Consultancy- Plot-Registration And Image Capture at Alliance of Bioversity
The Organization
The Alliance of Bioversity International delivers
research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and
sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance
solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change,
biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. The Alliance works
with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and
the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private
sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership
for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food
and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem
services.
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The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT have initiated a project, titled Artemis.
Artemis is developing AI technology to enable on-farm breeding. Crop
breeding is one of the foundations of agriculture, under the current
breeding systems a common assumption is that it takes 10 years to
develop a new variety. Given the pace of climate change this timeframe
is no longer viable. New approaches are needed to speed up the breeding
cycle and enable a greater synchrony between plant breeding and on-farm
conditions, shifting breeding from a majority on-station to majority
on-farm process. Artemis is addressing this issue by leveraging the
power of technology to enable breeding programs with a new generation of
AI-powered and smartphone-deployable tools. The principal technology is
computer vision phenotyping, with explorations into multimodal data
that integrates speech and text to actively integrate farmers into the
plant improvement process. Artemis is currently in the second investment
phase, having been featured recently in Reuters.
About the Consultancy
The Plot-registration and Image Capture Consultant will be responsible for testing and building on the plot-registration methods and working with the team to test new solutions on a need-basis.
Background and Task Description
Plant breeding primarily occurs in research stations,
where breeders evaluate novel plant varieties (genotypes) in small plots
(approximately 4m x 3m), often ranging from several hundred to a few
thousand plots.
The Artemis team has successfully developed fully
executable standard operating procedures (SOPs) that capture data of
sufficient quality to develop highly accurate models that measure plant
performance. However, a few additional challenges are remaining around
the efficiency and consistency of data capture.
Plot Registration
A variety of metadata is associated with each plot
(variety type, planting practice, etc). The imagery data must be
registered with this metadata for it to be useful. As the metadata is
unique for each plot, data systems must be developed to efficiently
capture the data. For example, standard practices are to use QR or
barcode labels to register plots. However, manually scanning each QR or
barcode can take several seconds or more. With only 1000 plots, ten
seconds of plot registration time can total almost three hours. The
current system used requires around 30 seconds of registration time.
Innovative solutions must be developed to reduce this time to as little
as possible.
Image Capture Methods
SOPs have been developed using manual methods (holding
the phone by hand). However, this approach is labour-intensive, taking
up to 5 minutes per plot, and physically demanding, making it unsuitable
for efficient use at scale. To address these challenges, the team has
been working on a wheeled device called ‘Bruno.’ Bruno consists of a
simple wheeled device that can mount two phones to a central frame and
be easily pushed through the fields by one person. The current Bruno can
image a breeding plot in under 30 seconds.
Bruno comprises the following components:
- A central frame connected to a small wheel and two handles.
- A central vertical pole capable of mounting two or more phones.
- Sidebars that can open and close to widen the angle near
the wheel, facilitating observation of plant parts beneath leaves (pods
and flowers).
With Bruno, the user needs to unmount and remount both
phones to scan the QR code, or requires the user to manually select the
plot on each phone, adding additional time to the plot registration
process. In addition to this, the user needs to be able to trigger image
capture consistently throughout the plot. Some image capture protocols
call for imaging one side of every single plant in 2 rows, while others
require taking 3-5 pictures of the whole plot from a top-down angle.
Goals
Our goal is to reduce plot registration to 10 seconds or
less. Through testing with our field team, we have derived a priority
list of solutions to test. These solutions will require a mix of
software and hardware skills. You will need to mix and match the
solutions to create a complete plot registration and image capture
solution integrated across two individual phones.
- Recognition of the next plot based on wheel rotations.
Given a wheel of a known diameter, each rotation corresponds to a fixed
length. Can wheel rotation be used to trigger plot transition and image
capture automatically? Per 2 rotations
- Leveraging existing hardware on mid-range smartphones (e.g.gyroscopes, accelerometers, GPS)
- Binary button to control yes/no or back/next in-app choices
- Small, hand-held numeric keypad to control multiple
in-app choices like, yes/no, back/next, plot-selection (including typing
plot-number), initiating image capture or stopping image capture, etc.
