ACTS is seeking outstanding candidate for the position of Research Fellow 1 to work in the Climate Resilient Economy (CRE) Programme

About ACTS

ACTS is a pioneering development research think tank on harnessing applications of science, technology, and innovation policies for sustainable development in Africa. ACTS is an Intergovernmental organization founded in 1988 to pursue policy oriented research towards strengthening the capacity of African countries and institutions to harness science and technology for sustainable development. ACTS envisions a sustainable economic, social, and environmental future for Africa, through science, technology, and innovation. The successful candidate will work under the Head of the CRE programmme.

About CRE programme

The CRE’s program mission is to contribute to Inclusive, pro poor and thriving climate change resilient economies for economic, social, and environmental sustainability in Africa. The program’s strategic objective is to support the development of enabling capacities, policies, organizations, and institutions for harnessing applications of climate change related sciences, technologies and innovations for energy access and security, water quality and security, biodiversity, and natural resource management in Africa.

About the Capacity Strengthening (CS) hub project

The Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) research programme is an initiative co-designed and jointly funded by the United Kingdom (UK) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). CLARE is an ambitious 5-year initiative (2022-2027) adopting an action-oriented research approach to enable socially inclusive and sustainable action to build resilience to weather, climate change and natural hazards and related threat multipliers in the Global South (across Africa and the Asia-Pacific). A core strategy for achieving CLARE’s long term impact is to ensure knowledge and evidence generated are taken up and used/actioned to increase the resilience of vulnerable communities that comprise heterogenous groups. The programme has three overlapping research themes (1. Understanding climate risk, 2. Risk-informed early action, and 3. Developing in a changing climate). In 2022, FCDO and IDRC selected 16 projects, through an open competitive two-stage call process, including nine smaller projects (budget up to CA$1.5M) with one lead institution, and seven larger projects (budget up to CA$8M) with up to three lead institutions. The research projects range in duration from 36 to 42 months and are now under implementation.

The capacity strengthening hub (CS hub), hosted by PAACTS constituting PlanAdapt (PA) and African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), will support the CLARE programme and projects, to provide capacity support and relevant resources, to identify and help to share capacity, knowledge and learning across the portfolio; and connect with capacity strengthening efforts in the broader CLARE ecosystem. In collaboration with IDRC, the Hub will also engage with capacity strengthening focal points from each project to inform and co-design capacity strengthening opportunities and to collate lessons on how to best strengthen capacity through research projects.

The purpose of capacity strengthening in CLARE is to enable researchers, practitioners, users (including those disseminating research, such as journalists) and decision-makers to drive adaptation action and build a more resilient future for those most impacted by climate change. As such, capacity strengthening efforts are based on a commitment to recognize and, wherever possible, work with existing capacity and initiatives in the global South to leverage resources and synergies; promote gender equity and inclusion (both to do transformative research and advance gender equity and inclusion as an outcome); and address structural and organizational barriers to Southern leadership. As such, the target audience of the hub's initiatives are researchers, knowledge brokers, and other climate action stakeholders covering individual CLARE project teams, stand-alone CS initiatives, as well as the overall CLARE programme.

About the role

This RF1 will be hosted by the Climate Resilient Economies Programme, a multifaceted programme with the goal of creating impact in the climate change space through the learning, policy, business and partnerships hubs. Candidates with relevant proficiency research and capacity strengthening in the climate change space, under the Capacity Strengthening hubProject.

Overview of job responsibilities

1. To work with the hub members to co-design innovative and impactful modalities within the CS hub offerings including trainings, seasonal schools, peer learning sessions, and working group discussions
2. To constantly engage with the CS hub projects to ensure that their need are captured for capacity strengthening
3. To co-create tools and resources relevant for the hub
4. To engage cross CLARE hubs and capacity strengthening focused projects to find areas of synergy and partnerships
5. To support the technical and financial reporting of the project activities
6. To mobilize resources within the CRE programme for sustainability of existing projects and attracting new ones

Qualifications

Required:

• Preferably a Kenyan Citizen.
• A PhD, with a focus on research, social science or related topic with a focus on sharing capacity, knowledge and learning through different modalities
• Inter-disciplinary focus (natural science/social science) is an added advantage
• Demonstrated ability to write and publish peer-reviewed research articles in international journals.
• Demonstrated skills in policy, research, development, and research/report writing.
• Self-motivated, good team player, and ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Excellent communication skills in English (both verbal and written).
• Skilled in capacity strengthening methods
• Experience working with or communicating research findings to policymakers and/or the public.
• Experience collating and analyzing existing quantitative and/or qualitative data (e.g., systematic literature reviews, expert elicitation processes, meta-analysis, text analysis, or other synthesis and analysis of large data sets from diverse existing data sources)
• Proficiency in relevant and innovative capacity strengthening modalities
• Experience planning or facilitating workshops, webinars and trainings.
• Proficiency with online collaboration tools, including engagement platforms such as Mural boards, Mentimeter etc.

Application requirements:

• Applicants should submit as a single PDF file:
• An application letter no longer than 2 pages that includes a description of their research interests, a description of their expertise addressing the desired criteria, and suggestions for how they can work towards the project objectives;
• A CV including a publication list;
• Copies of academic transcripts and/or certificates;
• An example of written work; and
• The email addresses of two references who have been directly involved in their PhD research.
• Send applications to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with copy to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., with subject line “Research Fellow 1 – Capacity Strengthening hub, CRE”.

Closing date: Applications received by 4^th July 2024 are guaranteed to be considered. Applications received thereafter may be considered if the position has not been filled.