Latest Recruitment at The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)

The role entails leading the Institute’s Transformative Education and Skills Development thematic area. It involves the development of the Transformative Education and Skills Development thematic area through generation and implementation of knowledge translation and capacity building programmes and promoting the use of the evidence in decision-making processes at national and regional levels. The role will develop programmes, carry out resources mobilisation, provide leadership in programmes implementation and publishing for the thematic area.

Main responsibilities:

Providing leadership in:

• Conceptualisation, design, and implementation of research, capacity building and policy engagement programmes in Transformative Education and Skills Development.
• Conducting research evidence synthesis and translation into policy-oriented advocacy materials.
• Promoting the application of research findings in decision-making processes at national, regional and international levels.
• Scientific writing for various research knowledge consumers and publishing policy-oriented research in journals.
• Engaging policymakers to promote the application of research evidence in decision making processes.
• Building capacity in translation, dissemination, and use of research evidence for policymakers and other stakeholders at national and regional levels.
• Proposal writing and fundraising.

Academic qualifications

Ph.D. (in Education, Development Policy, International Development, International Relations)

Experience

• At least five (8) years’ post-doctoral experience in policy research and advocacy in Education and Skills Development or a related field
  At least three (5) years at a senior level in a research environment.

Skills

• Transformative educational pedagogy
• Transferable skills/soft skills training/implementation
• Mentorship abilities
• Good scientific writing skills for publication in peer-reviewed journals

Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of African education landscape
• Current emerging issues in African education
• Pedagogical approaches in education
• Transferable skills

Additional information: This position will be for a period of 3 years, renewable depending on performance, continued needs of the Institute and availability of funding. A competitive remuneration package will be offered commensurate with qualifications, skills and experience.

In the following areas:

1. Education and Skills Development
2. Health System Strengthening - Health Economics /Public Health
3. Population Change and Sustainable Development

The role entails coordination and management of knowledge translation and capacity building programmes. The holder of the position will coordinate implementation of research projects; contribute to advocacy for application of research finding in decision-making; carry out scientific writing, proposal writing and production of dissemination materials. The candidate should have a minimum of Master’s degree qualifications either in Population Studies (Demography), Education, Health Economics, Development Economics, Public Health, Policy Analysis or Science Communications and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in research programme management, knowledge translation and policy engagement.

Main Responsibilities

• Coordinate the implementation of research projects including data collection and collation, data analysis and systematic evidence and policy reviews
• Contribute to advocacy for application of research findings in decision-making processes at national, regional, and international levels.
• Scientific writing and production of research reports.
• Contribute to capacity building in research knowledge translation and synthesis.
• Contribute to proposal writing.
• Develop and disseminate policy-oriented advocacy materials.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Qualifications

• The candidate should possess a minimum of Master’s degree qualifications either in Population Studies(Demography), Education, Health Economics, Development Economics, Public Health, Policy Analysis or Science Communications.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in research programme management, knowledge translation and policy engagement
• Proven track record of scientific writing
• Practical experience in synthesising and translating research evidence into outputs that are usable by policymakers
• Proven experience in developing policy-oriented advocacy materials
• Past experience in monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes
• A track record in coordinating research programmes and partnerships.

Skills

• Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Critical thinking
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English. Additional official language such as French will be an added advantage.

 Additional information: The above position will be for a period of 2 years, renewable depending on performance, continued need of the institute and availability of funding. A competitive remuneration package will be offered commensurate with qualifications, skills and experience.

