**This position can be based in Kenya. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission for the position. WRI is unable to sponsor work authorization for this role.
About the Program:**
WRI Africa’s food program aim at transforming food systems in Africa to address food and nutritional insecurity for a rapidly growing population while driving economic development, increasing their resilience to climate change while pivoting away from potential future emissions, having positive impacts on biodiversity, and generating greater equity outcomes for women, children youth and other vulnerable groups. The program anchors its work around five pillars of systems transformation: (i) modelling national and food systems transformation pathways, (ii) Shifting behaviour and consumption patterns towards nutrient dense, shorter value chains through local foods, (iii) Curbing food loss and food waste; (iv) Growing intra-Africa trade while increasing equity in distributional impacts; (v) Agroecological transitions and other nature-positive production systems.
Job Highlight:
In this role, you will build on your networking and strategy capabilities for broader outreach for partnerships to scale through investments, research, and implementation. You will be adept at managing multiple opportunities with the ability to negotiate and develop complex strategic partnerships to advance the program’s work. You will be supported by a team of Researchers, working closely with the Vital Landscapes director to fine tune and deliver on WRI Africa food strategy while aligning it with the global strategy. You will provide overall leadership and strategic direction to ongoing projects under the Food program in Africa on approaches and best practices for food systems transformation. You will take lead in fundraising, staff recruitment and general and oversee growth of the food portfolio. You will report to the director of Vital Landscapes at WRI Africa.
What will you do:
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Research and Management of the Food program in WRI Africa (70%)**:
- Develop a robust portfolio of work anchored on solid research, inputs from stakeholder and best practices around the five priority areas in the food strategy
- Lead the developing of new projects and supervise existing ones
- Represent WRI Africa in strategic meetings on food systems
- Explore opportunities for cross-collaboration and cross-learning between the food program and other vital landscape programs/initiatives
- Recruit and manage staff and consultants as needed
- Identify and coordinate capacity development initiatives for the food program team
- Identify major data and knowledge gaps impeding effective deployment of food systems transformation in priority countries and propose ways of addressing them
- Develop and align the food program within the “produce” elements with the WRI Strategy including the developing of a theory of change and a monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Framework
- Conduct and participate in research that advances knowledge and learning on the priority areas for Food for WRI Africa, including regular writing, review and publishing of journal articles, peer reviewed reports, policy briefs, opinion pieces and strategic communication outputs.
- Ensure the food program in WRI Africa is achieving the outcomes set in the strategy in priority countries and landscapes by setting clear goals and robust execution plans
- Support fundraising activities with public, private and philanthropic funders to increase funding for the program
- Support the coordination, communication and effective collaboration between Global Food program and WRI Africa food program in all related areas of work
- Provide overall support in the leadership and oversight in the day-to-management of program with respect n resource, finance, programming and risk management.
Coordination of FOLU work (20%):
- Support the development of the FOLU Kenya platform, including strategy development, fundraising and donor reporting
- Coordinate activities between FOLU and relevant WRI programs to ensure alignment with WRI priority areas
- Support research and publications under the FOLU in priority countries
- Act as the point of contact within WRI Africa for all FOLU related work
- Support execution of workshops and dissemination of findings
- Prepare annual work plans and budgets for FOLU country platform activities in coordination with the relevant staff
- Support fundraising effort for FOLU Kenya, Ghana and Rwanda country platforms
Outreach and Engagement (10%):
- Provide leadership in program visibility through communication and strategic engagements with external stakeholders and interest groups
- Support the food program in building relationships with a diverse network of relevant public and private sector actors to maintain a strong network of research and academic, development and public institutions that will advance food systems transformation
What will you need:
- Education: A completed PhD degree in agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, or related fields
- Experience: Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience
- Ability to multi-task and manage competing priorities in a team setting
- Demonstrated knowledge and expertise on issues related to food systems transformation in Africa
- Experience in proposal writing in a development setting
- Experience designing and managing complex, multi-partner projects in an NGO setting, with particular experience creating and communicating theories of change, results frameworks, and other components of a MEL for project donors, partners, and stakeholders
- Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills
- Strong publication record in peer-reviewed outlets
- Collaborative problem solver who can take initiative, set priorities
- Team-oriented player, able to effectively respond to complex situations involving numerous and sometimes competing organizational constituencies
- Strong organizational skills and attention to details that drive implementation of projects.
- Ability to travel internationally
- Enjoys working with a diverse group of talented individuals across the globe
- Languages: Verbal and written proficiency in English. Knowledge of Swahili is an advantage
- Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.
Potential Salary: Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors. WRI offers a competitive remuneration and benefits package.
How to Apply:
Please submit a resume and a cover letter by 3 February 2023. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.
What we offer:
- A competitive salary
- Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US.
- The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
- A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work.
- The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI.
- Long-term commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours.
- Generous leave days that increase with tenure.
About Us:
Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.
The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.
Our mission and values:
WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.
Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence, Respect.
Our culture:
WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.
Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.