- Integrated hardware and software solutions by mounting a
third screen on Bruno to control the two phones and register plot
transitions.
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Deliverables
1. Assessment, Planning, and Development:
Deliverable: Initial assessment report, comprehensive project plan, and prototype solutions.
Description: Conduct
an initial assessment of current plot-registration and image capture
methods, create a detailed project plan with milestones and resources,
and develop prototype solutions for plot registration using innovative
methods such as QR/barcode scanning.
Deadline: 2 months from the start of the consultancy, 50% of the consultancy fee
2. Enhanced SOPs and System Integration:
Deliverable: Enhanced SOPs for image capture, integrated plot registration, and image capture system.
Description: Develop
and test enhanced SOPs for image capture using the ‘Bruno’ device,
create prototype solutions for automated image capture, and integrate
these into a cohesive system. Conduct field testing and provide a report
on performance metrics and user feedback.
Deadline: 7 months from the start of the consultancy, 30% of the consultancy fee
3. Final Report and Handover:
Deliverable: Final report, complete documentation, and training session.
Description:
Summarize all project activities, findings, and outcomes in a final
report. Provide complete documentation of developed solutions and SOPs,
and conduct a training session for the field team on new methods.
Handover all project materials, including source code, hardware designs,
and user manuals.
Deadline: End of the consultancy terms, 30% of the consultancy fee
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Agricultural Sciences, or a related field
- Additional certifications or
coursework in fields like robotics, data science, software engineering,
or agricultural technology is a plus
- Experience in designing and implementing hardware solutions for fieldwork, particularly in an agricultural context
- Experience with software
development and integration, especially in developing mobile
applications or using smartphone hardware for innovative solutions
- Experience in data collection and management, particularly in creating or using metadata for research purposes
- Knowledge of sensor technologies (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers, GPS) and their application in data collection and automation
- Experience with robotics or automated systems, including the design and implementation of wheeled devices or similar tools
- Understanding of image capture technologies and the ability to integrate them into research workflows
- Knowledge of data management systems and how to link metadata with imagery efficiently
- Ability to think outside of the box to develop innovative research approaches and solutions
- Flexibility and adaptability to work in dynamic field conditions and adjust to evolving project needs
- Proactive and self-motivated with the ability to work independently and take initiative in developing and testing new solutions
Timeline
The consultancy will span eleven months, starting from the date of contract signing.
Budget
The budget for this consultancy will be negotiated based
on the consultant’s experience, the complexity of the tool, and the
estimated time frame.
Applications
Applicants are invited to visit https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers to
get full details of the consultancy and to submit their applications.
Cover letter and CV should be saved as one document using the
candidate’s last name, first name for ease of sorting. The Alliance
collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data
protection laws.
Applications closing date: 20th September 2024
Please note that email applications will not be considered.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
We invite you to learn more about us at:http://alliancebioversityciat.org
To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.
Finance Associate at Alliance of Bioversity
Job Description
The Finance Associate is part of a dynamic Alliance team based at the Tanzania country office. The position works in close collaboration with Operations, HR and PLANS teams contributing to the effective operation of ABC office in Tanzania. Reporting to Coordinator II has the responsibility of ensuring timely and accurate registration and analysis of transactions and ensuring robust treasury operations in compliance with internal controls and statutory requirements. Supervising the one analyst, the incumbent will be part of the country management team working closely with the country representative, project leaders and hosted entity leadership.
Requirements
- Oversee the effective running of banking operations ensuring all bank/cash accounts are duly reconciled and balances maintained for seamless office requirements.
- Ensure payments and liquidated expenses are duly documented, posted and stored in accordance with institutional financial procedures and GAAP.
- Work closely with PLANS, administrative, and HR teams in Tanzania to ensure timely processing of payroll, statutory returns and payments in accordance with ABC policies and procedures.
- Work as a country focal point responsible for institutional and project Audits ensuring timely submission of Audit information, compliance with audit requirements and timely implementation of audit recommendations.