Knowledge Translation Scientist (4 positions)

RESEARCH FELLOWS OR KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION SCIENTISTS SPECIALISED IN

1. Education and Skills Development
2. Health Systems Strengthening - Health Economics /Public Health
3. Population Change and Sustainable Development
4. Knowledge Translation and Policy Analysis

The roles entail providing leadership in design and implementation of programmes in knowledge translation, capacity building in evidenced-informed decision-making and policy engagement at regional, national, and sub-national levels across Africa. The candidates should have a PhD in either of the following: Population Studies (Demography), Education, Health Economics, Development Economics, Policy Analysis and Knowledge Translation. They should also have strong qualitative and quantitative research skills; a record of peer-reviewed journal publications and successful grants proposal writing; and hands-on experience in policy analysis, knowledge translation and policy engagement.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptualisation, design and implementation of research, capacity building and policy engagement programmes
• Conduct systematic reviews of research and related forms of evidence
• Conduct secondary analysis of various data sets to answer defined policy questions
• Conduct policy and programme analyses
• Translate evidence into policy-oriented advocacy materials and accountability tools
• Policy engagement to promote uptake of evidence in decision-making processes at national, sub-national, regional, and international levels
• Manage projects, including internal and external reporting
• Proposal writing and fundraising
• Publishing in policy-oriented journals and other relevant forms of publications

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Qualifications

• Candidate should have a PhD in either of the following; Population Studies (Demography), Education, Health Economics, Development Economics, Policy Analysis and Knowledge Translation

 Skills

• Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English (additional skills in French desirable).
• Strong interpersonal skills with effective team management skills
• Strong adaptability skills to changing research evidence environment
• Monitoring and evaluation of programmes

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years’ postdoctoral professional experience
• Management and coordination of research programmes and partnerships
• Scientific writing and journal publications
• Evidence translation and policy/programme analysis
• Engagement with senior policymakers
• Experience in proposal writing and fundraising

Additional information: The above positions will be offered on two-year contracts that are renewable depending on performance and availability of funding. A competitive remuneration package will be offered commensurate with qualifications, skills and experience.

The Partnership Building and Resource Mobilisation Manager will be responsible for the overall coordination of the planning, development, and management of the resource mobilisation strategy and activities ensuring effective engagement of stakeholders in raising of resources for the Institute.

Main responsibilities

• Translate AFIDEP’s resource mobilisation strategy and plans into action
• Prescribe, lead and conduct market research and marketing initiatives to assess donor priorities and identify opportunities for resource mobilisation
• Establish systems for identification and response to calls with templates to manage the activities of resource mobilisation.
• Coordinate the development and writing of highly competitive resource mobilisation proposals and contribute to proposal
• Develop and ensure quality standards for proposals and concept notes and ensure achievement
• Develop and maintain database of donors, project concept notes and project proposals
• Develop and maintain an effective project tracking system and ensure all donor funding requirements are met in any fundraising document
• Producing contents for communication materials in support of fundraising such as brochures, appeals, newsletters, Organisational capability statement and annual reports and their reviews
• Sensitising and training AFIDEP staff on fundraising skills and strategy execution
• Developing and coordinating online/web-based fundraising initiatives
• Managing resource mobilisation functions and activities and supporting the project manager in managing donor relationships
• Production of fundraising status reports

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

Qualifications

• Minimum of Master’s degree in International Development /Communications/ Marketing/ Economics/International Relations
• Bachelor’s degree in any other Social Sciences course
• At least ten (10) years of relevant work experience including progressively responsible experience working at the international and national levels
• At least five (5) year’s resource mobilisation experience and at least three (3) years in senior role in the international development sector

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, networking and communication skills
• Ability to engage with multilateral, bilateral, corporate and development partners.
• Ability to lead dialogue with partners, identify and analyse trends, opportunities, and challenges
• Initiative taker, self-motivated and a commitment to continuously produce results focus on impact and results
• Excellent writing skills
• Demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain excellent relationships with key partners
• Self-motivated, initiative taker and working towards achieving results
• Understanding of development sector and best practices in international donor relations
• Demonstrated knowledge of grants management, monitoring, assessments, and reviews
• Excellent understanding of resource mobilisation strategies, cycles, and activities
• Excellent leadership, coordination, and relationship building

Additional information: The above position will be for a period of 2 years , renewable depending on performance, continued need of the institute and availability of funding. A competitive remuneration package will be offered commensurate with qualifications, skills and experience.