Country technical leads (individuals or organisations) | Ghana | 2021 At Chemonics

Chemonics seeks country technical leads (CTLs) – either individual consultants/employees or organisations possessing teams/individuals with the relevant experience – for the FCDO Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) project. The project aims to strengthen research and innovation systems by developing a portfolio of well-designed, evidence-based projects in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The country technical leads will leverage their extensive networks and access to stakeholders to lead country-specific mapping and assessment efforts to enable diverse local engagement, embed feedback loops into RISA projects and bring hands-on knowledge and deep understanding of political dynamics within research and innovation ecosystems that will enable downstream partner success and for RISA to deliver on planned outcomes. This position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya; Accra, Ghana; or Johannesburg, South Africa, and may require intermittent local travel and travel to the RISA project office in Nairobi, Kenya. Chemonics is able to contract CTLs as individual consultants/employees or organisations possessing teams/individuals with the relevant experience. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities include:

• Apply technical expertise, practical experience, and RISA methodology and tools, to offer technical advisory and consulting support to Strengthening Research Institutions in Africa (SRIA)- and African Technology and Innovation Partnerships (ATIP)-relevant systems strengthening activities
• Lead and contribute to analysis of research and innovation systems and the identification of entry points and potential levels of system strengthening, including through development of stakeholder maps, facilitation, and data collection for gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) assessments and applied political economy analyses (APEAs)
• Support the team leader, RISA Senior Management Team (SMT), and FCDO to convene local and high-level stakeholders and organise events, activities and share knowledge; identify and foster relationships with potential SRIA and ATIP downstream partners and other relevant initiatives; and work with core team technical advisors to identify, select, and support downstream partners and projects consistent with the portfolio strategies and RISA objectives
• Coordinate with the Technical Unitst to identify, select, and support downstream partners in line with SRIA, ATIP, and country portfolio strategies, to refine theories of change and application of GESI guidance and to support partner communications and outreach
• Provide support as an important feedback loop from applicants, awardees, and system stakeholders to the Funds and Operations Unit, and conduct routine monitoring and compliance visits and minotring and evaluation (M&E) data collection
• Serve as main in-country point of contact for technical assistance to downstream partners in the area of project ideation, concept, and proposal refinement, implementation, and exit processes
• Coordinate with the Research Unit to support M&E data collection and analysis, and to promote learning and uptake such as at semi-annual RISA workshops
• Provide day-to-day oversight of downstream projects, review work plans and milestone progress monthly, and escalate risks and issues to relevant members of the team as required
• Lead quarterly ‘report cards’ with each partner for SMT review and identify where recipients are struggling to manage activities or funds appropriately
• Perform other duties as required and assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelors’ degree in a social science, health, international development, technology or a related discipline is required. Master’s degree is preferred
• Minimum of eight years of professional experience in the field of research, innovation or development
• Proven experience and extensive knowledge of local country context related to innovation and research systems
• Strong ability to collaborate and build partnerships with host country governments, UK government agencies, donor agencies, international organizations, and the private sector
• Track record in working with both Research and Innovation groups/hubs at the national level, including fostering interaction between researchers and other stakeholders in order to promote take up
• Demonstrated experience with programme management and financial planning, including project design and developing technical scopes of work (ideally for FCDO), and monitoring and evaluation tools
• Experience improving gender equity and disability inclusion in research and innovation systems and implementing gender sensitive policies in development programming preferred
• Willingness to travel up to eight weeks per year
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Fluency in English is required