Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Full-time: minimum of 3 months, with potential for renewal up to 1 year

Application Due Date: 15th of October 2023

About the Organization

CLASP serves at the epicentre of collaborative, ambitious efforts to mitigate climate change and in the global movement for clean energy access through appliance efficiency. Our mission is to improve the energy and environmental performance of the appliances & equipment we use every day, accelerating our transition to a more sustainable world. We work hand-in-hand with governments, experts, industry, consumers, donor organisations and others to propel policies and markets toward the highest-quality, lowest resource-intensive appliances possible.

CLASP has worked in more than 100 countries since its inception in 1999. CLASP is headquartered in Washington, DC, with teams in Europe, Kenya, India and Indonesia. We’re mission-driven and committed to a culture of diversity, transparency, collaboration, and impactful work. See our Team Page to learn more about us.

CEA Research Fellow

CLASP seeks an early-career data analyst/ research professional ready to take their experience to the next level with our growing team. The Fellow will support CLASP’s Clean Energy Access Research team, which works in partnership with stakeholders across Africa and South Asia to improve markets for energy-efficient, high-quality appliances on and off the grid. Our team provides world-class technical and advisory services to develop global off-grid appliance markets.

The Fellow will primarily support research and analysis under the LEIA program of the Efficiency for Access Coalition. Efficiency for Access is a global coalition that promotes high-performing appliances that contribute to clean energy access for the world’s poorest people. The Fellow will primarily support one of these projects:

• State of the Off Grid Appliance Market – in close collaboration with the LEIA Research workstream lead, conduct literature review and analysis to support research that will culminate into the flagship publication for the off-grid appliance sector. The report will provide a comprehensive overview of the state of play for key appliance markets with relevance to industry, donors, policymakers, investors, financial institutions, researchers, and more. See report from 2019.

• Workforce & Skills Development – in close collaboration with the LEIA program lead, support the scoping and design of a new workstream that focusses on developing and building capacity for the workforce needed to power the clean energy transition. The research will enable the program team to identify skills gaps, and partnership opportunities that will contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth of off-grid appliance business and markets.
• Appliances in Health Settings – Energy stakeholders traditionally do not know enough about clinical needs to know what off-grid appropriate health equipment would have the highest impact and demand, and clinicians do not know enough about the technical details of such appliances to enable a more appropriate use for them in harsh environments. In close collaboration with the LEIA research workstream lead and the LEIA program lead, conduct literature review and analysis to support the assessment of technical and commercial barriers to large-scale deployment of medical equipment in off/weak-grid clinics, along with actionable recommendations to make progress against these barriers.
• Appliances for Agriculture – Much like in health settings, the Fellow will play a pivotal role in research activities at the intersection of agriculture and energy. Collaborating closely with the Agriculture Lead, the Fellow will delve into the technical and commercial challenges that impede the widespread adoption of advanced agricultural appliances, especially in off/weak-grid environments. This work will result in a set of practical, actionable recommendations aimed at fostering collaboration and dismantling barriers to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies in agriculture, ultimately advancing sustainable and productive farming practices.
• Appliances for Electric Cooking – Addressing the unique challenges of electric cooking solutions, the Fellow will work closely with the Cooking Lead to bridge the gap between energy stakeholders and those on the frontlines of clean cooking initiatives. This involves conducting comprehensive literature reviews and analyses to evaluate the technical and commercial impediments hindering the widespread adoption of electric cooking appliances in off/weak-grid settings. The outcome will be a set of actionable recommendations aimed at advancing progress and overcoming these barriers to ensure effective and sustainable clean cooking solutions are accessible in even the most challenging environments.
• Climate Financing for Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) Appliances – Acknowledging the potential to leverage climate finance to increase affordability of PURE technologies, the research fellow will work in close collaboration with the Carbon Finance Lead to support research into barriers and opportunities that are needed to unlock green finance mechanisms that support the widespread adoption of renewable energy appliances for productive purposes. The ultimate goal is to provide actionable recommendations to key stakeholders in the seamless integration of climate financing into PURE projects.

The Fellow will be responsible for a variety of internal and external facing research activities including, but not limited:

• Identify trends and patterns in energy access data to inform decision-making processes. Support mapping of key stakeholder and outreach, identifying opportunities for strategic partnerships.
• Report documentation, discussing its findings to inform a pilot framework/methodology.
• In collaboration with CLASP’s communications team and research lead, contribute to producing high-quality, peer-reviewed donor and public-facing research outputs that will serve as industry benchmarks and communicate the impacts of the Efficiency for Access Coalition, the LEIA program, and off- and weak-grid appliances more broadly.
• Support other related CLASP research projects as needed.

CLASP is a fast-paced, international, and highly collegial work environment. The right candidate will be able to move creatively and strategically from idea to implementation, know how to prioritise and re-prioritize in a fast-paced work environment, move between the small details and the big picture with skill, bring well-honed listening and interpersonal skills, and can filter many streams of information for the best process or product.

The Ideal Candidate

• Current or recent post-graduate student studying agriculture, public health, biomedical engineering, energy systems, renewable energy, education, finance, economics, or analogous degree and/or 1-3 years of relevant professional experience.
• Knowledge of and experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Strong work ethic and an ability to take the initiative; a drive to learn and grow on the job.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; proven ability to write clearly and concisely.
• Ability to identify and interpret trends and patterns in data and support informed decision-making processes.
• Professional demeanour, including the ability to comport in a diverse, international work environment.
• Knowledge and experience of/in circular economy as it applies to appliances will be an added advantage.
• Intellectual agility and a commitment to professional development

Compensation and Location

CLASP is accepting full-time candidates, based in Nairobi, Kenya, but will consider part-time candidates. CLASP provides a competitive hourly rate and will also reimburse for expenses in the performance of the work. Payments are limited to authorised travel and purchase of software of research subscriptions as required and permitted. Occasional travel (domestic and international), as well as evening hours, may be necessary.

To Apply

Please send the following as a single attachment to info@efficiencyforaccess.org. The email subject should be “CLASP CEA Research Fellow Application – (replace with area of expertise e.g. Health)”

• A concise CV including a 1-page covering letter (total maximum three pages), highlighting relevant experience and availability i.e., part-time, or full-time.

CLASP seeks to fill this role as soon as possible; the deadline for application is the 15th of October 2023, and assessment will be conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

CLASP is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. Each person is evaluated based on personal skill and merit.