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Department |
Climate Resilient Economies (CRE) Programme |
Position |
Graduate Intern |
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Location |
Nairobi, Kenya |
Line Manager |
CapCET Project Manager |
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Expected Start Date |
February, 2021 |
Duration of contract |
Six months, renewable |
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Salary |
40,000 – 50,000 KES p.m. gross1 |
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1The gross salary is subject to deductions of all taxes imposed by the Kenyan authorities.
Position
Graduate Intern
Project
Capacity Building of Technical Institutions Involved in Climate Change Education, Training and Research Services (CapCET)
About the position
The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is recruiting a Graduate Intern. The Graduate Intern will work within the Climate Resilient Economies (CRE) programme of ACTS. The Intern will work 75% of their time on the “Capacity Building of Technical Institutions Involved in Climate Change Education, Training and Research Services (CapCET)” project. The remaining 25% will be spent supporting the office of the Executive Director (ED) with resource mobilization activities.
About ACTS
The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is a leading Intergovernmental STI policy Think Tank which was established in 1988. Its mandate is to strengthen the capacities and policies of African countries and institutions to use science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development. ACTS is based in Nairobi through a host agreement with the Kenya Government and enjoys international status. ACTS’ governing council depicts its international status. It has representation from Ghana (current chair), Ethiopia, Malawi, Cote d’Ivoire, UK, Sweden, COMESA, NEPAD and the East African Science and Technology Commission.
Over the last 31 years, ACTS has been instrumental in enlarging the range of policy choices for sustainable development in Africa through high quality research. For example, ACTS’ work influenced patent industrial property legislation and policy (Kenya); environmental impact assessment standards (Eastern and Southern Africa); bio-energy and biofuels policy (Eastern and West Africa); agricultural policy, bio-diplomacy, biotechnology and biosafety (Africa-wide); and climate change adaptation and mitigation (Africa-wide). ACTS was the first to organize an international conference to discuss options that African countries could adopt to mitigate the impact of climate change and also played a major role in the negotiation for the Convention on Biological Diversity. For these and other achievements, ACTS has earned top ratings among the Environment Think Tanks in Africa and the world. In 2016, ACTS was rated (by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) among the top three most influential think tanks in Climate Change globally, and number one in Africa. Today, ACTS has branded itself regionally and internationally as a knowledge centre in STI, energy, agriculture and climate change.
Based on its global, regional and national aspirations and a mapping of the priority landscape of the key partners, ACTS developed areas of competency outlined in a strategic plan for the following three programmatic areas in 2019-2021: Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security; Climate Resilient Economy (CRE); and Science, Technology, Innovation, Knowledge and Society (STIKS). Each of these three programmes, has a very strong component of youth and gender, as cross cutting theme.
This Graduate Internship position is required to support the CRE programme to advance capacity building options targeted at climate change education, training, and research institutions on demand globally, and more specifically within the African continent. The intern will be involved in scoping relevant institutions, carrying out a needs’ assessment from selected institutions (using both primary and secondary data), contribute to identification of training options and priorities, development of training courses, and monitoring the training options. Other issues that the intern will pursue in the programme will include concepts capacity building, climate responsive technology, sociotechnical transformation, and low GHG emission development.
The Capacity Building of Technical Institutions Involved in Climate Change Education, Training and Research Services (CapCET) Project
The graduate intern will work 80% of his/her time on the capacity building project within the programme. The project is part of the initiative within the COMESA region to enhance capacity of the training, education, and research institutions on emerging themes on climate change. The project is being implemented at ACTS, with funding from the COMESA secretariat, in close collaboration with the Tetralik Tailor & Associates, University of Nairobi – Institute for Climate Change Adaptation (ICCA).
ACTS is responsible for the 12-month project (starting January 2021) that aims to strengthen the capacity of at least four Climate Change Education, Training and Research institutions within the COMESA region. The project will be implemented through the following six key activities – needs assessment; development of tailor-made curriculum; delivery of the curriculum; providing climate action services; production and dissemination of key outputs; and developing sustainability framework.
Job summary
The graduate intern will support the work of the CRE programme within ACTS, especially the ongoing CapCET project. S/he will be expected to conduct secondary and primary capacity building oriented research, co-creating training programmes, and dissemination activities for the CRE programme, as well as day-to-day project implementation activities on the CapCET project. Additionally, the intern will join the resources mobilization team in the ED’s office.
Core duties for CRE and the CapCET project (75%)
CRE programme
- Undertake research on climate change capacity building gaps, and its interaction with inclusive and sustainable development in Africa. This includes technical and non-technical writing outputs and contribute to project funding proposals.
- Produce high quality capacity gaps outputs (not limited to policy briefs, dissemination workshops and knowledge exchange events
- Support the CRE team, including in the planning and execution of climate relevant trainings.
CapCET Project
- Conduct research on key elements of this project including but not limited to climate change training needs; institutional and capacity gaps analysis; monitoring, evaluation and learning opportunities; Climate change priority demand areas.
- Manage engagement in the CapCET project with one or more institutions i.e., finalizing joint work plans, routine progress meetings and reporting.
- Become actively involved in day to day running of work packages relating to: (a) needs assessment; (b) tailor-made curriculum development; (c) curriculum delivery; (d) providing climate action services; (e) production and dissemination of key outputs; and (f) developing sustainability framework.
- Support project lead in designing and implementing project internal MEL.
- Conduct project administration (including by not limited to meeting minutes, data collection for progress reports, organizing events and arranging travel, social media communication)
- Other duties directed by the project lead.
Core duties for support of the ED’s office (25%)
- Review the ACTS’ strategy, work plan, funding model, and pipeline of interventions to better understand the needs and desired outcome.
- Consult with the office of the ED team to better understand the vision, mission and focus areas of ACTS.
- Conduct a comprehensive analysis of potential donors assess the feasibility of securing multiyear and thematic funding.
- Map donors’ strategic areas of interest and explore opportunities for partnerships (and mobilizing and leveraging resources) from emerging donors- the BRIC countries, for example - and private sector (foundations);
- In consultation with the ED, contribute to the development of a plan for pursuing new donors (traditional and non-traditional) and obtaining funding for ACTS work programme;
- Develop objectives for fundraising, methods, tactics and focus (bilateral, private sector, public funding, foundations)
- Periodically recommend ways to develop and maintain strategic partnerships and engagement with key donors (past, present, and future).
- Assist ACTS experts in preparing funding requests in response to calls for proposals emanating from donors and Trust Funds.
Minimum requirements
The candidate must hold a master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., development policy, climate change, environmental education) from a recognized institution; and have at least the following:
- A minimum of 1 year research experience in the field of climate education or related research field; preferably post MSc.
- Publication capacity (listed references preferred)
- Evidence of organizing capacity-building-oriented events.
Minimum competences
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Skills |
Knowledge |
Behaviours |
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Desired competences
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Knowledge |
Experience |
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More information
For more information on any of the above please email Joel Onyango, CapCET project manager, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
How to apply
Please send a cover letter and resume, including contact details for 3 references to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., with a copy to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 1200Hrs EAT on 28th January 2021.
