NGO Jobs in Kenya – AFIDEP (11 Vacancies)

The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) is a registered international Non-Governmental Organization in Kenya with a mandate to work on African development policy issues.
Our mission is to translate and enable the utilization of evidence in policy-making, primarily in the fields of Population Change and Sustainable Development; Reproductive, Maternal, New born, Child, and Adolescent Health; Transformative Education and Skill Development; and Capacity Building in Evidence-Informed policy making in Africa.
We work to bridge the gap between research, policy and practice by enabling use of research evidence in decision-making aimed at addressing various development challenges in Africa.
We do this through fostering consistent availability of timely, relevant and accessible evidence from credible sources to support policy making and implementation of effective development programmes in the continent.
With our Head Office in Nairobi-Kenya and a regional office in Lilongwe Malawi, we are seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to fill the following
position:
Research Translation Scientist
(3 positions)
in the following areas
1.   Education and Skills Development
2.   Health System Strengthening – Health Economics/Public Health
3.   Population Change and Sustainable Development
The roles entail providing leadership in development and implementation of research knowledge translation and capacity building programmes and promoting the use of the evidence in decision-making at national and regional levels.
These are senior technical positions with accountabilities to partners and the institute’s leadership. The successful candidates shall be expected to lead various programmes implementation initiatives besides resource mobilisation activities.
The candidates should have a Ph.D. in either of the following; Population Studies (Demography), Education, Health Economics or Development Economics.
They should also have strong qualitative and quantitative research skills; a record of accomplishment in publications and grants proposal writing; hands-on experience in policy analysis, synthesizing and translating research evidence into outputs that can be easily used by policymakers and in policy engagement.
Main Responsibilities
·         Lead the conceptualization, design, and implementation of research, capacity building and policy engagement programmes
·         Conduct research evidence synthesis including systematic reviews.
·         Conduct research evidence translation into policy-oriented advocacy materials.
·         Promote the application of research findings in decision-making processes at national, regional, and international levels.
·         Proposal writing and fundraising.
·         Scientific writing for various research knowledge consumers and publishing policy-oriented research in journals.
Qualifications, Skills, and Experience
Qualifications
·         For the specific position applied for the candidate should have a Ph.D. in either of the following; Population Studies (Demography), Education, Health Economics or Development Economics.
Skills
·         Strong quantitative research skills (qualitative skills is an added advantage)
·         Strong analytical skills
·         Critical thinker
·         Excellent writing and communication skills in English (additional skills in French desirable).
·         Strong interpersonal skills with effective team management skills
·         Strong adaptability skills to changing research evidence environment
Experience
·         Minimum of 5 years’ postdoctoral professional experience.
·         Management and coordination of research programmes and partnerships
·         Scientific writing publications.
·         Evidence translation and policy analysis
·         Engagement of senior policymakers
·         Experience in proposal writing and fundraising.
·         Monitoring and evaluation of research programmes
These positions are tenable in either Nairobi or Lilongwe with at least 25% travel to the other.


Partnership Building and Resource Mobilisation Manager
The Partnership Building and Resource Mobilisation Manager will be responsible for the overall coordination of the planning, development, and management of the resource mobilization strategy and activities ensuring effective engagement of stakeholders in raising of resources for the institute.
Main responsibilities
·         Translate AFIDEP’s resource mobilization strategy and plans into action
·         Prescribe, lead and conduct market research and marketing initiatives to assess donor priorities and identify opportunities for resource mobilization
·         Establish systems for identification and response to calls with templates to manage the activities of resource mobilization.
·         Coordinate the development and writing of highly competitive resource mobilisation proposals and contribute to proposal
·         Develop and ensure quality standards for proposals and concept notes and ensure achievement
·         Develop and maintain database of donors, project concept notes and project proposals
·         Develop and maintain an effective project tracking system and ensure all donor funding requirements are met in any fundraising document
·         Producing contents for communication materials in support of fundraising such as brochures, appeals, newsletters, Organisational capability statement and annual reports and their reviews
·         Sensitizing and training AFIDEP staff on fundraising skills and strategy execution
·         Developing and coordinating online/web-based fundraising initiatives
·         Managing resource mobilisation functions and activities and supporting the project manager in managing donor relationships
·         Production of fundraising status reports
Qualifications, Skills, and Experience
Qualifications
·         Minimum of Master’s degree in International Development / Communications / Marketing / Economics / International Relations
·         Bachelor’s degree in any other Social Sciences course
·         At least ten (10) years of relevant work experience including progressively responsible experience working at the international and national levels
·         At least five (5) year’s resource mobilisation experience and at least three (3) years in senior role in the international development sector
Knowledge and Skills
·         Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, networking and communication skills
·         Ability to engage with multilateral, bilateral, corporate and development partners.
·         Ability to lead dialogue with partners, identify and analyse trends, opportunities, and challenges
·         Initiative taker, self-motivated and a commitment to continuously produce results focus on impact and results
·         Excellent writing skills
·         Demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain excellent relationships with key partners
·         Self-motivated, initiative taker and working towards achieving results
·         Understanding of development sector and best practices in international donor relations
·         Demonstrated knowledge of grants management, monitoring, assessments, and reviews
·         Excellent understanding of resource mobilisation strategies, cycles, and activities
·         Excellent leadership, coordination, and relationship building
This position is tenable in Nairobi.


