The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

The Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

Background

Adaptation Insights (AI) is a project designed to support CGIAR implementation partners, funding agencies, international organizations, NGOs, public institutions, and private sector actors in using climate data to detail progress in adaptation implementation and its effectiveness in reducing climate-related risks. The project aims to enhance capacities to track adaptation, collect, report, and share data on adaptation, and ensure the use of innovations and recommendations from Adaptation Insights by various CGIAR functions and initiatives.

AIMLE (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Evidence) is part of the IDRC ACDC (Agroecology in the Dry Corridor) proposal, underpinned by the Evidence for Resilient Agriculture data extraction system developed by our team. The position will be expected to provide support to this system, although this will not be the full focus of the role.

About the position

The Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT is seeking a motivated and dynamic individual to join our team as a Senior Research Associate focusing on the management and implementation of data synthesis activities for the Adaptation Insights and AIMLE projects. This role is critical for ensuring the integrity and reliability of specialized scientific databases and supporting the development of technical and human capacities to collect, analyze, and disseminate data on adaptation implementation and effectiveness.

•  Data Extraction and Transformation: Extract relevant data for AIMLE system and Adaptation Insights , adhering to the set guidelines and protocols.
• Teamwork & Supervision: Works well within a team of 2-4 Scientific Data Integration Specialists and uses GitHub, Slack, and Google Sheets to communicate and report issues, bugs, and progress. Provides technical support and guidance to the team during the data extraction process, ensuring adherence to guidelines and protocols.
• Training and Development: Contributes to the development of training materials for data extraction and assists with team trainings.
• Progress Monitoring: Assists with ensuring that the data extraction team members use progress monitoring and error tracking systems correctly, regularly reviewing their progress and output.
• Issue Resolution: Facilitate links between the data extraction team and management, fielding routine questions and issues while escalating significant matters as necessary.
• Quality Assurance: Conduct comprehensive quality assurance and quality control checks on the work of the data extraction team, ensuring data accuracy and reliability. Report any significant issues or concerns to management.
• Database Management: Uses and monitors vocabulary management systems to request new terms and concepts.
• Additional Duties: Undertake any other data-related duties as may be assigned, contributing to the overall success of the AIMLE and Adaptation Insights projects.

 The Senior Research Associate will play an important role in the extraction of data, quality control for data integrity and reliability, and supporting the development of technical and human capacities to collect, analyze, and disseminate data on adaptation implementation and effectiveness.

Requirements

•  Educational Background: Masters in Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Data Science, or related disciplines.
• Team Supervision: Previous experience in a supervisory role, preferably overseeing a team of data specialists or similar positions.
• Data Validation: Expertise in validating data integrity through rigorous quality checks and correction processes.
• Systematic Review Data Extraction: Experience in interpreting and analyzing agricultural scientific papers or project design and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) documents, ensuring high data quality and relevance.
• Analytical and Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are critical for interpreting complex scientific methods and reporting.
• Attention to Detail: High attention to detail to ensure data accuracy and reliability.
• Communication and Collaboration: Excellent communication skills; the position requires someone that quickly speaks up when something is unclear, confusing or inconsistent.
• Software Proficiency: Competence in using tools such as Excel, Google Sheets, Slack, and familiarity with GitHub.

Benefits

Terms of employment

This position is a nationally recruited position based in Nairobi, Kenya. The initial contract will be for one (1) year subject to a probation period of three (3) months and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.

This position is graded at BG07, level, with a basic salary of  KES 227,931 in a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to insurance, retirement plan, staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working arrangements.

The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities.

Applications

Applicants are invited to visit https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number REF : 103998 Senior Research Associate as the position applied for. Cover letter and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate’s last name, first name for ease of sorting. The Alliance collects and processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Applications closing date: 1^st October 2024

Please note that email applications will not be considered.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about us at:

http://alliancebioversityciat.org