Director, Gender Platform at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

The Platform

The gender platform, hosted by ILRI in Nairobi, brings together CGIAR centres and numerous partners from around the world in a collaborative effort to make CGIAR the thought leader for gender in agricultural research for development (AR4D) and support the transformation of agriculture and food systems to be equitable, sustainable and climate resilient. The GENDER Platform aims to (1) generate high-quality research-based evidence to influence the broader AR4D ecosystem to integrate gender and achieve gender-equal outcomes (2) create an enabling environment in which gender equality is embraced as a core principle in priority setting, research and communication within CGIAR and its partners, and (3) facilitate the capacity development of CGIAR and its partners to carry out gender-integrated and gender-strategic research that is transformative and strengthens global, regional and national food systems. The Platform builds on and expands the work of CGIAR’s current gender platform.

Key Responsibilities:

• Inspire and engage the gender researchers within CGIAR and beyond to develop and nurture a Platform that is inclusive and contributes to excellence in gender research in the CGIAR, ensuring transparency and accountability in Platform functioning.
• Provide intellectual and management leadership for the Platform, ensuring that all components are coherent, function well and meet their milestones.
• Set strategic research priorities for the Platform, with the guidance of the advisory committee and working closely with the Platform science leader, management committee, the module leaders, CGIAR science leaders, and other CGIAR platforms.
• Lead the process of organizational change in CGIAR and its key partners to integrate gender equality as a core principle, working closely with the gender research coordinators in each centre, centre management, CGIAR science leaders and CGIAR Systems Management Office.
• Identify and establish key research, development and policy partnerships and alliances, including with donors, governments, regional and subregional bodies.
• Design and lead periodic critical reflections to facilitate adaptive management of the Platform to remain relevant and effective.
• Mobilize resources for the Platform from established and new funding partners.
• Oversee coordination of work plans, budgets, reporting, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation among participating centres and strategic partners.
• Supervise Platform staff.
• Lead broader communication for the Platform, including by providing guidance to the development and implementation of Platform communication and capacity development strategies.
• Represent the Platform externally and within the CGIAR system and contribute to system-level functions.

Requirements

• PhD in a relevant discipline, such as gender studies, sociology, anthropology, agricultural economics, economics, political science, or other social sciences
• Internationally recognized expertise in gender in agriculture and food systems research including a peer-reviewed publication record on gender & agriculture/NRM
• At least 12 years of relevant experience, including research management experience, in an international, multidisciplinary, and multicultural environment.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills including building consensus among diverse institutional partners and stakeholders
• Experience from within CGIAR would be an advantage
• Ability to connect evidence from research to development and policy and to get those options into development and policy dialogues
• Exposure to Africa, Asia and/or Latin America
• Proven fundraising record
• Proven expertise in leading collaborative and cross-cutting research
• Familiarity with the current state of knowledge, policy, and practice across the Platform’s research agenda
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Developing country nationals are encouraged to apply
• Fluency in English, with proficiency in other international languages preferred

Terms of Appointment

This is position is at job level HG 22 and it is open to both national and international applicants. The position is a 3-year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes; pension, medical and other insurances