The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to improve food security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for better and more sustainable use of livestock. ILRI is a CGIAR research centre – part of a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

Responsibilities

The research associate will also provide technical in-field support to the DTRA-NK Project, which is an ambitious surveillance programme focused on three emerging vector-borne pathogens in humans, domestic livestock and peri-domestic wildlife in northern Kenya. The incumbent will support the DTRA-NK field team, where they will take on responsibilities for sampling and data collection as required.

• Represent ILRI on a day-to-day level with project partners and take responsibility for maintaining good relations with study participants, local authorities and other stakeholders
• Under the guidance of the technical lead, enter data in the ER Health platform and communication with focal points on conservancies at which the platform is being piloted, proactively ensure that the ER Health module is being adopted and appropriately used.
• Contribute to ER Health training to ensure that training efforts are adaptive to the needs of rangers at each pilot site.
• Work with Post doc to generate monthly data reports from EarthRanger, tailored to conservancies on which the platform is being piloted, and government stakeholders (WRTI, KWS and DVS).
• Work with post doc to manage communications and outreach for the ER Health platform.
• Undertake examinations of, and collect biological samples from, livestock, peri-domestic wildlife and the environment according to project protocols.
• Any other duties that may be assigned by the senior project staff.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s Degree in in Veterinary Science
• 5 years of working experience
• Experience in animal handling, field epidemiology and collection of epidemiological data
• Experience with the following platforms is desirable: EarthRanger, ODK/KoboToolbox
• Experience in teamwork/management of technicians
• Proficiency in using Ms Office and statistical packages such as R etc.
• Excellent communication skills
• Willingness to spend sometime long days in the filed, and peirods of time in Turkana, Marsabit and Samburu counties