains in the target countries.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Building: Engage with government bodies, private sector entities, NGOs, and community groups to foster collaborative efforts for technology scaling and knowledge sharing.
• Cross-Cultural Communication and Coordination: Facilitate communication and knowledge exchange between various stakeholders to align project activities with global best practices.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Reporting of project progress, outcomes, and impacts, ensuring alignment with the project’s goals and objectives.

Requirements

This job might be for you if you have the below skills and qualifications:

• PhD in a specialised field relevant to the sustainability of aquaculture and fisheries value chains (i.e. Aquatic Foods), such as in the field of Postharvest Food Technology, Agricultural Engineering, Agribusiness, Fisheries, and Food Industry. The qualification should specifically highlight a robust technical understanding of advanced methodologies in food preservation, system sustainability, and the integration of environmentally sustainable (i.e. climate-smart) practices and technologies within aquatic food value chains.
• Expertise in Climate-Smart Technologies: Understanding of drying and cooling climate-smart technologies and practices, mainly applied to aquatic food systems.
• Community Engagement and Stakeholder Management: Ability to engage with diverse stakeholder groups, including local communities, and mobilize them towards common goals.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Skills in statistical analysis, data interpretation, and effective reporting for project monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Strong research skills and experience: The candidate should have a proven track record of conducting high-quality research, as demonstrated by publications in reputable journals, conference presentations, and other achievements.
• Excellent Communication Skills: The candidate should possess strong written and verbal communication skills in English. This includes the ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner, tailor messages to different audiences, and effectively collaborate with team members and stakeholders.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Local and Regional Experience: Prior experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a nuanced understanding of developing regions’ socioeconomic and cultural landscape.
• Language Proficiency and Communication: Fluency in a second language, particularly Swahili or Portuguese, coupled with excellent communication and interpersonal skills is desirable. Experience in public speaking, report writing, and creating impactful presentations would be advantageous.
• Strong motivation and work ethic: The candidate should be highly motivated to conduct research and willing to put in the necessary time and effort to succeed. A strong passion for development-based research and making a real-world impact is essential.

Benefits

This is an Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) position with annual salary ranging between USD 40,900 to USD 47,000 per annum. WorldFish’s IRS shall receive comprehensive health insurance, life insurance, accident, and long-term disability insurance. Internationally recruited staff employed outside of their home base/country of nationality will also be eligible to receive relocation assistance, a housing allowance, home-leave plane tickets for self and eligible dependents and education assistance for school-age dependents between age 4 and high school graduation. The duration of the contract will initially be for a two-year period with possibility for extension, depending on funding and performance. All benefits are subject to terms and conditions.