Call for applications for the selection of members of the CORAF Scientific and Technical Committee.

Agricultural Research Call for applications for the selection of members of the CORAF Scientific and Technical Committee.

Deadline: 06 September 2024

I. About CORAF

The West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) was founded in 1987. the organization  currently brings together the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) of 23 West and Central African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

CORAF’s vision is a future where people and communities in West and Central Africa will achieve food and nutrition security and prosperity. Its mission is to achieve “sustainable improvement in agricultural productivity, competitiveness and markets in WCA .”

II. Introduction

The Scientific and Technical Committee (STC) is a statutory body of CORAF, which examines and provides reasoned advice to the Board of Directors on the scientific quality and relevance of sub-regional research activities. The STC is composed of twelve (12) members chosen from the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) of CORAF and partner institutions. The composition of the Scientific and Technical Committee allows for representation of the different areas of intervention of CORAF. The STC holds ordinary sessions once a year in October and extraordinary sessions are convened as needed. The term of office of a member is three (3) years, renewable once. The official working languages are French and English.

III. Vacancy

This call aims to select experts for the following areas within the STC:

  • Sociology and Rural Development

  • Agroeconomics

  • Food technologies and post-harvest losses

  • Biotechnology (genetics)

  • Fishing and aquaculture

III. Functions

The role of the Scientific and Technical Committee is to:

  • Assist the Executive Secretariat in its functions of facilitating scientific cooperation and coordination;

  • Assist the Board of Directors in the evaluation of all CORAF scientific cooperation activities before each General Assembly;

  • Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of all scientific cooperation activities, including those of scientific publications and dissemination of technical information which have been coordinated and implemented by CORAF;

  • Promote scientific excellence and increase CORAF’s influence in all West and Central African countries.

  • Conduct strategic thinking that takes into account challenges and emerging issues and provide advice to the Board of Directors and the Executive Secretariat;

  • Determine the means by which CORAF can collaborate with other scientific institutions. The evaluation of scientific activities should take into account both the programmes and activity reports related to the implementation of projects financed by CORAF;

  • Play an important role in the evaluation of programs and activity reports of the Regional Centers of Excellence.

  • Advise the Board of Directors on technical and scientific issues as well as on the compliance of research program activities implemented by national and regional agricultural research systems and their partners, bases, centers, networks and hubs;

IV. Conditions

  • Members are chosen based on their individual expertise; their selection is not tied to their home institution;

  • Members should come from National Agricultural Research Systems (universities, research institutes, civil society organizations, producer organizations, private sector institutions), Advanced Research Institutions and International Agricultural Research Centers;

  • Members must be available to provide support to the Scientific and Technical Committee in carrying out its tasks;

  • The functions of the selected members must be compatible with the interests of agricultural research and development in West and Central Africa;

  • CST members do not receive any salary from CORAF. However, travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses incurred by members while attending meetings organized by CORAF or at meetings where they represent CORAF will be paid. CORAF also provides a modest remuneration to CST members who are called upon to perform specific tasks on behalf of the Institution.

V. Selection criteria

The selection of candidates will be based on the following criteria:

  1. PhD in one of the fields identified above, with at least 10 years of experience,

  2.  Experience in innovative research and development

  3. Relevant practical experience in the field in the areas stated,

  4. Experience in managing scientific partnerships in the IAR4D context,

  5. Experience with scientific advisory boards,

  6. Quality of the cover letter. Experience in gender issues and/or working in the private sector would be an asset.

VI. Submission of the application

  • The application file must include:

  1. A cover letter addressed to the President of the Scientific and Technical Committee of CORAF;

  2. A detailed, signed and dated Curriculum Vitae;

  3. Copies of university diplomas and certificates;

  4. Certificates/Employment Certificates;

  5. Any other document deemed relevant to the position applied for.

The application file must be sent to:

President of the Scientific and Technical Committee, CORAF

7 Avenue Bourguiba, BP 48 Dakar-RP - Republic of Senegal

The file must be sent electronically to the following address: [email protected] no later than September 6, 2024.

Applications from women are strongly encouraged

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