National Consultant - Programmer

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations.

IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government.

The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.Job PurposeThe National Consultant will assist and support the development and implementation of the Thai Rice GCF match-making app and AllRice Thailand's AI chatbot.

This includes providing relevant data, technical expertise, system integration, and facilitating knowledge transfer, as well as sharing lessons learned and best practices from e-Extension initiatives in Vietnam and Laos.

The consultant will also ensure the smooth deployment, maintenance, and operation of the applications through both on-site and remote support, while contributing to stakeholder capacity building and promoting sustainable knowledge transfer to local teams.

In addition, the National Consultant will provide technical and strategic support to the Rice Department in developing and implementing digital agricultural solutions, including the AllRice application, the AI-powered chatbot for the Rice Knowledge Bank, and an agricultural inputs marketplace.

The consultant will contribute to system design, knowledge transfer, troubleshooting, and capacity building through both on-site and remote collaboration.This position will be based at the IRRI Headquarters, Los Baños, Philippines and may only be filled by permanent citizens of the Philippines.Roles and ResponsibilitiesCollaborate with the GCF Thailand project team and stakeholders to conduct an assessment identifying technical, contextual, and regulatory requirements for matchmaking modules for AllRice.Explore and assess existing mobile applications as potential platforms or references for adaptation.Outline a roadmap to adapt EasyFarm's features for Thai contexts, including a Thai-language interface development and localization of services.Provide a translated version of the current EasyFarm Vietnam application for assessment prior to the integration of features into the AllRice applicationTranslation of current application content from Vietnamese to Thai languagePreparation of sample data to be used for demonstrating the applicationPreparation of existing or alternative third-party supporting services in the operation of the translated applicationInitial deployment of application for assessmentStakeholder assessment of application featuresPreparation of questionnaires for assessment of stakeholder interest in current modules or additional featuresDetermining the final modules to be adopted for the match-making features based on assessment resultsSupport the Development of the AllRice-Rice Knowledge Bank ChatbotContribute to the design and development of an AI-powered chatbot for the Rice Knowledge Bank.Share designs, implementation approaches, and channel integration models from similar chatbot projects in Vietnam and Laos.Support pilot testing, performance evaluation, and continuous improvement of the chatbot interface.Assist in fine-tuning chatbot training data and addressing user feedback.Contribute to the Integration of the Agricultural Inputs MarketplaceShare experience from the EasyFarm Vietnam inputs marketplace and assist in adapting its features for AllRice.Coordinate the preparation and transfer of relevant source code, configuration files, and technical documentation to enable integration.Provide hands-on support for development, troubleshooting, and compatibility testing.Assist in system validation, including user testing and feedback incorporation prior to official deployment.Cross-Cutting ResponsibilitiesProvide both on-site and remote technical support for application deployment, user training, and maintenance.Facilitate knowledge transfer through the development of user manuals, training sessions, and technical guides.Support cross-country learning by sharing experiences and solutions from other regional deployments.Ensure effective communication and coordination with the Thailand Rice Department, IRRI, and other partners.QualificationsMSc in Computer Science or related field with at least 5 years of work experienceSkills RequiredMandatoryprofound knowledge of software developmentgood communication skills in Englishfamiliarity with software applications in rice production and value chainIRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances.Join our team and be part of our story!Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.This position will remain open until filled.IRRI is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity.

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

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