PROGRAM COORDINATOR – CARTA

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a leading Africa-based, African- led, international research institution headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. APHRC conducts policy- relevant research on population, health, education, urbanization and related development issues in sub-Saharan Africa.

APHRC’s flagship program, The Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) seeks to rebuild and strengthen the capacity of African Universities to produce well-trained and skilled researchers and scholars in Africa by Africans. The program addresses an important challenge facing the African academy i.e. the scarcity of a robust research and training infrastructure capable of offering the type of vibrant and sustained doctoral training necessary to attract, train and retain the continent’s brightest minds.

CARTA seeks to recruit a Program Coordinator to coordinate the activities of the non-African partner institutions (NAP), support the CARTA-evidence project and assist the CARTA secretariat in other program management tasks. This is a new role arising from the implementation of the current five-year strategic plan which has, subsequently triggered tremendous growth in our programs.

Location

The Consortium will consider applications from candidates interested in being headquartered in the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, South Africa), APHRC (Nairobi, Kenya), or one of the non-African-partner institutions. Independently of the agreed location for work, the position will involve international travel and the job may require an average of a week per month on location, usually an African country, or longer stays at APHRC or the University of the Witwatersrand.

Duties/Responsibilities

Coordination of Non-African Partners (NAP) Activities

• Convening of CARTA non-African partner institutions regular meetings.
• Coordinating the work of partner focal persons in the NAP institutions, communicating with them regularly and keep them informed about all CARTA-related activities, roles and responsibilities.
• Reporting on CARTA’s performance, visibility, engagement and other relevant issues at the non-African partner institutions to the CARTA secretariat, Executive Directorate, Partners Forum, Board of Management and other ad hoc meetings.
• Coordinating the identification of experts from NAP institutions who can contribute to CARTA activities.
• Implementing external review processes including but not exclusively those associated to:
  1. CARTA postdoctoral awards;
  2. CARTA PhD fellowship training;
  3. CARTA graduate training including the Graduate Grant Writing Workshop;
  4. CARTA research hubs.
• Coordinating the organization of graduate workshops.
• Providing administrative support to CARTA activities and projects based at NAP institutions, providing project management support (including budgeting and accounting for funds disbursed in support of CARTA activities at non-African partner institutions) and serving as the connection with the CARTA secretariat.
• Identification of research capacity strengthening opportunities:

1. At non-African partner institutions for CARTA fellows.
2. At CARTA events for students and staff from non-African institutions.

• Identification of funding opportunities and supporting fundraising for CARTA.
• Other activities that the NAP may consider necessary.

Coordination of CARTA Evidence Activities

• Providing administrative support to CARTA-Evidence activities, providing project management support (including budgeting and accounting for funds disbursed in support of CARTA evidence activities) and serving as the connection with the CARTA secretariat.
• Identifying funding opportunities and supporting fundraising for CARTA evidence.
• Supporting the implementation of CARTA evidence project activities, coordinating stakeholder and partners meetings, tracking progress and reporting against approved milestones.
• Assist in the development and implementation of the CARTA evidence project.
• Coordinate CARTA evidence site updates and reporting activities.
• Overseeing website traffic and engage users and stakeholders to increase its use.

Secretariat support to the University of the Witwatersrand

• Providing administrative support to the CARTA co-director based at the University of the Witwatersrand.
• Supporting the planning, coordination and implementation of CARTA activities at the University of the Witwatersrand.

General Program Support

• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date program records and documentation.
• Contributing to the development of research papers, policy briefs, and other knowledge products.
• Other program-related activities that may be necessary.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• A Masters degree in Business Administration, Health Systems Strengthening, Public Health, Applied Sciences or related field.
• At least three years post-masters experience in an academic or research setting.
• Experience managing capacity strengthening activities in academic settings and/or research institutes.
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, juggle tasks and meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills and ability to work in a culturally diverse team.

This position is classified under Nationally Recruited Positions (NRP), Grade V in our scales.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through Program Coordinator by January 25, 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and will be required submit a Police Clearance Certificate at a certain stage of the recruitment process. Cover letters should be addressed to:

The Human Resources Officer

African Population and Health Research Center, Inc

APHRC Campus, Manga Close, off Kirawa Road, Kitisuru

P.O. Box 10787-GPO, Nairobi

Website:  www.aphrc.org

Special Notice

APHRC is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request to support their participation in the recruitment process.