Department: Bio-resource Innovations Network for
Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate)Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Duration: 2-year renewable contract
Bio-resource Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) seeks to recruit a highly competent and dynamic Assistant Program Manager.
Bio-Innovate is a new multidisciplinary competitive funding mechanism for biosciences and product orientated innovation activities in Eastern Africa, supported by a grant of SEK 80m (USD 10.7m) from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
The Program builds on previous investments, achievements and experiences from the Sida-supported BIO-EARN Program and other regional initiatives. Bio-Innovate will work closely with the African Union New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU/NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) in strengthening regional collaboration in science and technology to enable the continent to adapt the rapid advances and promises of modern biosciences.
Bio-Innovate will focus on delivering new products through bioscience innovation systems involving a broad range of actors, including scientists, private sector, policy makers, NGOs and other practitioners.
It will use modern biosciences to improve agriculture and conserve the environment through improving crop productivity and resilience to climate change in small-scale farming systems; improving the efficiency of the agro-processing industry to add value to local bio-resources.
The program will also develop sound policies for commercializing products from biosciences research; and investigate innovative delivery systems.
Bio-Innovate will be managed by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). It will be co-located on ILRI’s Nairobi campus with the BecA ILRI Hub, a biosciences research platform that is part of AU/NEPAD’s Africa Biosciences Initiative.
The Bio-Innovate Program Assistant/Program Management Officer will be part of a small Program Management Team and will in particular be involved in ensuring that adequate program projects, financial and administrative systems are established and maintained.
He/she will be responsible for providing technical backstopping to the overall Program management. The Bio-Innovate Program Assistant will report to the Bio-Innovate Program Manager.
This position will be based at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Headquarters in Nairobi but it may require frequent travel throughout the Eastern Africa region.
Duties and responsibilities
- Provide technical backstopping to the overall Program management;
- Contribute in setting up the Bio-Innovate competitive grants scheme;
- Develop implementation guidelines to ensure efficient execution of Bio-Innovate projects and consortia;
- Contribute to the preparation of competitive Calls for Concept notes and managing of the review process, full proposal development, approval and contractual arrangements;
- Develop project monitoring and evaluation guidelines and participate in the monitoring and evaluation of Bio-Innovate Projects, including monitoring of milestones and in the preparation of regular technical reports;
- Contribute in Program networking with relevant partners and stakeholders and ensure that BioInnovate program activities are harmonized with other activities in the region. This includes actively exploring synergies of activities with other relevant partners in the region.
- Maintain valid and accurate records pertaining to funded projects by projects in the Bio-Innovate program thematic areas;
- Organize Bio-Innovate events, such as technical workshops, meetings of the Technical Advisory Committee, and annual technical meetings with research for development partners;
- Work with Principal Investigators of the BioInnovate Projects in six countries of eastern Africa in sourcing stories about their work for the BioInnovate website and E newsletter, ensuring the accuracy of the science as well as the liveliness of the news and pictorial interest;
- Provide training and advice to BioInnovate Project Principal Investigators and their research and development teams on generating appropriate communications materials to reflect the work of the Bio-Innovate Program and its partners;
- Manage public awareness events with the media, linked with events such as the launch of the Bio-Innovate program and the annual technical meeting, amongst others;
- Develop and maintain a filing system and data base for managing BioInnovate Program documentation, including concept notes, project proposals, project agreements, etc;
- Manage the data archive for the Bio-Innovate program;
- Establish and maintain a key contacts data base and email list server, including all Principal Investigators, Project team members, and other stakeholders;
- Establish and keep up to date a Resource mobilization list of key contacts;
- Carry out other duties as requested by the BioInnovate Program Manager.
Required skills and experience
- MSc and above with qualifications in the field of biosciences and/or bio-policy areas; post graduate training in communications is an asset;
- Demonstrated skills in program and or project management at regional and/or international levels; skills for project monitoring and program management;
- Minimum 5 years relevant work experience
- Computer skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office and desk top publishing packages such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop;
- Excellent networking and coordination skills; ability to work in a multicultural environment and team building capability;
- Multi-tasking skills, with ability to coordinate, prioritize and organize workload, meet deadlines and work under pressure;
- Excellent interpersonal skills, Capacity to take initiative, demonstrate good judgment and work under minimal supervision;
- Excellent communication skills, in written and verbal communications in English, including web based communications; knowledge of other languages an advantage.
Terms of appointment:
This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position based at ILRI’s Nairobi campus and is open to Kenyan nationals only.
The position is on a 2-year renewable contract subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive remuneration and benefits package.
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI): The Africa-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality science and capacity building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development.
ILRI is one of 15 centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). It has its headquarters in Kenya and a principal campus in Ethiopia.
To find out more about ILRI, visit our website at www.ilri.org
Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) is an initiative developed within the framework of the African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Africa Biosciences Initiative.
Located at and managed by ILRI in Nairobi, Kenya, the BecA-ILRI Hub provides a common biosciences research platform, research-related services and capacity building opportunities to the region and beyond.
The BecA-ILRI Hub aims to increase access to affordable, world-class research facilities and to create and strengthen human resources in biosciences and related disciplines in Africa. These activities focus on addressing key constraints in African agriculture.
To find out more about the BecA Hub, visit our website at http://hub.africabiosciences.org
Applications:
Applicants should send by email a cover letter, detailed curriculum vitae and the names and addresses (including telephone, fax and email) of three referees to Email: bioinnovate.recruit@cgiar.org by 28 June 2011.
The position title and reference number “BIO-INNOVATE ASSISTANT PROGRAM MANAGER: APM/BIO/06/11” must be clearly indicated on the email subject line of the email application.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
ILRI is an equal opportunity employer and provides a gender- and diversity-friendly working environment.
This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position based at ILRI’s Nairobi campus and is open to Kenyan nationals only.
The position is on a 2-year renewable contract subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive remuneration and benefits package.
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI): The Africa-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality science and capacity building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development.
ILRI is one of 15 centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). It has its headquarters in Kenya and a principal campus in Ethiopia.
To find out more about ILRI, visit our website at www.ilri.org
Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) is an initiative developed within the framework of the African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Africa Biosciences Initiative.
Located at and managed by ILRI in Nairobi, Kenya, the BecA-ILRI Hub provides a common biosciences research platform, research-related services and capacity building opportunities to the region and beyond.
The BecA-ILRI Hub aims to increase access to affordable, world-class research facilities and to create and strengthen human resources in biosciences and related disciplines in Africa. These activities focus on addressing key constraints in African agriculture.
To find out more about the BecA Hub, visit our website at http://hub.africabiosciences.org
Applications:
Applicants should send by email a cover letter, detailed curriculum vitae and the names and addresses (including telephone, fax and email) of three referees to Email: bioinnovate.recruit@cgiar.org by 28 June 2011.
The position title and reference number “BIO-INNOVATE ASSISTANT PROGRAM MANAGER: APM/BIO/06/11” must be clearly indicated on the email subject line of the email application.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
ILRI is an equal opportunity employer and provides a gender- and diversity-friendly working environment.
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