ICT Specialist at icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health

Job description

Please also download icipe ’s Vision and Strategy 2013–2020 http://www.icipe.org/images/stories/pdf/about_ us/icipe_Vision_and_Strategy_2013-2020.pdf

icipe seeks to recruit a suitable person to fill the position of ICT Specialist, Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) of the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF). The position is tenable at the icipe Duduville Campus, and is available to commence immediately. The position will be offered for an initial contract of 2 years, renewable subject to continued project needs, funding for the position, and performance of the staff member.

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 cover, and an offshore retirement package (all payable in US Dollars), will be offered to the right candidate. Furthermore, the incumbent will receive paid annual vacation, return airfare for themselves and their dependents to their nominated home base each year, 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 Nairobi. Qualified candidates from Africa (and especially females) are invited to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.
Living in Nairobi and Mbita, Kenya
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, with a population of over three million, and hosts all the urban and social amenities and offers a comfortable, convenient and pleasurable life. A wide variety of excellent international schools and well-equipped medical facilities are open 24/7 in Nairobi. The city is also accessible by various reputable international airline carriers. Nairobi has a thriving international research scene, hosting various CGIAR centres and several UN agencies. Although it is important to be conscious of security, Kenyans are warm and welcoming of visitors.

icipe Thomas Odhiambo Campus (ITOC) is situated on the shores of Lake Victoria, with excellent housing facilities for staff and students. The Campus sits on 24.5 hectares of land, 40% of which consists of experimental fields and buildings with landscaped gardens. ITOC’s research structures include state-of-the-art laboratories and offices, as well as insect and animal rearing facilities. The Campus also hosts St. Jude’s Clinic, a kindergarten, a primary school, and the Mbita Guest House.
Job purpose
The Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF – https://www.rsif-paset.org/) is one of the flagship programmes of the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET), an initiative by African governments to address systemic gaps in skills and knowledge necessary for long-term, sustained economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). PASET was launched in 2013 by the governments of Senegal, Ethiopia and Rwanda. The governments of Kenya and Ivory Coast have since joined the initiative, while several others have expressed commitment to enter the partnership.

With funding from African governments, the World Bank and the Korean government, RSIF aims to support PhD training, and research and innovation in various African universities selected as centres of excellence in fields identified by PASET as priority economic sectors for growth and development, including food security, ICT and materials science. A competitive grants scheme, RSIF has two components: (i) the general fund, which supports PhD training, research and innovation projects annually; and (ii) the permanent or endowment fund, whose return proceeds will become part of the general fund.

In July 2018, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (www.icipe.org) was appointed the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) of RSIF. The mandate of the RCU includes managing the two funds and supporting the capacity of the universities and partnering institutions to administer the PhD scholarships. The assignment also includes creating partnerships with governments, universities and national and international research organisations for research training, e.g. through sandwich training, to promote collaboration with and among the centres of excellence. As well, the RCU will help introduce more African governments and other potential strategic partners to PASET to fund and to ensure continued continent-wide support.

Reporting to the RCU Manager, the ICT Specialist will manage the ICT system for the programme that will include systems within RCU and partner institutions. S/he will be responsible for providing support to the RCU, providing innovative insights into digital applications, and staying abreast of relevant upcoming technology trends across sectors.

Specific duties

The Successful Candidate Is Expected To

• Develop an ICT strategy for the programme.
• Design and implement ICT research, product development and innovation in support of key priority sectors of the programme.
• Responsible for supporting digital efforts including emerging areas like artificial intelligence and big data analytics, internet of things and other internet applications.
• Integrate ICT tools to increase access to and improve the quality of training programmes.
• Develop ICT systems to facilitate management and reporting of Programme activities at the RCU and partner institutions.
• Build ICT capacity of partner institutions. Conduct outreach to RCU’s internal and external clients.
• Organizing and sharing digital knowledge and experience, contributing to the design of digital activities for RCU
• Advice on and assist in procurement of new RCU ICT systems and equipment.
• Maintain currency of business systems, documentation, website and other information portals.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Masters degree in computer science, engineering or related field. PhD in the relevant field will be an added advantage.
• At least 5 years’ experience working in relevant field.

Core competencies

• ICT research and/or software development.
• Design of knowledge management systems
• Web design and development is an added advantage.

Reporting

This position reports to the RCU Manager.