Research Analyst (Nutrition)
WorldFish, East Timor

WorldFish is a leading international research organization working to transform aquatic food systems to reduce hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. It collaborates with international, regional, and national partners to co-develop and deliver scientific innovations, evidence for policy, and knowledge to enable equitable and inclusive impact for millions who depend on fish for their livelihoods. As a member of CGIAR, WorldFish contributes to building a food- and nutrition-secure future and restoring natural resources. Headquartered in Penang, Malaysia, with country offices across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, WorldFish strives to create resilient and inclusive food systems for shared prosperity.

About the Position

The Research Analyst (Nutrition) will join our growing Dili-based research team partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry, Timor-Leste with a focus of improving nutrition outcomes through increased access to fish and other healthy foods 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 to incorporate components of food systems beyond fish production, including food acquisition and diets, and this position contributes to supporting this new direction.

This position will work closely with a Nutrition and Inclusive Food Systems Consultant as well as with fisheries, aquaculture, and gender specialists to support the development and implementation of research approaches and programs operations related to food systems, food environments and nutrition. The position will also collaborate with the researchers from the University of Wollongong and CSIRO, as well as with representatives from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Development (ACIAR).

The role will focus on the Supporting Healthy Food Systems project, which aims to support healthy, resilient, and equitable food systems in Timor-Leste and the Pacific. The work in Timor-Leste will mainly focus on improving the understanding of different food environments, by developing new methods and tools to identify and assess the key characteristics and attributes of different food environments that influence consumer behavior and ultimately nutrition and health outcomes, such as availability, affordability, convenience, quality and sustainability of foods. Activities will also include engagement of community stakeholders to validate the new methods. Additionally, the work will entail engaging with a range of food system stakeholders representing multiple sectors through interviews and workshops to better understand effective multi-sectoral collaboration.

The nutrition portfolio within WorldFish programs is growing, paying particular attention to the nutrition of mothers and young children, and consider gender relations as integral to improve nutrition outcomes. This position might support other nutrition activities across fisheries and aquaculture and be the nutrition focal point for WorldFish in Timor-Leste.

The successful candidate will be responsible to:

• Undertake the project operations of the Supporting Healthy Food System project including research activities planning and field implementation, under the supervision of the Nutrition and Inclusive Food Systems consultant.
• 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 planning (logistics, budget preparation) and in the field (including supervising a team of data collectors), as well as activities facilitation at the community level (including interviews and focus group discussions).
• Synthesis of qualitative research data (e.g., themes emerging from community FGDs).
• Prepare information materials for government and community stakeholders, contribute to project reporting for donors and provide input to scientific publications.
• Ensure quality communication and engagement with national and municipal stakeholders, including government, Development Partners, and NGOs on research activities implementation and findings as well as with the project and pathway leaders based in Australia.
• Organize and facilitate National and Municipal workshops, including content delivery and logistics.

Requirements

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 Systems, 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
• Undergr

Job Rewards and Benefits