- Nairobi, KenyaEmployees work in a hybrid mode
- Full-time
- Opportunity Type: Current Opening
Company Description
Amref Health Africa was founded in 1957 and has since grown to become the largest African-based international health development organization, currently implementing more than 180 programs, reaching more than 40 million people across 35 African countries, and a staff complement of over 2,000. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Amref Health Africa has offices in ten African countries – Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea (Conakry), Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. An additional eleven advocacy and fundraising offices are located in Europe and North America.
Amref Health Africa is driven by its vision of ‘Lasting health change in Africa’ and its mission ‘To catalyse and drive community-led and people-centred health systems while addressing social determinants of health.’ We believe that the power to transform Africa’s health lies within its communities and therefore strive to ensure that health systems are not only functional, but communities are empowered to hold these systems accountable for delivering of quality and affordable health care.
ICARS Overview
The International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) works with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in their efforts to reduce drug-resistant infections. In partnership with LMIC ministries, local research institutions and other stakeholders, ICARS co-develops interventions that provide evidence for context-specific, cost-effective solutions to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) suitable for sustainable scale-up. Through the provision of funding and expertise, ICARS supports intervention and implementation research projects across the One Health spectrum to support countries’ AMR National Action Plans (NAPs).
About ICARS Africa
The International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) is establishing a regional presence in Africa to strengthen regional responses to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through research, capacity building, and collaboration. The regional presence will increase ICARS’ visibility and credibility in One Health AMR mitigation, foster stronger ties with policymakers, institutions, technical stakeholders and civil society, and promote context-specific solutions for National Action Plan (NAP) implementation. Funded through ICARS’ partnership with Wellcome, the ICARS Africa hub will be hosted by Amref Health Africa in Nairobi.
Job Description
REPORTING TO: Team Lead – ICARS Africa
DIVISION/UNIT: Programmes
PHYSICAL LOCATION: Amref Health Africa Headquarters; Nairobi, Kenya
CONTRACT DURATION: The employment term ends on 31 December 2028, unless renewed through a subsequent agreement. The contract is subject to renewal.
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Together with other members of the ICARS team, the Science Advisors will be involved in the development and management of ICARS’ portfolio of projects in Africa at the science-policy interface. This will involve providing technical support to project partners, including ensuring sound project implementation strategies, effective co-development and scoping of projects, clear setting of targets and deliverables, and considering behavioural and economic consequences of AMR mitigation. The Science Advisors will specifically lead on activities related to two donor funded programs and will hence also be involved in ensuring timely and appropriate reporting to these donors (Wellcome and European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership).
Furthermore, the Science Advisors must contribute professionally to the dissemination of ICARS’ vision, mission and goals. E.g. by representing ICARS at meetings with multiple stakeholders, build a regional network of experts and contribute to capacity strengthening and the generation of independent evidence, synthesis of data, assessments, and reports in relation to AMR.
Finally, as a Science Advisor in the newly established ICARS Africa office, you will support the ICARS Africa Team Lead in the development of this new entity in terms of scientific and operational activities. Furthermore, you will support the development of the partnership between ICARS and Amref Health Africa.
Key Responsibilities
Your specific responsibilities and project roles will be tailored to match your professional experience and educational qualifications. In general terms, however, advisors are expected to:
- Develop and advise on research study designs for baseline studies to identify the AMR priorities in African countries across all One Health sectors
- Develop and advise on AMR mitigation interventions and intervention and implementation research (IIR) across the One Health sectors that contextualize and assess impact in African countries
- Provide expert input into development and implementation of ICARS projects
- Conduct training needs assessments to identify country-level and regional capacity gaps
- Contribute to the development of tailored training curricula and educational materials, using best practices, case studies, and interactive learning approaches
- Support regional training workshops and seminars, strengthening national and regional AMR capacities.
- Facilitate of knowledge exchange between ICARS experts, African country teams, and other partners, enabling peer learning and south-south collaboration.
- Contribute to process development, including the synthesis, analysis and assimilation of data into reports and publications for ICARS, and ensure that findings and evidence from ICARS projects are effectively disseminated to national stakeholders, policymakers and the scientific community.
- Deliver independent evidence synthesis, assessments and reports within the AMR area
- Continuously monitor scientific research on AMR-mitigation relevant to ICARS
- Identify and contribute to grant applications for funding
- Contribute to technical reporting requirements for ICARS external donors
- Represent ICARS at project working groups or committees as well as at conferences, workshops and networking events.
- Be the primary contact point for project partners in co-development and implementation of selected projects with ICARS
- Support the development of a regional network of experts and partners to strengthen the knowledge of behavioural and economic implications of interventions related to AMR
- Support stakeholder mapping and engagement in collaboration with ICARS partners, ensuring participation from ministries, academia, NGOs, the private sector and community organisations.
- Help establish and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders, researchers and policy makers for efficient AMR mitigation, especially on the African continent
- Support collaboration with AMREF as the host organisation and other regional organisations.
Qualifications
- Advanced degree (master’s or PhD) in a relevant discipline (infectious diseases, medicine, microbiology, public health, pharmacology, veterinary medicine, environmental sciences, agriculture, food sciences, or equivalent)
- A minimum of 3 years of professional experience after graduation in advising and/or developing projects related to AMR mitigation
- Extensive knowledge about and experience working with AMR research and interventions in Africa
- Demonstrated experience in conducting intervention and implementation research including using advanced research methods
- Experience in working in the science-policy interface.
- Demonstrated experience in project management including project design and planning, resourcing, allocating budget, monitoring and reporting
- Experience in initiating and maintaining partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders
- Knowledge on evidence compilation such as systematic reviews and meta-analysis
- Experience in cross-sector/One Health research is desirable
- Training in public health or field epidemiology is an advantage
- Demonstrated experience working with or in various LMICs, particularly in Africa
- Excellent command of written and spoken English (English is the ICARS working language)
- Knowledge of Kiswahili, French, Portuguese, or any other African language is considered an advantage.
Personal characteristics
- Excellent organizational skills with demonstrated ability to successfully manage competing priorities
- Evidence of ability to multi-task and manage a fluctuating and at times heavy workload
- Strong diplomacy skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize information conveying key points clearly and concisely
- Ability to work across global teams
- Strategic thinker with a regional and global perspective
- Proactive and self-motivated
- Responsible and solution-focused
- Strong interpersonal skills
Additional Information
Employment terms
The successful candidates will be offered a competitive compensation package, commensurate with experience, which includes benefits such as pension, comprehensive medical insurance, and generous leave entitlements.
The position is based in Nairobi, and physical presence in the office is the standard expectation.
The positions are open to all nationals, but only to candidates who can obtain work visas and are legally authorized to work in Kenya. Relocation assistance will be provided; and support for obtaining a work permit will be considered where applicable.
Please note that the position will require travelling (within the region and globally).
Interested?
Please submit your your CV or resume highlighting relevant skills and experience along with a cover letter detailing why you are the best fit for this position. The closing date for applications will be 11:59 PM (East Africa Time) on 27th February 2026.
Amref Health Africa does not require applicants to pay any money at whatever stage of the recruitment and selection process and has not retained any agent in connection with recruitment. Although Amref may use different job boards from time to time to further spread its reach for applicants, all open vacancies are published on our website under the Vacancies page and on our official social media pages. Kindly also note that official emails from Amref Health Africa will arrive from an @amref.org address.
Amref Health Africa is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Amref Health Africa is is dedicated to diversity and is an equal-opportunity employer with a non-smoking environment policy.