- Ensure effective cashflow management working closely with different business units to ensure adequate cash resources for effective running of alliance operations in the country.
- Ensure accurate and efficient preparation of annual operational, personnel and capital budgets including the collection and feedback from relevant parties
- Ensure accurate and timely posting of financial transactions into UBW ERP in line with ABC financial policies and procedures.
- Ensure continuous analysis of TB accounts (including alliance inter-company account) to enable complete and timely submission of monthly and quarterly reports to the regional office.
- Oversee timely reviewing and correct verification of Travel Expense Claims (TECs)/Accountabilities, including correct AECs, exchange rates, expense reporting and presence of all receipts.
- Oversee an efficient archiving system ensuring proper filing of accounting documents for ease of retrieval during audit and project review exercises in accordance with donors’ and alliance policies.
- Oversee the timely settlement of account payables from Alliance vendors.
- Oversee the effective implementation of Service Level Agreements signed with hosted entities ensuring strict adherence to timelines and quality of outputs.
Benefits
- University degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or related field
- Professional accounting certification e.g CPA, ACCA, CIMA an added advantage
- Strong proficiency of the English language, both written and spoken
- At least seven (7) years of proven work experience in finance in an international organization including budgeting, accounting guidelines and financial management of projects
- Strong knowledge of accounting and budgeting practices and procedures relevant to not-for-profit organizations
- Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to work effectively with other national and cultural backgrounds
- Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
- Strong client service orientation
- High degree of integrity and transparency
- Proficiency in Microsoft office suite, ability to handle complex financial and budgeting systems including excellent knowledge of Excel and ERP systems
- Knowledge of IFRS
How to Apply:
To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.
Intern- Data Annotation at Alliance of Bioversity
The Organization
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity
and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives.
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 in a
climate crisis.
The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.
About the position
We are searching for an Intern responsible
for providing support for data annotation tasks for the Digital
Inclusion team in Arusha. The candidate will be based in Arusha. The
person will assist the data and engineering team in annotation tasks,
enhancing data quality for computer vision model training.
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Key Responsibilities
- Annotate images for different
crops (beans, sorghum, cassava, etc.) and crop features such as pods,
flowers, grains, roots, etc.
- Collaborate closely with the
internal team and external annotators to review and refine annotations,
ensuring accuracy and consistency.
- Assist the data &
engineering team in developing/updating annotation guidelines/training
materials and training external annotators.
- Support the data and
engineering team in maintaining a comprehensive inventory of annotated
datasets, essential for data quality and accessibility.
- Assist in the development and implementation of quality control measures for imagery data.
- Carry out other duties related to the project and research objectives as assigned.
Requirements
- Enrolled in or recent graduate
(< 1 year) of bachelor’s or master’s degree in agriculture, community
development, computer science or related discipline
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office package.
- Advanced command of the English language, both written and spoken.
- Access to a personal laptop is essential to carry out this work.
- Experience with capturing data of crops is an advantage.
- Experience with image annotation tasks and tools is an advantage.
- Experience with using google docs, sheets and drive is an advantage.
- Strong interpersonal, communications, and teamwork skills.
- Well-developed skills in personal organization, priority setting, problem-solving, and accuracy.
Terms of employment
This is an internship position based in Arusha, Tanzania. The initial contract will be for period of six(6) months.
The Alliance of Bioversity
International and CIAT offers a multicultural, collegial research
environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits. We believe
that the diversity of our staff contributes to excellence. The Alliance
is an equal-opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity in
gender and nationality.
The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT is committed to fair, safe,
and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our
innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our
mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive
organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We
encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes,
national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual
orientations, marital status, and gender identities. Female candidates
are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applications
Applicants are invited to visit https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number RFP XXXX –Data Analysis Intern as
the position applied for. Cover letter and CV should be saved as one
document using the candidate’s last name, first name for ease of
sorting. The Alliance collects and process personal data in accordance
with applicable data protection laws.
Read Also:
Applications closing date: 14th September 2024
Please note that email applications will not be considered.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
We invite you to learn more about us at:
http://alliancebioversityciat.org
To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.
