Advisor, Insights & Advocacy at Africapractice

We are looking for a senior political insights and stakeholder engagement specialist, with a nuanced understanding of the Kenyan political economy, deep networks in the public and private sectors and a proven track record of effective engagement in the policymaking process. The successful candidate will demonstrate outstanding project management skills and lead project teams in designing and delivering innovative solutions to complex development challenges. The key responsibilities are as follows:

Consulting services 

• Maintain a detailed, deep, and powerful stakeholder network and surface nuanced insights into the national and sub-national (e.g. county-level) political economy shaping the policymaking process for specific issues
• Design and lead stakeholder engagements at the highest levels for clients and Africa Practice teams
• Actively monitor global and continental policy and institutional trends to understand how issues outside the region might influence and shape the design of policy in Kenya and the region
• Direct robust analysis of complex public policy, regulation and legislation and guide teams to deliver actionable policy insights and advisory for clients through highly visual multimedia formats, engaging and interactive verbal presentations and concise, authoritative written output
• Lead client and project teams in the co-creation of innovative, inclusive and evidence-based policy solutions, involving a range of stakeholders potentially impacted by the policy
• Contribute to the design and delivery of progressive policy testing methods, including smart use of data and the development of creative multimedia assets and immersive experiences to capture stakeholders’ attention and motivate action
• Advise on and drive execution of policy advocacy strategy, including grasstops and grassroots engagement to champion and enable broad participation in the policy-shaping process
• Ensure that consulting projects are delivered within the required timeframe and budgeted hours while simultaneously satisfying Africa Practice’s high quality standards
• Contribute to the development of our methodologies and the continual evolution of our value propositions, including supporting marketing and thought leadership  initiatives

Business development

• Proactively identify new business opportunities and methodically qualify leads
• Develop targeted and compelling proposals that respond to clients’ stated and unstated needs and add value
• Develop and maintain a network that yields high-value insights, new business opportunities and technical expertise across multiple sectors and geographies – including for subcontracting

Leadership

• Provide clear guidance and proactive coaching and support to colleagues
• Demonstrate emotional intelligence and empathy in managing relationships 
• Contribute to a healthy, inclusive and sustainable working culture

What we are looking for

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• At least 8 years of professional experience advising on complex political economy, policy, legislative and regulatory issues in Kenya
• Passion for advancing innovative, human-centred public policy in Africa and a track record of exploring and applying best practice in substance and process
• A nuanced appreciation for the political economy dynamics and drivers that shape policy and regulation at national and sub-national level 
• Deep knowledge of issues relating to the policy-making and legal sector, health, energy transition or food security and nutrition is an advantage.
• Outstanding critical thinking and analytical capability, highly creative solution design and  proactivity in execution 
• Strong project management skills - proven ability to accurately scope a programme of work, direct multiple project teams to deliver on schedule, on budget and to a high quality standard, manage client relationships, ensure accurate project documentation and adopt a proactive approach to opportunity identification and risk management
• Ability to thrive in an agile and dynamic consulting environment by multitasking and prioritising effectively across a portfolio of projects