ZA23115 Legume Seed Systems Associate

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT®, is a not-for-profit research and training organization with partners in over 100 countries. Please refer to our website for more information: www.cimmyt.org

CIMMYT is seeking skilled and motivated candidates to fill the positions below to provide support to the USAID-funded “Accelerated Intervention Delivery Initiative (AID-I)” implemented in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia from 2022 to 2024. The goal of the AIDI project is to ensure smallholder farmers in important food production regions in Sub Saharan Africa have the information and innovations needed, using market-based approaches, to maintain or increase food production to mitigate the impacts of the global food, fuel, and fertilizer price increases resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These accelerated delivery activities need to be gender sensitive and inclusive.

The objective of the position is to support the implementation of activities on the legume seed component of the AIDI project providing technical support to NGOs and private seed companies to achieve project outputs and outcomes.

This position will be based on Lusaka, Zambia.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist seed companies, CBOs, and NGOs in developing seed road maps for legume seed scaling to meet certified seed demand for target beneficiaries.
• Liaises with project partners and other stakeholders in the seed industry in Zambia/Malawi on an ongoing basis to ensure the project maintains its relevance in supporting and meeting the needs of targeted beneficiaries.
• Facilitate the production of certified seed and distribution in the target zones.
• Support other seed system specialists and scientists in engaging seed producers to develop sustainable seed networks and markets.
• Support capacity building of the seed sector partners.
• Provide technical support to NGOs and private seed companies on pre-basic and essential seed production.
• Support the promotion of quality seed along with sustainable intensification practices.
• Support NGOs and private seed companies to mount demonstrations and collect data for monitoring and learning.
• Estimate the available pre-basic, basic, and certified seeds in the market.
• Assist in compiling monthly, quarterly, and annual reports related to the project activities.
• Assess and analyze legume seed value chains in the target project districts, identify policy intervention nodes along the chain, and recommend appropriate policy measures to concerned public organizations.
• Assist in organizing annual reviews and planning meetings and other workshops.
• Perform any other tasks and assignments related to the program as assigned or required by the supervisor.

• BSc in Agriculture or related fields and at least 2-5 years of relevant experience in legume and maize seed systems, seed production, agronomy, or related field.
• Diploma in Agriculture with more than 5 years experience could apply.

• Knowledge in seed production and breeding, extension, or related field.
• Experience in working with the public and private seed sector.
• Experience in working with smallholder farmers, NGOs, and CBOs.
• Good communication skills.
• Familiar with the implementation variety of demonstrations and promotions.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to work in a team of researchers, private seed companies, and extension workers.
• Valid Driver’s License.

• Private Health Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Work From Home
• Training & Development