Administrative Jobs, Jobs in Kenya, ICIPE Jobs, Research Jobs,
Business Support Assistant II (Administrative Assistant)
Overall Purpose of the Job
The Capacity Building Administrative Assistant plays a key supportive role in the administration and monitoring of the icipe postgraduate and training programmes.
Specific Duties
- Support the development and improvement of data collection processes, data entry into databases, and analysis.
- Collate feedback and learning to support monitoring and evaluation for effective capacity building and quality improvement.
- Provide regular feedback and reports on the status of monitoring.
- Carry out administrative tasks to support the delivery of postgraduate and other training programmes.
- Support in coordination of training courses, workshops and meetings (manage logistics, travel, accommodation, budgets and payments, invitations, workshop materials, etc.).
- Support in coordinating meetings of the CBIS, including preparing documentation and taking minutes, and following up on action points with relevant parties.
- Provide information for updating the icipe website on capacity-building activities.
- Prepare and share information relevant to capacity building through various media.
- Support students’ welfare.
- Creates and manages electronic and manual filing systems, and maintain and update files and records, archiving and storage.
- Maintains a database of key contacts for the Programme.
- Handles maintenance of office assets and keeps an inventory of equipment, vehicles, and procured supplies.
- Responds to routine correspondence, and handles e-mail, telephone communication, requests, inquiries and other communication systems and processes to appropriate parties.
- Assists with project staff travel arrangements and logistical support in conjunction with the relevant units, including handling of travel requests and travel expense reports, accommodation, and travel advances.
Requirements/Qualifications
- A diploma in administration, monitoring and evaluation, project management or related field.
- A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field would be an added advantage.
- At least 2 years of relevant experience, preferably with a focus on project administration and monitoring in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment at an international NGO or research organisation.
- Finance or Accounting knowledge is an added advantage.
- Knowledge of basic French is an added advantage.
- Advanced skills in MS Office, especially Outlook, Word, and Excel.
- Experience working in an international organization.
- Excellent numeracy skills, including ability to prepare reports in table and chart formats.
- Confident, effective communicator with good writing and verbal skills.
- Experience with use of databases for project management.
Other Desirable Attributes
- Effective administrative skills.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills, and ability to determine priorities and attention to detail.
- Ability to efficiently organise logistics for meetings and workshops.
- Effective communication and writing skills.
- Experience in facilitating teamwork and collaboration across multiple functions.
- Expected to analyse, solve problems and make decisions within own work area with approval from the supervisor.
- Supervise tasks that are mostly routine in own activities.
- Expected to handle travel imprest, make payments to participants and accountability for advances.
Reporting
This position reports to the Senior Business Support Officer I – Capacity Building.
Business Support Assistant II (Technology Transfer Assistant)
Overall Purpose of the Job
To support the effective and impactful internal and external communication and engagement with all relevant stakeholders for the project “Scaling regenerative black soldier fly farming innovations with vegetable push-pull cropping systems for One Health in Rural Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.”
Specific Duties
- Support the project team in the follow-up of action points on project reporting as per donor requirements.
- To assist develop, foster and maintain strong collaborative networks of partners, including government agencies, national research partners, non-governmental organizations, regional and international agricultural research organizations, and the private sector, committed to scaling out technologies.
- Coordination and planning of field activities in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
- Organization of training, conferences, and webinars to disseminate research communication to the wider scientific community.
- Establish entry points for strategic engagement in new target areas in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
- Demonstrate evidence to implementing partners on the performance of technologies.
- Share project technological solutions using various communication platforms including social media and websites.
- Mobilise and support farmers to enable the adoption of technologies in the region.
- Drafting of brochures, manuals, and pamphlets materials for technology dissemination in the project/s in the unit.
- To follow up with partner seasonal monitoring and technical backstopping activities in the participating countries.
- Liaise with the Environmental Health Unit to promote the One Health strategy.
- Assisting in any duties as assigned by the designee.
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Requirements/Qualifications
- Diploma in a relevant field including agriculture, development studies, or other related fields. BSc will be an added advantage.
- At least one year of practical experience in rural development.
- Experience in establishing and maintaining relations with national research extension services.
- Strong understanding and experience with digital content and social media analytics.
- In-depth knowledge of international trends and cultural sensitivities of target audiences to ensure responsible communication.
