Postdoctoral Fellow - Nairobi, Kenya - Bioversity International

Description

Established in 2019, the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) was created to address these four crises, maximizing impact for change at key points in the food system.

About the position
The Postdoctoral Fellow will play a crucial role in developing and implementing the Alliance's agenda on adaptation tracking.

Collaborating closely with the Climate Action Lever's multidisciplinary teams, One CGIAR Initiatives, and beyond, the candidate will be instrumental in integrating scientific findings around adaptation tracking into actionable insights, thereby enhancing our partners' impact in mitigating climate risks and reporting on their actions.

Responsibilities include conducting cutting-edge research, developing innovative tracking tools, engaging with stakeholders to ensure the relevance and applicability of research outcomes, helping to coordinate and report on projects and contributing to the dissemination of knowledge through publications, presentations, and training.

Adaptation tracking is an emerging topic in Climate Action and, in short, this Postdoctoral position will help to consolidate our expertise and push forward our agenda.

Key duties & responsibilities

The role of the Postdoctoral Fellow in Adaptation Tracking is centered on integrating research into actionable strategies for climate adaptation.

Desk research to assess existing frameworks, pinpoint effective indicators, and determine the costs associated with tracking adaptation, aiming to refine the tools and methods used in policymaking and program development.

Support in designing and conducting field surveys, particularly within African contexts, to test the applicability of these frameworks and ensure they are grounded in real-world effectiveness.

Analyzing qualitative and quantitative tools to measure the effectiveness of adaptation efforts, thereby supporting the creation of robust, evidence-based policies and investments in adaptation.

Establishing and maintaining high-quality, standardized methodologies that ensure consistency and reliability of research analysis and results documentation.

Synthesizing data and narratives collected from various sources to generate a coherent body of evidence that will inform and shape adaptation strategies.

Lead workshops to build capacity among colleagues and partners, sharing insights on adaptation tracking to enhance collective understanding and skills.

Writing scientific papers and communicating findings to a broad range of stakeholders, ensuring that research translates into practical and impactful climate action.

Influencing global climate policy through international negotiations, with a significant focus on translating these discussions into concrete fieldwork and adaptation measures within the African continent.

Fostering strategic relationships with a diverse array of internal and external stakeholders.

Regular interaction with colleagues across different teams, ensuring that the adaptation tracking efforts are aligned with the broader lever and organizational goals.

This includes collaborating with fellow scientists, providing guidance to project teams, and reporting findings and recommendations to leadership team within the lever.

Active engagement with a network of national and international partners. This includes articulating research outcomes and strategic insights to UNFCCC negotiators and stakeholders to inform international climate policy.
Working closely with on-the-ground program implementers, such as NGOs, to translate research into actionable projects and interventions.

The role also entails the exchange of ideas and data with other scientists, contributing to a cohesive global research effort.

Interact with donors, communicating the progress, outcomes, and impact of ongoing projects, and discussing future research directions and funding opportunities.

This will require the development of reports, the presentation of evidence-based justifications for continued or additional funding, and the maintenance of transparent and productive relationships with funding bodies.

Translating complex scientific concepts into accessible language for stakeholders, including beneficiaries who are directly impacted by climate adaptation projects.

Support in delivering of tangible outcomes that drive progress in climate adaptation across multiple levels.

This includes the development of tracking models that reflect the real-time progress of adaptation efforts and the identification of gaps in current strategies.

The role necessitates the production of high-quality, peer-reviewed research publications that contribute to the global knowledge base on climate adaptation and inform policy decisions.

Establishment of frameworks for data collection and analysis that supports the evaluation of adaptation effectiveness in diverse ecological and social contexts.

Foster strong collaborative relationships with stakeholders across sectors to facilitate the exchange of information and the integration of scientific insights into practical adaptation initiatives.

The synthesis of this work should culminate in actionable recommendations for enhancing resilience and adaptive capacity at the local, regional, and global scales.

Engage in capacity-building activities, possibly including the mentoring of junior researchers and the development of educational materials or workshops aimed at improving understanding and practices around adaptation tracking.

Requirements
Required qualifications and experience.

PhD in Climate Change Adaptation, Governance, or Agricultural Economics.
Proven experience (5 years+) with climate change adaptation and agriculture/ rural development topics
Familiarity with recent developments in the field of climate adaptation and resilience measurement and evaluation

Familiarity and experience with international frameworks and policies related to climate change and adaptation, such as the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.

Experience working in an international context and interacting with stakeholders across various countries.

Experience in international, multicultural settings and in interaction with researchers, policymakers, donors, and civil society across a wide range of contexts.

Knowledge of evidence syntheses methodologies and tools,
Experience with conducting surveys and fieldwork in the Global South.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Demonstrated abilities to summarize, write and explain complex content in a simple manner.