POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
Malaria IVM Project Site Manager
Ref. No.: MPSM/17/17
The position: The International Centre of Insect Physiology & Ecology (icipe) seeks to hire a malaria research project site manager responsible for carrying out and coordinating a range of activities to evaluate the feasibility and impact of implementing participatory integrated vector management (IVM) as a pragmatic strategy for sustainable malaria control in Ethiopia. She/he will be a member of icipe Ethiopia office which is located at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
General: International Centre of Insect Physiology & Ecology (icipe)—African Insect Science for Food and Health - is a world-class research centre with a mission to alleviate poverty by ensuring food security, improving health, protecting the environment and building the capacity of researchers and communities across the developing world, through the application of insect sciences. Employing more than 500 national and international staff, icipe is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with outposts in Ethiopia and on the shores of Lake Victoria in western Kenya. icipe has a proud reputation and history of delivering world-quality science that has made crucial contributions to African food and health policy, delivered development outcomes to rural communities, and has been at the forefront of building Africa’s biological research capacity. The Centre’s research activities span the African continent with partnerships linking research organizations, not only across Africa, but also the globe. In addition, more than 100 graduate students and a number of postdoctoral fellows contribute to icipe’s research portfolio annually. For more information visit: www.icipe.org
Job Purpose:
Icipe has since 2009 conducted research in Tolay, Boter Chora District, with the objective of promoting participatory evidence-based integrated vector management (IVM) for malaria control in Ethiopia. Research activities in a recent study phase (2013 -2015) included conducting randomized controlled trial experiments in Tolay to evaluate, among other things, three interventions when implemented alone or in different combinations in the context of IVM. The interventions included: the conventional use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs); community mobilization and education (CEM) and larviciding with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti). The purpose of the present phase of the Biovision-funded operational research (2016-2018) is to further improve the IVM strategies explored in the previous phases of work, through systematic analysis, identification and addressing of gaps likely to undermine the sustainability of the interventions.
Main Responsibilities:
Develop and update a database of stakeholders and community-based structures with potential for sustaining integrated vector management (IVM) for malaria control in Tolay, Boter Chora District, Ethiopia;
Undertake activities to enhance community knowledge and skills in IVM for malaria control including: engaging the community through door-to-door awareness creation campaigns; development and distribution of information, education & communication (IEC) materials; and community meetings such as 'coffee ceremonies' - tailored to suit specific environmental and socio-cultural contexts;
Strengthen ongoing implementation of malaria IVM in selected villages in Tolay, Boter Chora District through participatory community-based environmental management, larviciding with Bti and proper usage of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets;
Regularly compile health centre malaria data and conduct entomological surveillance of malaria vectors (both larval and adult mosquitoes) in the designated sentinel villages to determine long-term effectiveness of the participatory IVM effort;
Promote community-based cultivation and processing of a plant from Ethiopia previously confirmed in icipe's laboratory and semi-field assays as having potential for malaria vector control, in addition to having other reported medicinal and nutritional benefits;
Reinforce community's incentives and motivation to sustain their involvement in IVM, through strengthening of IVM-related income generating activities particularly focusing on the cultivation of commonly known insecticidal/medicinal plants, and the processing and sale of their products;
Assess community willingness to participate in IVM activities beyond the donor-funded research phase ending in December 2018;
Facilitate the process for completing the registration of the icipe plant-based larvicide in Ethiopia by helping compile the required registration dossier and following up with the relevant Government pesticide registration body;
Assist with ongoing efforts to improve linkages between community-based structures, government programs and other stakeholders;
Engage more local schools towards embedding IVM for malaria control as a component of the schools' extracurricular programmes. Promote behavior change through student and youth oriented pathways for communication and outreach activities including drama, health dialogue days, role plays, songs
Assist and participate in organization of annual IVM capacity-building workshops conducted by icipe in partnership with the Ethiopia IVM Working Group hosted within the Federal Ministry of Health.
Manage the IVM project's budget allocation for Ethiopia.
Supervise the activities of a project-based social scientist and several field based assistants promoting participatory IVM for malaria control in Tolay involving environmental management for mosquito control, awareness creation and capacity-building.
Perform other project management duties as required.
Minimum Requirements:
Education:
A relevant PhD in Medical Entomology, Social Sciences or related fields.
Experience:
Skills:
Field assessment of effectiveness and impact of malaria control interventions through surveillance and analysis of key entomological and epidemiological indicators; experience in working on mosquito larval control and testing of larvicides will be an advantage;
Collection of qualitative and quantitative data and their analyses; statistical software applications and skills in computer applications (MS word, Excel, Power point);
Training and mobilization of rural communities, other stakeholders and extension personnel; forging linkages between communities and different government and non-governmental partners.
Excellent time management skills
Training:
Integrated vector management, medical entomology, malaria epidemiology or related fields.
Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Position level: 3B.
Minimum Base salary:
Birr 38,223 per month (Negotiable depending on experience, skill and salary history of the candidate)
Terms of appointment: Initial appointment is for two years renewable appointment based on performance and funding availability. icipe offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and excellent benefits in line with ILRI salary applicable for its Nationally Recruited Staff. icipe is an international and equal opportunity organization and believes that diversity of its staff contributes to excellence.
The ILRI campus is set in a secure, attractive campus with dining and sports facilities that are located on site.