Research Manager - BIMA Project, Faculty of Law at University of Nairobi

 AD/10/215/23 — 1 POST
About the Project:

Improving Livestock Insurance Trigger Mechanisms and Gender-Responsive Products for Drought-Affected (agro-)Pastoralists is a research project which aims to improve the capacity of (agro-) pastoral communities in Kenya to cope with climate shocks through a more effective and gender-responsive insurance package including livestock insurance. The project is part of the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) initiative which seeks to enable socially inclusive and sustainable action to build resilience to climate change and natural hazards. CLARE is jointly designed, funded, and run by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and Canada’s International Development Research Centre. The project will be implemented by a consortium of 5 partners CCGD, CISP, TriM, Takaful, and the University of Nairobi. This unique team of organizations will maximize synergies, pool resources and core competencies to develop an insurance package that combines livestock withother asset insurance products to improve commercial viability and just redistribution of insurance pay-outs of Index Based Livestock Insurance.

Job Highlight:

The University of Nairobi is seeking for an experienced Research Manager with technical expertise in Project Management, Technical Writing, Research Co-development, Engagement. Duties will include pulling together complex multidisciplinary research tasks, their allocation and completion; building and coordinating multidisciplinary research teams; overseeing the analyses of polycentric biophysical and socioeconomic data, and synthesis of existing knowledge to develop an action plan. The ideal candidate will bring strong research skills, synthesis skills, a track record of delivering projects and an interest in the policy and practice.

Summary of Responsibilities:
Research and policy agenda

• Oversee research on adjusted livestock insurance product that incorporates biophysical, social, and economic parameters to provide demonstrable benefitsto pastoralists and insurance providers.
• Support the development and implementation of appropriate research methodologies, methods, and tools.
• Lead on the production of high-quality research and policy reports.
• Lead the production of written outputs including research papers, reports, internal briefs, blogs, presentations, and press releases.
• Lead the editing, peer review, publishing of research and communication outputs in consultation with the consortium partners.

Engagement and Partnerships

• Support the development of an engagement strategy for policy change on climate change adaptation for agro-pastoralist communities through a more effective and gender-responsive livestock insurance package.
• Support the development of an engagement strategy on uptake of an adjusted livestock insurance package among pastoralists communities.
• Manage existing and cultivate new relationships to deliver on this work.
• Engage with relevant government institutions, non-state actors and communities to support data collection on biophysical, social, and economic variables.

Personnel and project leadership

• Lead, mentor, and nurture a growing team of researchers under this project.
• Carry out day to day project management.
• Recruit and supervise research assistants in relevant work areas.

Job Requirements:

• Ph.D. degree and at least two (2) years postdoctoral experience, in environmental studies, natural resources management, geography, range management, climate change, actuarial science, or a related interdisciplinary degree.
• Proven track record in managing complex research projects to meet funders’ requirements, including to time and quality expectations, within budget.
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise on issues related to index-based livestock insurance, including relevant policy issues and sustainability challenges related to its adoption.
• Experience creating and communicating scientific information to project partners, and stakeholders.
• Track record in knowledge dissemination to peers (refereed) and the public (nonrefereed).
• Research, policy and capacity development experience in climate change resilience, ecosystems, range management, and related areas.
• Well-developed skills in designing, managing and delivering a range of research and development projects including effective and efficient resource allocation.

Terms and Conditions
The appointment will be for a period of one (1) year, with a possibility of extension contingent upon performance.