Research Associate

Background

The field research associate will be responsible for supporting the implementation of the project HEAL (One Health for Human, Environment, Animals and Livelihoods) including conducting trainings, providing oversight for participatory rangeland management and rangeland health activities, and linking ILRI researchers and country focal points to Rangeland Health Technicians (RHTs), field staff from CCM and VSF-Suisse, MSIPs, and local rangeland institutions in participatory rangeland management (PRM), including supporting the planning and implementation of grazing management and restoration.

The Research associate will oversee day-to-day implementation of activities related to grazing management and restoration conducted by RHTs in collaboration with MSIPs and local rangeland institutions.

ILRI works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centres dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. www.ilri.org

Key Responsibilities

• The Research associate will oversee day-to-day implementation of activities related to grazing management and restoration conducted by RHTs in collaboration with MSIPs and local rangeland institutions.
• He/She will train RHTs, field staff from CCM and VSF-Suisse, MSIPs, and local rangeland institutions in participatory rangeland management (PRM).
• He/She will contribute to overseeing integrative One Health activities—activities addressing the health of people, livestock and rangelands together—including collection and communication of monitoring information to HEAL, and distribution and dissemination of monitoring information on the ground.
• He/She will serve as the primary liaison between ILRI research staff in Nairobi and VSF-Suisse and CCM, MSIPs, and rangeland institutions at the local level.
• Support and contribute to ILRI research activities being undertaken at the local level.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in rangeland management, agriculture, environmental health, environmental hygiene, natural resources, or related fields
• A minimum of 2 years working experience in field-based projects
• Experience in implementation of participatory rangeland management (PRM), community-based rangeland management, or similar approaches in rangelands
• Ability to communicate in the local language of working area will be an added advantage.
• Experience in report writing including field reports.
• Proven experience in conducting trainings in a participatory way for different stakeholders (NGOs, government and communities).
• Good written and spoken English.
• Computer literacy.

Terms of Appointment

This position is based in Marsabit and Isiolo Counties. It is open to Kenyan nationals only

The position is on one year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.