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Department |
Science, Technology, Innovation, Knowledge and Society (STIKS) Programme |
Grade |
RF I (National) |
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Location |
Nairobi, Kenya |
Line Manager |
STIKS Director |
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Expected Start Date |
January 2021 |
Duration of contract |
One year, renewable |
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Salary |
30,000 – 40,000 USD p.a or equivalent in KShs gross1 |
1 This includes basic salary, medical cover, pension, transport allowance and all taxes and deductions imposed by the Kenyan authorities
The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is recruiting a Research Fellow. The Research Fellow will work within the Science, Technology, Innovation, Knowledge and Society (STIKS) programme of ACTS. The Research Fellow will work 80% of their time on the SGCI Use of Evidence project. The remaining 20% will be spent supporting the STIKS programme in research, proposal writing and project administration duties.
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 Research Fellow position is required to support the STIKS programme to advance research and analysis of the interplay between STI, knowledge and African society; and support the development of a cadre of researchers, analysts and policy makers on STI, knowledge and society specifically related to the African context. Other issues that will be pursued under the programme will include STI capacity building, knowledge utilization, technology transfer; intellectual property; STI roadmaps for SDGs, and evaluation of the impact of STI to socio-economic development of African countries.
The Science Granting Councils Initiative Use of Evidence Project
The Research Fellow will work 80% of her/his time on a flagship project within the STIKS programme. This project is part of the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), a 15 country initiative to build the capacity of science granting councils in sub-Saharan Africa in the areas of research management, STI indicators, collaboration between themselves and the private sector together with knowledge sharing between the Councils. The SGCI is funded by the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the UK Department of International Development (DFID), the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).
ACTS is responsible for executing a 28-month project (starting November 2020) that aims to strengthen the capacity of the 15 participating Science Granting Councils to use evidence in policy and decision making. The specific objectives are to: (1) support science, technology and innovation policy review and policy knowledge deepening; (2) support the development and implementation of monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks and plans; (3) support the development of data management frameworks and systems and; (4) support peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange among Councils and with local experts.
Job summary
The Research Fellow will support the work of the STIKS Programme within ACTS, especially the on-going SGCI Use of Evidence project. She/he will be expected to conduct policy-oriented research and dissemination activities for the STIKS Programme as well as day-to-day project implementation activities on the SGCI Use of Evidence project.
Core duties for STIKS programme activities (20%)
The Research Fellow will be expected to be able to conduct the following core tasks as a minimum:
- Undertake, and at times manage other researchers to undertake, research on science, technology, innovation and knowledge’s and its interaction with inclusive and sustainable development in Africa (recognising that there is no single linear impact process). This includes high quality academic journal publications and involvement in book projects as well as writing project funding proposals.
- Produce high quality policy outputs (not limited to policy briefs, dissemination workshops and knowledge exchange events)
- Support the AfricaLics secretariat team including assisting in the arrangements for AfricaLics research training activities, research conferences and workshops.
- Assist in the development of a wider set of STIKS policy training activities
- Support the STIKS Programme Director in setting and advancing Programme direction through writing of strategy documents, funding proposals and organising policy outreach events among others.
Core duties for SGCI Use of Evidence project (80%)
The Research Fellow will be expected to be able to conduct the following core tasks as a minimum in this project:
- Conduct research on key elements of this project including but not limited to: STI indicators; data management systems; monitoring, evaluation and learning; STI policy processes
- Manage engagement with one or more science councils i.e. finalising joint work plans, routine progress meetings and reporting
- Become actively involved in day to day running of work packages relating to: (a) supporting councils to develop and/or strengthen existing internal MEL systems; (b) provision of ad hoc expert advice through development of a helpdesk/ local expertise knowledge bank and; (b) provision of peer-to-peer learning and exchange visits.
- Take the lead in designing and implementing project internal MEL
- Conduct project administration (including by not limited to: contracting, meeting minutes, data collection for progress reports, organising events and arranging travel; social media communication)
Minimum requirements
The candidate must hold a PhD Degree in a relevant field (e.g. science and technology studies, innovation studies, development economics, sociology of science, innovation policy, development studies) from a recognized Institution; and have at least the following:
- A minimum of 3 years research experience in the field of innovation and development studies[1] or related research field; preferably post PhD
- An established publication record (e.g. minimum 5 publications; preferably in peer reviewed journal publications)
- Evidence of winning research project funding (preferably as principal investigator)
- Evidence of organising and speaking at policy-oriented events
Minimum competences
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Skills |
Knowledge |
Behaviours |
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Desirable competences
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Knowledge |
Experience |
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More information
For more information on any of the above please email Dr. Ann Kingiri, STIKS Director at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Dr. Rebecca Hanlin, SGCI Evidence Project Coordinator 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 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 12:00hrs East Africa Time on Monday 21st December 2020.
[1] Innovation and Development Studies research as defined by the AfricaLics network includes the study and management of processes that link technological and social innovation with development. It is a multi-disciplinary social science field that conducts ‘research on innovation and innovation processes’ and not ‘research in innovation’.
