Research Assistant for the Malawi Digital Plant Health Service (MaDiPHS) Project

Crop losses caused by plant pests, diseases and weeds have been estimated at 42% worldwide. Synthetic pesticides are the predominant control methods, but these are associated with negative environmental and health concerns. The extensive use of the chemicals to control pests sparked renewed interest for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches. Many digital systems are being developed to predict outbreaks of pests, diseases and weeds and to support their identification, monitoring, and control; such tools provide useful information to aid decision-making and timing of control operations. The Malawi Digital Plant Health Services (MaDiPHS) is a project whose main goal is to provide a tool for targeted and efficient pest and disease management in maize, cassava, groundnut, banana, and tomato. The project is led by the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO); and implemented by various partners including key government departments in Malawi (DARS, DAES, DCD, DCCMS), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Pennsylvania State University (PSU), and Total Land Care (TLC).

IITA hosts the National Coordination office and leads work package 1 on Extension and communication. IITA is looking for a Research Assistant who will assist the National Coordinator with the day-to-day activities of the project to ensure timely achievements of work package 1 outputs.

Responsibilities:

1. Project Coordination and Support

• Support daily project activities to ensure timelines and objectives under Work Package 1 are met.
• Collaborate with project partners, government departments, and other stakeholders to facilitate extension and communication activities.

2. Extension and Communication

• Contribute to the development and dissemination of communication materials to raise awareness and adoption of the digital plant health tool.
• Assist in organizing training sessions and workshops for farmers, extension workers, and stakeholders on digital pest and disease management tools.

• Engage with farmers and local communities to gather feedback and ensure effective communication of pest management strategies.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

• Assist with monitoring and evaluation by tracking project progress, collecting data, and ensuring goals and timelines are adhered to.
• Support the development and maintenance of project databases and provide regular updates on milestones and results.

4. Data Collection and Reporting

• Collect and analyse data on crop pests, diseases, and weeds as part of the project’s monitoring efforts.
• Prepare progress and technical reports, ensuring quality and accuracy.
• Document lessons learned and best practices to support continuous project improvement.

5. Stakeholder Engagement

• Maintain strong partnerships with local communities, government departments (DARS, DAES, DCD, DCCMS), academic institutions, and international organizations.
• Facilitate effective communication between IITA and implementing partners to ensure project alignment.

Requirements

• A minimum of BSc degree in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Agriculture and/or related field.
• Experience in working with farmers
• Good knowledge of crop pests, diseases and weeds
• Knowledgeable in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and tracking project progress
• Ability to write quality reports
• Experience in working with people of different cultures, education background and languages in Malawi.