Post-Doctoral Research Fellow on Gender and Disaster Risk Management at African Centre for Technology Studies

The Nairobi  Urban Disaster Risk Hub

Disasters represent one of the greatest threats to humanity, currently and in the future. In the context of urbanization, cities are increasingly becoming hotspots for disasters with over 60% of the world’s population living in urban areas. Resilience of these cities is critical to the livelihoods and sustainability of world’s population. The Nairobi Urban Disaster Risk Hub is part of a larger research project funded by UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund known as the “Tomorrow’s Cities” programme, which is a five year interdisciplinary global research programme where the mission is “to reduce disaster risk for the poor in tomorrow’s cities”. The project works globally to bring multi-hazard disaster risk management to the centre of urban policy and practice and the focus for our research is on four rapidly developing cities: Nairobi, Kathmandu, Istanbul and Quito. In Nairobi, this exciting opportunity brings together leading researchers,  community representatives and government leaders to work towards an unprecedented resolution to influence planning and to deliver real impact through interdisciplinary research.

Floods, collapsing buildings, and fires are prevalent hazards in Nairobi. While most parts of the city experiences such disasters in different magnitude, Nairobi’s informal settlements (slums) are major frontiers of these hazards, both natural and human risks owing to a number of compounding reasons. For instance, fires are common phenomenon in slums often emerging from various sources including electrical faults (resulting from poor/illegal electrical infrastructure), poor cooking spaces among others.  The main goal for the Nairobi Hub is to provide Nairobi with the capacity and policy framework that enables a shift from crisis/emergency response towards integrated urban development and planning for enhanced disaster risk preparedness and management, through policy relevant and transdisciplinary research. The need for such a transition is recognized at the Nairobi city county government level, reflected among others in the Nairobi Disaster Management Act 2019, which is currently under review.

The Nairobi hub is managed and run by organizations with excellent track records in research, policy and community work:

1. African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS): The hub is led by ACTS as the coordinating partner – hosting the hub office. ACTS is an independent, not for profit, inter-governmental, and Pan-African development and policy research organization, working to harness applications of science, technology and innovation for accelerated sustainable development in Africa. Founded in ACTS 1988, ACTS remains one of the leading think tanks in Africa with a specific mandate to conduct research and policy analysis; to provide technical advisory services; and to undertake capacity building and dissemination of knowledge on applications of science, technology and innovation for sustainable development. Within its mandate, ACTS works on various timely research projects hosted within a variety of timely and contextually relevant programmes: Climate Resilient Economies (CRE), and STI for development and Agriculture and food security. ACTS has established itself as a centre for excellence informing green growth and sustainable development in Africa and internationally. In 2016, ACTS was ranked among the top 3 think tanks in climate change, resilience research and policy influence globally - an improvement in relation to the think tanks ranking in the past. The ranking, an authoritative and worldwide known assessment of the most cutting-edge institutions working in the field of climate change economics and policy, by the International Centre for Climate Governance (ICCG) under the “ICCG Climate Think Tank Ranking Initiative is based on organizational activities, publications and dissemination.. The 2016 ranking assessed 244 think tanks specialized in the research fields of climate change and climate policy.
2. University of Nairobi: The University of Nairobi will co-lead a number of research activities under risk modelling and community resilience planning. The Centre for Urban Research and Innovation (CURI), is a centre of excellence on urban research, and is part of a consortia formed to help plan Mukuru. CURI has continued to participate in many community-based initiatives such as informal settlements upgrading, Community Fire Response Mechanisms, Urban Learning Studios, Sustainable Urban Mobility, Land and Natural resources tenure security, Urban Development Control Policy, and Unlocking Poverty and upscaling the Respect for Rights in Informal Settlements. Other departments – Geography & Geology – will bring in key experts in physical hazards research. Further the University, is help strengthen our impact strategy through anchoring capacity building strategies, multi-hazard courses and executive trainings among others.
3. Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI): KDI is a non-profit design and community development organization registered as a Non-Governmental Organization in Kenya since 2013. KDI partners with underserved communities to physically transform communities and in the process, improve environmental, economic and social quality of life.
4. Nairobi’s City-County Government: The City-County government is the primary authority charged with providing public services and mandated to develop the City Disaster Management Plan. The Nairobi city-county government will be the lead impact partner for the hub, and will co-host the community of practice meetings with partners.
5. Slum Dwellers International (SDI) Kenya: A key support NGO for Nairobi’s federation of urban poor groups (Muungano wa Wanavijiji), a partner in the Mukuru Spatial Planning Area (SPA) consortium, and an affiliate of Shack/Slum Dwellers International. SDI Kenya, is the non-profit technical and professional secretariat for the federation of Kenyan slum residents known as Muungano Wa Wanavijiji. SDI Kenya is part of the Kenyan alliance (with Akiba Mashinani Trust Muungano waWanavijiji), that is charged with coordination, community organization and communication. As part of SDI, the Akiba Mashinani Trust is also involved to support linkages with the Spatial Planning Area.
6. UK-based partners: to support research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), as well as management and leadership. These include experts from the Kings College London, University of Sussex- Institute of Development Studies, University of Edinburgh, University of Leeds, and the UK Met Office. Various physical and social scientists from these Universities have been integrated to support various research work packages taking place in the City. Other indirect partners include the Mukuru Community and a Community of Practice to be structured - who will be instrumental in the pathway to impact.
7. Global partners: the Risk Nexus Initiative (RNI), which has networks in Costa Rica, Spain, South America and India.