Knowledge Translation Scientist
(3 positions)
Knowledge Translation Scientist (3 positions) in the following areas:
1.   Education and skills development
2.   Population change and sustainable development (Demographic Dividend)
3.   Health System Strengthening – Health Economics
The Knowledge Translation Scientist role entails providing leadership in development and implementation of knowledge translation and capacity building programmes, and promoting use of the evidence in decision-making processes at national and regional levels.
This is a senior technical position with professional accountabilities to partners and technical functions at the institute. The successful candidate will be expected to lead various programmes implementation initiatives besides resource mobilisation activities.
The candidate should possess a PhD in either of the following: Population Studies (Demography), Education, Health Economics or Development Economics.

The candidate should also have strong qualitative and quantitative research skills; have a record of accomplishment in publications, grants proposal writing and hands-on experience in policy analysis, synthesising and translating research evidence into outputs that can be easily used by policymakers and in policy engagement.
Main Responsibilities
·         Lead the conceptualisation, design and implementation of research, capacity building and policy engagement programmes
·         Conduct research evidence synthesis including systematic reviews
·         Conduct research evidence translation into policy-oriented advocacy materials
·         Promote application of research findings in decision-making processes at national, regional, and international levels
·         Proposal writing and fundraising
·         Scientific writing for various research knowledge consumers and publishing policy-oriented research in journals
Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Qualifications
·         Candidate should have a PhD in either of the following; Population Studies (Demography), Education, Health Economics or Development Economics.
Skills
·         Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills
·         Strong analytical skills
·         Critical thinker
·         Excellent writing and communication skills in English (additional skills in French desirable).
·         Strong interpersonal skills with effective team management skills
·         Strong adaptability skills to changing research evidence environment
Experience
·         Minimum of 5 years’ postdoctoral professional experience.
·         Management and coordination of research programmes and partnerships
·         Scientific writing publications.
·         Evidence translation and policy analysis
·         Engagement of senior policy makers
·         Experience in proposal writing and fundraising.
·         Monitoring and evaluation of research programmes


Knowledge Translation Officer
To be based either in our Nairobi or Lilongwe office.
This position mainly entails coordination and management of knowledge translation and capacity building programmes.
The holder of the position will coordinate the implementation of research projects, contribute to advocacy for application of research finding in decision-making, and carry out scientific writing, proposal writing and dissemination materials.
The candidate should possess a minimum of Master’s degree qualifications either in Population Studies (Demography), Education, Health Economics, Development Economics, Public Health, Policy Analysis or Science Communications, and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in research programme management, knowledge translation and policy engagement.
Main Responsibilities
·         Coordinate the implementation of research projects including data collection and collation, data analysis and systematic evidence and policy reviews
·         Contribute to advocacy for application of research findings in decision-making processes at national, regional, and international levels
·         Scientific writing and production of research reports
·         Contribute to capacity building in research knowledge translation and synthesis
·         Contribute to proposal writing
·         Develop and disseminate policy-oriented advocacy materials
Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Qualifications
·         The candidate should possess a minimum of Master’s degree qualifications either in Population Studies (Demography), Education, Health Economics, Development Economics, Public Health, Policy Analysis or Science Communications.
Experience
·         Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in research programme management, knowledge translation and policy engagement
·         Proven track record of scientific writing
·         Practical experience in synthesising and translating research evidence into outputs that are usable by policymakers
·         Proven experience in developing policy-oriented advocacy materials
·         Past experience in monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes
·         A track record in coordinating research programmes and partnerships.
Skills
·         Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills
·         Strong analytical skills
·         Critical thinker
·         Excellent writing and communication skills in English. Additional official language such as French will be an added advantage.
Additional information: The above positions will be for a period of 2 years, renewable depending on performance, continued need of the Institute and availability of funding. A competitive remuneration package will be offered commensurate with qualifications, skills and experience.


