Senior Research Assistant (Nutrition-Sensitive Programs)

Position: Senior Research Assistant (Nutrition-Sensitive Programs)

Location: Dili, Timor Leste

Application Deadline: 15 June 2022

Type of contract: 03 years fixed-term contract

Language(s) required: English and Tetum (native/fluent writing and oral skills)

About WorldFish

WorldFish is an international, non-profit research and innovation organization reducing hunger, malnutrition and poverty across Africa, Asia and the Pacific. For over 45 years, our work on sustainable aquaculture and fisheries has improved the lives of millions of women, men and youth.

Fish and other aquatic foods grown in and harvested from oceans, lakes, rivers and ponds provide income for more than 800 million people and provide 3.3 billion with 20% of their animal protein intake. Our focus on sustainability makes sure that the way we produce and use these foods today means a plentiful future of generations to come.

Our evidence-based solutions range in scale from households to global policies and spans across six interlinked themes: nutrition, gender, climate, sustainability, economy and COVID-19.

We champion aquatic foods for healthy people and planet and believe that a sustainable blue planet of well-nourished children, women and men is within our reach.

About the Position

The Senior Research Assistant in Nutrition-Sensitive programs will join our growing Dili-based research team partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Timor-Leste with a focus of improving nutrition outcomes through increased access to fish for vulnerable people and populations. In line with the new WorldFish Aquatic Foods for Healthy People and Planet research and innovation strategy, the WorldFish Timor-Leste country program is expanding its focus on components of food systems beyond production, and this position contributes to supporting this new direction.

This position will work closely with a Social scientist (Post-Doctoral Fellow) as well as with gender, aquaculture and fisheries specialists to support the development and implementation of research approaches and program operations.

The role will focus on two main programs. First, the inclusive nutrition-sensitive management of fish within local food systems, which explores the flow of benefits from diverse fish production systems, as well as the factors enabling and limiting fish consumption. Second, the partnership for aquaculture development, which has a nutrition component focusing on social behaviour change communication activities to promote tilapia fish consumption within households and in institutions such as schools and hospitals. Both programs pay particular attention to the nutrition of mothers and young children and consider gender relations as integral to improve nutrition outcomes.

This position will be based in Dili with frequent travel to project sites. The geographic focus of the position includes Timor-Leste, and NTT province, Indonesia.

Key Responsibilities:

• Undertake the project operations of both programs, including research activities planning and field implementation, under the supervision of the Post-Doctoral Fellow.
• Support the development of innovative and rigorous research approaches and tools for qualitative and/or quantitative data collection, and support data quality assurance and analysis.
• Lead data collection in the field (including supervising a team of data collectors) and activities facilitation at the community level.
• Contribute to the reporting of activities and research for project donors and programs, and provide input to scientific publications.
• Ensure quality communication and engagement with national and municipal stakeholders, including government and NGO partners, on research activities implementation and findings.
• Depending on skillset and interests, the position will be more research or project-implementation-focused.

Required Skills and Qualifications

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

• MS/MSc degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Rural Development, Social Science, Food System Science, Anthropology, or Fisheries/Aquaculture Science with evidence of interdisciplinary skillsets (implementation of research methods, community facilitation, nutrition focus) and 2 years work experience post-graduation; or
• Undergraduate degree in the same areas with at least 5 years of relevant experience.
• Basic knowledge on nutrition and socio-economic aspects of fisheries or agricultural systems.
• Experience in research or development programs in the sector in Timor-Leste relating to agriculture or natural resources.
• Experience in implementing quantitative and/or qualitative methodologies, like household surveys and focus group discussions.
• Deep understanding of Timor-Leste society with a clear understanding of food security, gender and social relations and how these influence nutrition outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate program activities and organize events (workshops, demonstrations, trainings).
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, particularly with Government at national, municipal and local levels.
• Must be proficient in data collection and data management.
• Ability to draft research concepts, reports and publications, with evidence of previous reporting in English.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office 365 software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Comfortable and confident working within a diverse international team, with good interpersonal and communication skills to a broad range of colleagues and partners.
• Willingness and ability to undertake extended periods of travel within Timor-Leste, and possibly internationally.

Desired Skills and Qualifications

• Knowledge of fisheries and/or aquaculture.
• Experience applying participatory methods that are fun and engaging and gender-sensitive research approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze quantitative and/or qualitative data to a high standard.
• Experience developing information and education materials for government and community stakeholders.

Salary & Benefits

This position is only open to citizens of Timor-Leste and WorldFish offers a competitive remuneration package including (but not limited to) insurance coverage for staff and eligible dependents, employer provident fund contribution, paid leave, and others.

Our Offer

The position will be based in Dili, Timor Leste. Interviews are expected to be held in June 2022. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and expected to attend the virtual interview session. The successful candidate should be available to commence as soon as possible for an initial three (03) years fixed-term contract, with the possibility of contract renewal depending on performance and funding situation.