Resource Mobilisation 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

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.
icipe seeks to recruit a suitable person to fill the position of Resource Mobilisation 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.
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-theart 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 Resource Mobilisation Specialist will undertake activities related to resource mobilisation in support of the RSIF Programme. S/he will coordinate all arrangements and ensure the smooth functioning of the activities related to funding generation and resource mobilisation.
Specific duties

The Successful Candidate Is Expected To

• Work with other members of the RCU to develop and implement a fundraising strategy for RSIF;
• Develop an annual work plan based on the approved strategy;
• Conduct research on potential donors and opportunities for resource mobilisation and identify areas of opportunity for focus and follow up;
• Maintain an inventory and an increasingly diverse network of potential donors and share leads with relevant staff;
• Develop working relationships with donors and investors, including governments;
• Provide quality assurance of project proposals and budgets by ensuring they are accurate and complete in meeting with the donor requirements.
• Maintain a portfolio of pipeline concepts, proposals, approved projects, and agreements being implemented;
• Conceptualise and organise fundraising and partnership building events and activities;
• Ensure effective communication with donors and investors, including the development of appropriate communication materials;
• Coordinate and contribute to the development of fundraising proposals.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant subject, such as social development or business management administration.
• 7 years of progressive experience in resource mobilisation, project management or Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL).
• Certificate in resource mobilisation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) or project management will be an added advantage.
• Training in project management/resource mobilisation.
• Experience in donor relations and fundraising.
• Experience in partnership building.

Core competencies

• Knowledge of international development financing.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven ability to prepare high quality documents and reports.
• Good IT skills.
• Excellent knowledge of English (Working knowledge of French will be an added advantage).

Other desirable attributes

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure in a multicultural and team environment.
• Strong customer relationship skills.
• Excellent coordination and organisation skills.
• Excellent planning skills.
• Excellent negotiation and presentation skills.
• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, accuracy and ability to work under minimal supervision.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to creatively solve problems.
• Excellent analytical skills in developing and implementing resource mobilisation activities.
• Ability to work effectively in teams.
• Initiative taker, self-motivation and a commitment to continuously work towards results.

Reporting

This position reports to the RCU Manager.