- Good interpersonal relationship skills and teamwork.
- Excellent written and spoken command of English, and the ability to convey complex ideas creatively, clearly, directly, and lively.
- Basic data exploration and analytical skills.
- Multilingual and ability to work in multicultural environments.
Other Desirable Attributes
- Make decisions for own job function and require approval from supervisor.
- May assist in training other employees in their work. Training of farmer groups, NGOs, and NARES.
- Accountability for field imprest.
- Engagement with NARES, NGOs, farmers.
Reporting
This position reports to the Research Scientist.
Research Officer I
Overall Purpose of the Job
The candidate will be responsible for the recruitment and training of farmers to establish BSF farming enterprises on farmers’ fields and demonstration farms in strategic areas for the project “Scaling regenerative black soldier fly farming innovations with vegetable push-pull cropping systems for One Health in Rural Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.”
Specific Duties
- Recruit and train extension agents, NGOs, and SMEs on mass production of black soldier fly for feed and fertilizer, using locally available organic wastes and suitable training methods such as farmer field days, schools, agricultural shows, and on-farm demonstrations.
- Collaborate with existing BSF farming technical staff to train farmers on the linkages between BSF farming and vegetable-integrated push-pull, utilizing BSF-based feeds for poultry and fish production and BSF frass fertilizer to improve crop yields.
- Establish and manage BSF training and demonstration facilities and conduct follow-up visits to provide technical backstopping to established BSF farming enterprises in Kenya.
- Participate in the dissemination of the IKEA project findings in liaison with extension agents, Ministries of Agriculture Animal Industries and Fisheries, NGOs and community-based organizations in the targeted counties/ project areas.
- Participate in the collection of biophysical and socio-economic data as assigned by scientists.
- Prepare monthly reports on BSF farming activities carried out directly and by farmer trainers, NGOs, community-based organizations (CBOs), and government collaborators in assigned locations.
- Setting up BSF displays and explaining the benefits of BSF farming innovations to various stakeholders including farmers, donors, journalists, NGOs, and public and private sector players.
- Any other responsibility assigned by the supervisors and senior project team.
Requirements/Qualifications
- Degree in Agriculture, Entomology, Biotechnology, or Applied Biology.
- Minimum of 1 year of field experience working with farmers, with strengths in BSF farming, and insect rearing.
- Practical knowledge in conducting experiments, data collection, and report writing.
- A valid driving license to ride a motorbike is essential.
- Good working knowledge of written and spoken English is essential.
- Good working knowledge of local languages spoken in Kenya (Swahili, Luo, Kisii, Luhya).
- Computer literacy and basic data exploration and analytical skills.
- High degree of organization, adaptability, and prioritization.
- Good reporting and communication skills.
Other Desirable Attributes
- Experience in community mobilization and social work will be an advantage.
- Hands-on experience in working with community development activities in Kenya.
- Ready to work for long hours, including weekends.
- Make decisions for own job function and require approval from supervisor.
- May assist in training other employees in their work.
- Accountability for field imprest.
- Assist students and scientists in establishing experiments, data collection, and entry.
- Engagement with NARES, NGOs, farmers, private sector.
Reporting
This position reports to the Head of Insects for Food, Feed and Other Uses (INSEFF) Programme.
Research Assistant I (Driver)
Overall Purpose of the Job
To assist the following IKEA project field research activities in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda: BSF -VIPPT (Scaling Regenerative Black Soldiers Fly Farming Along with Vegetable Push-Pull cropping systems in Rural Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda).
Specific Duties
- Assist the scientists, PhD, and MSc students in performing routine field activities related to the IKEA project.
- Provide logistical support to the IKEA Team at icipe and during field activities.
- Participate and support laboratory activities when based at icipe headquarters.
- Liaise with field IKEA staff, partners, and community members to undertake field activities.
- Driving IKEA project vehicles in the research areas and on any errands within Nairobi and its environs.
- Carry out routine basic maintenance of the vehicles as deemed necessary to keep them in good working condition.
- Carry out other daily chores, casual labour, and any other activities assigned by the supervisor(s).
Requirements/Qualifications
- Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), or equivalent level of education.
- At least 1-year experience as a driver. The candidate must be willing to learn new skills that relate to the overall work activities of the Environmental Health Theme.
- Must possess an international driving license.
- Ability to communicate effectively in both English and Kiswahili is essential.
