This position will support research for development (R4D) activities in the Building Equitable Climate Resilient African Bean & INsect Sectors (BRAINS) and Accelerating One Health Interventions to Tackle
Pandemic at Source (Accelerate-One Health) projects.
In the BRAINS project will use novel evidence based ideas originating from bean, fruit tree crops and beneficial insect products to innovate through Research & Development (R&D), co-create and take proven technologies to scale through connection of knowledge to industry actors and national partners with policy support from government. to the Accelerate-One Health will holistically address the global impact of pests and diseases of One Health significance and sustainably optimize development impacts.
The broad roles and responsibilities of the incumbent in the BRAINS project will be to innovatively realign R4D in bean corridors developed by The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) and the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT with opportunities for pest (e.g., fruit flies, false codling moth) management in associated fruit tree crops (e.g., mango and avocado) and beneficial insects farming enterprises (bees and pollination; insects for food, feed and frass fertilizers) developed by icipe to provide sustainable and comprehensive solutions for holistic strengthening and resilience of the food systems, enhance gender equality, job creation and sustainability of small-scale agriculture.
It is expected that such an integrated approach will facilitate carbon farming to mitigate climate change and ensure prosperous livelihood especially for women and youth. In the Accelerate-One Health project, the scientist will leverage on existing expertise and partnerships national partners to effectively respond to pest and diseases developmental challenges of One Health significance to strengthen the resilience of food systems, public health and socioeconomic status of the populace by tackling multiple drivers simultaneously to promote positive impacts on livelihood and the environment.
Specific Duties:
- Use innovative qualitative and quantitative R4D tools, data, and frameworks to take to scale pest
management technologies (biopesticides, proteins baits, mass trapping, male annihilation
technique, repellents, field sanitation/use of augmentorium, releases of parasitoids) and beneficial
insects farming enterprises (bees and pollination; insects for food, feed and frass fertilizers) in fruit trees (mango and avocado) and bean corridors in the project target countries. - Apply innovative tools, apps, and approaches to scaling technologies to project target countries to
significantly enhance farmer uptake of technologies, profitability and access of women and youth
in the bean-fruits- and insect-related corridors. - Contribute to the promotion and upscaling of agri-silviculture in bean and fruit trees cropping
systems to enhanced carbon sequestration and to conserve biodiversity. - Conduct ecological studies, access risk drivers, spread, impact and inventory of co-evolved natural
enemies (insects predators and microbes) of Parthenium hysterophorus. - Classical biological of P. hysterophorus through importation of natural enemies from Ethiopia and
or South Africa to quarantine facilities at icipe and evaluation of introduced and native natural
enemies. - Proactive support to the implementation of the Projects in the participating countries.
- Contribute to the timely preparation of annual work plans, budgets, scientific and technical reports
to the donors. - Supervise project team members (researchers, staff and students) to develop critical skills
including resource mobilization, science writing and peer review. - Actively seek and secure external support through resource mobilization to develop and grow the
One Health research for development portfolio through cross-thematic linkages. - Promote and establish collaborative linkages with national, regional and international institutions
in the field of One Health. - Conduct annual work plans and performance reviews with the staff under their supervision.
- Provide leadership assistance to the project’s Principal Investigator (PI).