Landscape Research Assistant-Southern Kenya

POSITION SUMMARY

Conservation International (CI) has been protecting nature for the benefit of all over 30 years. Through Science, policy and partnerships, CI is helping build a healthier, more prosperous, and more productive planet. CI is implementing a 2-year research project to demonstrate the impact of Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EbA) approaches on peace and human security by producing empirical evidence on the potential of grassland restoration in reducing human-human and human-wildlife conflicts driven by a changing climate. The Global EbA Fund project “Restoring nature and peace threatened by climate change: monitoring human security benefits of EbA in Kenya” targets Chyulu Landscape*.*CI will fill key knowledge gap on EbA by demonstrating whether grassland restoration can lead to peace and human security. The Landscape Research Assistant-Southern Kenya will implement and coordinate proposed project activities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Landscape manager, the Landscape Research Assistant-Southern Kenya will mainly be responsible for taking lead in data collection and analysis on socio-economic, human-human, and human-wildlife conflicts field surveys, providing support to the enumerators and CI implementing partners. They will lead the writing and analysis of technical reports and ensure that the participatory M&E system is set up and continues to provide information on a regular basis. They will be responsible for aggregating data and for organizing meetings with local communities and decision-makers to discuss project outcomes. This position will be based in Chyulu Landscape-Southern Kenya.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

This is a fixed-term position of 1 year, renewable subject to mutual agreement and availability of funds. The position’s main focus relates to the overall responsibility of undertaking research work as part of the project “Restoring nature and peace threatened by climate change: monitoring human security benefits of EbA in Kenya”

• Support the project manager in Kenya and lead the data collection in the field.
• Support the development of household surveys and surveys for key informant interviews.
• Select, train, supervise and provide support to local enumerators that will conduct monthly household surveys.
• Organize and lead key informant interviews with community members and community leaders.
• In liaison with the project manager, organize and lead meetings with local communities and decision-makers to discuss project activities and results.
• Review data collected on household surveys and during key informant interviews.
• Lead the preparation of materials to be presented and shared during meetings.
• Lead data analysis collected during household surveys and key informant interviews.
• Perform other roles that may be assigned by the line supervisor.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Organize and lead meetings with CI project partners (BigLife and MWCT) to coordinate field activities and community engagement.
• Organize field research logistics and resources.
• Ensure research data quality assurance.

PEOPLE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• This role does not have direct management of staff but will closely work and support research peers.
• Accountable for operating funds and ensures accounting for expended funds within established CI guidelines.
• Responsible for safety and proper use of the facilities and equipment assigned to facilitate field activities.

Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya
• The role will involve frequent field visits which may require traveling in remote areas up to 40% of the time.