Gender Specialist

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

(Ref. No. IRS/164/072016)
(RE-ADVERTISEMENT)

GENDER SPECIALIST

icipe — African Insect Science for Food and Health is a world-class research centre with a mission to alleviate poverty by ensuring food security, improving health, protecting the environment, and building the capacity of researchers and communities across the developing world through the application of insect sciences. Employing more than 500 national and international staff, icipe is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with outposts in Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, and on the shores of Lake Victoria in western Kenya. icipe has a proud reputation and history of delivering world-quality science that has made crucial contributions to addressing African food and health constraints and policy, delivered development outcomes to rural communities, and has been at the forefront of building Africa’s biological research capacity. The Centre’s research activities span the African continent with partnerships linking research organisations, not only across Africa, but also the globe. In addition, more than 150 graduate students and several postdoctoral fellows contribute to icipe’s research portfolio annually. For more information visit: www.icipe.org

Please also download icipe’s Vision and Strategy 2013–2020 http://www.icipe.org/publications/corporatepublications/vision-and-strategy

icipe is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic quantitatively oriented Social Scientist with a strong interest in gender, to join our international team of highly qualified and motivated scientists to contribute to our goal of increasing the food security and health of all Africans. The position is tenable in Nairobi at the icipe Duduville campus. This is a two-year contract, renewable after successfully completing a six-month probation period of the first contract

A competitive and generous compensation package that includes housing and transport allowances, child education allowance up to university first degree, comprehensive health and life insurance, an offshore retirement package, all payable in US Dollars, will be offered to the right candidate. Furthermore, the incumbent will receive a paid vacation/annual airfare, and duty free privileges. If the successful candidate is appointed from outside Kenya, he or she will be offered support to relocate and settle in the city. Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.

Living in Nairobi

Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, with a population of over three million and plentiful supermarkets, malls, bars and restaurants, as well as recreational areas, open spaces and parks; and it is the safari capital of the world. There are a wide variety of excellent international schools, and well-equipped medical facilities that are open 24/7 in Nairobi. The city is also accessible by various reputable international airline carriers. Although it is important to be conscious of security, Kenyans are warm and welcoming of visitors.

Nairobi has a thriving international research scene, hosting various CGIAR centres and several UN agencies. icipe employs a number of international staff.

Overall purpose of the job

The succesful candidate will lead the Centre’s gender strategy development and implementation. Working with other members of our Social Science Unit, and in collaboration with icipe’s biophysical research teams and our national and international partners, the candidate will undertake research on gender issues in relation to the Centre’s research portfolio and contribute to strengthening the institutional capacity for incorporating social equity. The succesful candidate will also be encouraged and supported to develop their own portfolio of reserach activities.

Responsibilities

Generate knowledge relating to the drivers of adoption with respect to gender issues for icipe technologies and ensure the lessons learned are incorporated into project and Centre level strategies, with the aim of contributing and fostering a learning environment and to further the impact of the Centre. § Improve the understanding of intra-household decision-making processes and their impacts on the gender-specific welfare of individuals in rural communities. § Analysis of gender-differentiated technology adoption pathways and their impacts on health, poverty and food security for targeting icipe technology and policy interventions. § Develop institutional innovations for enhancing gender-equitable access to and use of promising technologies, inputs and output markets for income growth, food security and health. § Strengthen the awareness of issues relating to gender within icipe and beyond through contributing to the Centre strategy, project design, and providing training and development in gender issues to Centre staff. § Contribute to priority setting, strategy and project definition, to ensure issues relating to gender are embedded in all Centre activities. § Publish and communicate research findings through internationally recognised forums and contribute to the dissemination of research findings to stakeholders.

Requirements/Qualifications

A PhD with a minimum of 2 years postdoctoral experience in a relevant area of social/economic sciences, including gender analysis. § Experience in undertaking gender analysis, preferably in the context of agricultural development or human health. § Demonstrate strong quantitative analytical skills and experience using qualitative methods for gender and development research. § Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, including strategic thinking and ability to present coherent and convincing analyses to different audiences. § Strong publication record in relevant areas at the associate scientist or scientist level, or demonstrated high potential to publish at the postdoctoral fellow level. § Ability to travel and undertake fieldwork in rural contexts. § Relevant work experience in developing countries, preferably Africa.

Other desirable attributes

Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, as well as to develop strong and effective working relationships with partners. § Self-motivated with a desire to make a difference to the health and food security of Africans.

Reporting

This position reports to the Head of the Social Science and Impact Assessment Unit.

The selected candidate should be available to start as soon as possible.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interested applicants should submit: (a) a confidential cover letter, (b) detailed CV with names and addresses of 3 referees (including e-mail addresses, fax numbers), and (c) a statement illustrating suitability against the listed qualifications/competencies/abilities and skills. Candidates are required to apply online through: http://recruit.icipe.org

icipe is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equity, teamwork, and respect for diversity.