Specific Objectives of the Nairobi Urban Disaster Risk Hub

Nairobi Hub will adopt a transformative approach that seeks to utilize interdisciplinary research evidence as a tool for convening various stakeholders to achieve the specific objectives listed below;

1. To apply interdisciplinary research evidence to convene and strengthen the emerging community of practice around Disaster Risk Reduction, enabling it to work to reduce multiple risks in a more coordinated and collective fashion, and creating awareness on multi-hazard thinking collective action;
2. Support the incorporation of co-produced disaster risk reduction measures in new pro-poor action planning initiatives in low-income (informal) settlements; risks from the city’s multiple and interacting hazards, particularly for more vulnerable residents;
3. To support the design of a more risk-sensitive policy framework built on the multi-hazard thinking particularly in relation to more proactive management of risk accumulation currently associated with the city’s urban growth and expansion;
4. Provide compelling examples of multiple interacting risks and how they can be co-managed by state and non-state actors;

We are seeking a qualified candidate for the position of a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow on  Gender and Disaster Risk Management. 

Purpose of the position

This position is aimed at supporting the integration and mainstreaming of gender issues in the Nairobi Hub research programme as well as to clearly identify how gender issues including roles, positions and power dynamics play into vulnerability, risk and preparedness to multi-hazards. A key deliverable will be to develop and deploy suitable gender analysis tools across the work packages and to bring out a clear understanding and intersectionality of gender roles in urban transition as well as in building community resilience. Most importantly, the holder of this position will be expected to work closely with senior researchers to identify, design and outline the role of women, men, the youth and people living with disabilities (PLWD) in vulnerability and resilience building initiatives such as strengthening governance systems and participating in disaster relief activities, sharing local knowledge and traditions as well as developing capacity for risk reduction., The position will further provide advisory services on gender support systems including gender sensitive participation in research activities and stakeholder platforms such as the community of practice. Mainstreaming gender voices in the various convening events will be a key expectation – ensuring – through equitable representation of women and men in the platforms as well as preserving special sessions for them.

Job title: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow: Gender and Disaster Risk Management for the Tomorrow’s Cities’ Nairobi Urban Disaster Risk Hub

Programme: Nairobi Urban Disaster Risk Hub under the Climate Resilient Economies Programme and the Africa Sustainability Hub at the African Centre for Technology Studies

Line manager: Dr Joanes Atela (Head of Climate Resilient Economies Programme and City Lead - Nairobi Risk Hub) at the African Centre for Technology Studies; Ms Eunice Bururu (University of Nairobi); and UK City Co-leads - Dr Lars Otto Naess (Institute of Development Studies) and Dr Dave Rush (University of Edinburgh).

Qualifications

• The candidate should possess a PhD in relevant field including gender studies, development studies – with experience in gender-based research, public policy - with experience in gender based studies, Disaster Management – with experience in gender-based studies, Environmental studies - with experience in gender-based studies.
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in research on gender related issues achieved before, during or after the PhD.
• Experience in applied research is critical for this position
• A good record of academic publications will be an added advantage
• Preference will be given to applicants with demonstrated experience working in policy related research and ambitious career goal around research and development.

Skills and competences

• Excellent interpersonal, management and communication skills with proven ability to support narratives to describe results.
• A team player with ability to build strong working relationships, and experience working across different disciplines.
• Ability to work under limited supervision and meet deadlines
• Good writing skills and demonstrated ability to engage in technical writing
• Ability to write effectively and report to different audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver to tight deadlines and to work on a wide range of different demands.

Main Responsibilities

Research

• Undertake in-depth literature review, desk studies and high level consultations on gender transitions in disaster risk management in Nairobi, highlighting cases, challenges and best practices.
• Review and document existing tools and approaches applied in gender mainstreaming and integration in disaster risk management, and draw from these to design a more integrated tool for supporting gender mainstreaming for the Nairobi Hub both at settlement and city levels
• Design and implement gender studies across the various workstreams and integrate accordingly across the work streams
• Support the analysis and understanding of gender roles and interactions within Community Resilience and Vulnerability
• Support the analysis of gender perspectives within the experiences that various communities living in Mukuru and other settlements have had of hazards, historically and presently
• Systematically investigate, analyse and demonstrate how exposure to hazards (mainly fire and floods and their cascades) impact the day to day gender roles and shape relationships between various social groups in Nairobi.
• Systematically investigate, analyse and demonstrate - through studies - how broader policy and stakeholder interactions in Nairobi City and its environs shape exposure to hazards (mainly fire and floods and their cascades)
• Undertake gender based audits of the Disaster Management policies governing Nairobi city, drawing from the international, national and city level perspectives, and clearly articulating multi-level interactions and implications for the City.
• Lead and contribute to the development of technical outputs including publications – journal articles, working papers drawing from the specific work plans of the Nairobi Hub.
• Participate and contribute to quarterly research meetings, providing updates and progress to research teams and also getting comments and learnings from the teams.

Policy and outreach

• Mainstream gender evidence gathered across the workstreams to support the development of action plans including infrastructure designs/plans, land use plans at settlement (Mukuru) and City levels
• Ensure gender considerations and voices are taken in to account in all consultative meetings and platforms under the Hub including focus group discussions, community of Practice meetings, policy workshops and stakeholder and meetings.
• Draw from experiences in community resilience planning and policy processes to design simple, non-technical guidelines on gender mainstreaming for a multi-hazard risk preparedness
• Demonstrate through pilot interventions, the application of the above guidelines in consultations with other work streams.
• Support research translation and contribute to the development of quarterly information newsletters, policy briefs for dissemination to various audiences.
• Support the setting of an evidence convening Hub/resource Centre as part of the long term goal of the Nairobi Hub.

Terms of Employment

• Two (2) years renewable based on performance and availability of funds.
• The position provides competitive pensionable remuneration with an inclusive medical cover
• Provides an opportunity to work and establish networks with globally renowned researchers in the field of Disaster Management and with real career growth opportunity in the area of research and development.
• The position provides an equal opportunity for all, and women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.