- Familiarity with the geography (road network) in East Africa will be an added advantage.
- Prior experience with similar research and development organization and knowledge of basic concepts in conducting experiments will be an added advantage.
Other Desirable Attributes
- The Driver/Technical Assistant shall submit to the Supervisor, a bi-annual progress report (by the end of each January and July) based on the agreed work plan. The progress report contains a vehicle
- movement report and a calendar of events per each assisted project.
- Make decisions for own job function and require approval from supervisor.
- May assist in training other employees in their work.
- Accountability for field imprest.
Reporting
- This position reports to the Head, Environmental Health Theme
Business Support Officer I (Communications Officer)
Overall Purpose of the Job
To support the communication strategy of the project scaling the “Scaling regenerative black soldier fly farming innovations with vegetable push-pull cropping systems for One Health in Rural Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.”
Specific Duties
- Content creation and distribution
- Develop communication materials including press releases, website content, social media posts, for effective communication with target audience.
- Support the field technical team with interactive training tools and videos for farmer training in both English and select local languages of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
- Support field staff in documenting field days and farmer spotlights through video and still photography.
- Media relations
- Arrange for fruitful media engagements in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda in liaison with line project management.
- Communication Strategy
- Support project management in development and implementation of communication plans.
- Develop tracking tools for monitoring of effective communication strategies for target audiences and media coverage.
- Coordinate internal project communication and flow of key documents (reports etc) between icipe and partners.
- Supervise communication training assistants in Rwanda and Uganda.
Requirements/Qualifications
- An BSc in a relevant field including mass communication, journalism, development studies, international relations, or other related fields.
- MSc will be an added advantage.
- At least 3 years of practical experience in communication in a research for development environment.
- Familiarity with desktop publishing, HTML, photography, videography, and photo editing.
- Excellent written and spoken command of English, and the ability to convey complex ideas in a creative, clear, direct, and lively style.
- Good command of Swahili.
- Excellent skills in content development, and editorial skills.
- Strong understanding and experience with digital content and social media analytics.
Other Desirable Attributes
- Make decisions for own job function and requires approval from supervisor.
- Supervise and train communication assistants.
- Responsible for field imprest.
- Engagement with NARES, NGOs, farmers and media.
Reporting
This position reports to the Research Scientist.
Research Officer I (Field Technician VIPP)
Overall Purpose of the Job
The candidate will be responsible for recruitment and training of farmers to establish VIPP with frass together with establishment and management of demonstration plots in the project “Scaling regenerative black soldier fly farming innovations with vegetable push-pull cropping systems for One Health in Rural Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.”
Specific Duties
- Recruitment and training of farmers and extension officers. field days, farmer field schools, agricultural shows, and on-farm demonstrations.
- Establish and manage VIPP demonstration plots, conduct field days and farmer field schools.
- Support technology dissemination initiatives in liaison with extension agents, local extensionofficers, NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs).
- Provide technical oversight and backstopping to farmers participating in field trials.
- Coordinate field visits of project partners including donors and ministry of agriculture senior management.
- Coordinate field data collection of rural participatory evaluations using digital tools.
- Support student field trials.
- Prepare monthly reports on field activities, farmer appraisals and stakeholder engagements.
- Preparation of exhibition material and participation in local agricultural shows.
- Any other responsibly assigned by the supervisors and senior project team.
Requirements/Qualifications
- BSc degree in Agronomy or Entomology.
- Minimum of 2 years of field experience working with farmers.
- A valid driving license to ride a motorbike is essential.
- Good working knowledge of local languages spoken in Kenya (Swahili, Luo, Kisii, Luhya).
- Good working knowledge of written and spoken English is essential.
- Computer literacy and basic data exploration and analytical skills.
- High degree of organization, adaptability, and prioritization.
- Good reporting and communication skills.
Other Desirable Attributes
- Ability to work in multi-cultural environments.
- Practical knowledge of coordinating field research.
- Experience in community mobilization.
- Decent fitness levels for extended periods of field work.
- Working experience in Uganda and Rwanda will be an added advantage.
- Make decisions for own job function and requires approval from supervisor.
- May supervise and train field assistants.
- Responsible for field imprest.
- Support students and scientists in establishing field trials and data collection.
- Engagement with NARES, NGOs, farmers and media.
Reporting
This position reports to the Research Scientist