The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. The Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.
With novel partnerships, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people.
The Alliance is a member of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org) a global research partnership for a food-secure future.
Position Summary
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is seeking to recruit a Research Analyst consultant. The consultant will be responsible for investigating the role that the processing industry plays in generating, promoting, and adopting knowledge, innovation and technology to convert biomass side streams into higher-value products, by specifically applying circular bio-economy (CBE) principles in the evolving food processing industry in an African lower middle-income country (LMIC).
- Develop an analytical framework based on the material flow analysis (MFA) method adapted to the Kenyan dairy context to quantify and analyse the flows, volume, quality, and spatial distribution of dairy side streams and estimate volumes available for circular utilization.
- Apply participatory and quantitative methods to acquire data based on the MFA.
- Use LCA software to perform environmental assessments of current dairy processing and to investigate biophysical aspects of relevant side stream valorisation pathways.
- Have a PhD or an ongoing PhD in agricultural or environmental sciences, production ecology, or resource economics, or related discipline.
- Have an in-depth and pragmatic understanding of the theory of circular bio-economy, and experience in constructing and applying CBE principles in food processing.
- Demonstrate experience working on sustainable dairy sector issues in Kenya or East Africa. Understand policy issues related to sustainability in the dairy sector in Kenya, East Africa and in other developing regions.
- Be highly committed to science and capable of conducting independent research in the appropriate field of the position.
- Provide evidence of writing technical research reports and scientific publishing, including having published in peer-reviewed journals.
- Experience with conducting value-chain analysis to establish the link between dairy processors and other actors while acknowledging how farm-level activities affect the valorisation potential downstream.
- Possess good methodological grasp of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with application in the livestock or dairy sector highly desirable. Demonstrate skills in LCA software modelling and results interpretation, and preferably, be proficient in the use of Open LCA software.
- Possess experience in transdisciplinary research engaging and linking researchers, the private sector, development partners, policymakers.
- Have good communication and collaboration skills.