Communications Officer
(1 Position)
Based in our Lilongwe office in Malawi, the role will lead AFIDEP’s communications and policy engagement activities and support programme implementation activities in Malawi and the Southern Africa region.
Main Responsibilities
·         Identify and facilitate AFIDEP’s participation in important national and regional policy dialogue forums.
·         Expand AFIDEP’s policy links and influence by establishing and maintaining relationships with relevant national policymakers and donors in Malawi and sub-regional bodies and networks in Southern Africa.
·         Develop and oversee the production of AFIDEP’s policy-oriented publications, including Policy briefs, Research Briefs, Factsheets, and Development Perspectives.
·         Contribute to development and production of AFIDEP’s institutional publications, including Brochures, Newsletters, Annual Reports.
·         Establish and sustain meaningful connections with relevant media actors and facilitate media coverage of AFIDEP’s research and programmes in Malawi and Southern Africa.
·         Contribute content for AFIDEP’s website and social media platforms.
·         Coordinate research, capacity building and advocacy programmes in Malawi.
·         Lead in planning and organising workshops, training and other events related to AFIDEP’s programmes in Malawi.
Position Requirements
·         Masters’ degree either in communications, international relations, or related field.
·         Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, preferably in a research setting in the areas of health, population, environment or development.
·         Excellent writing and communication skills in English (proficiency in French will be an added advantage).
·         Experience in synthesis and translation of research findings, and in developing high impact policy briefs and web-based advocacy materials.
·         Experience in policy engagement and programme management.
·         Graphics and web design and management skills would be an added advantage.
·         Experience in project management including report writing, building and managing partnerships, and organisation of high-level forums.
·         Quantitative and qualitative analytical skills and experience in using relevant analytical software would be an added advantage.
Additional information: The above positions will be for a period of 2 years (except Director position which is for 3 years), renewable depending on performance, continued need of the Institute, and availability of funding. A competitive remuneration package will be offered commensurate with qualifications, skills, and experience.


Director of Education and Skills Development
(1 Position)
The role entails leading the Institute’s Transformative Education and Skills Development thematic area. It involves the development of the Transformative Education and Skills Development thematic area through generation and implementation of knowledge translation and capacity building programmes and promoting the use of the evidence in decision-making processes at national and regional levels.
The role will develop programmes, carry out resources mobilization, provide leadership in programmes implementation and publishing for the thematic area.
Main Responsibilities
Providing leadership in
·         Conceptualization, design, and implementation of research, capacity building and policy engagement programmes in Transformative Education and Skills Development
·         conducting research evidence synthesis and translation into policy-oriented advocacy materials
·         Promoting the application of research findings in decision-making processes at national, regional and international levels.
·         Scientific writing for various research knowledge consumers and publishing policy-oriented research in journals.
·         engaging policymakers to promote the application of research evidence in decision making process
·         building capacity in translation, dissemination, and use of research evidence for policymakers and other stakeholders at national and regional levels
·         Proposal writing and fundraising.
Academic qualifications
·         Ph.D. (in Education, Development Policy, International Development, International Relations)
Experience
·         At least five (8) years’ post-doctoral experience in policy research and advocacy in Education and Skills development or a related field
·         At least three (5) years at a senior level in a research environment.
Skills
·         Transformative educational pedagogy
·         Transferable skills/soft skills training/implementation
·         Mentorship abilities
·         Good scientific writing skills for publication in peer-reviewed journals
Knowledge
·         In-depth knowledge of African education landscape
·         Current emerging issues in African education
·         Pedagogical approaches in education
·         Transferable skills
This position is tenable in either Nairobi or Lilongwe with at least 25% travel to the other.
How to Apply
This position will be for a period of 2 years, with possibility of extension.
A competitive remuneration package will be offered commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Applicants are required to send their 1) one-page cover letter, 2) CV (including three relevant referees), and 3) two-page statement detailing career goals and interests not later than March 5, 2018 to:
Finance and Administration Manager
African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP),
6th Floor Wing A, Westcom Point Building,
Mahiga Mairu Avenue, Westlands
P.O. Box 14688-00800, Westlands,
Nairobi, Kenya
Email: hr@afidep.org
For more about the Institute, please visit our website www.afidep.org.