Legal and Policy Analyst at African Population And Health Research Center (APHRC)

APHRC seeks to recruit a Legal and Policy Analyst to work in the Chronic Diseases Management Unit within the Health and Wellbeing Theme. This is a new role responsible for coordinating policy efforts, legal analysis, stakeholder engagement and translating research findings into actionable policies.

Duties/Responsibilities

• The rising burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases (DR-NCDs) in Eastern Africa underscores the urgent need for stronger food environment policies. In Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are driven by unhealthy diets, fueled by weak regulations and aggressive food marketing. To combat these challenges, efforts are underway to strengthen front-of-pack labeling (FOPL), implement marketing restrictions on unhealthy foods, and harmonize nutrient profiling models (NPMs) across the region.
• The IDRC-FEP study has generated critical evidence on consumer understanding of FOPL, supporting regulatory pathways for mandatory labeling in Kenya and beyond. Subsequently, the harmonization of NPMs in East Africa is essential for establishing consistent nutritional standards to guide policies on labeling, taxation, and marketing restrictions.
• The Legal and Policy Analyst will play a key role in policy research, legal analysis, and multi-country coordination. S/he will ensure alignment between national and regional policies with international best practices, supporting the development of evidence-based regulatory frameworks for FOPL, marketing restrictions on unhealthy foods targeting children, fiscal policies and the harmonization of NPMs. By strengthening engagement with policymakers, technical committees, and advocacy partners, s/he will drive policy development and implementation to promote healthier food environments and reduce the burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases in Eastern Africa.
• Policy research and analysis
• Stakeholder engagement and advocacy
• Policy development and support
• Coordination of multi-country policy initiatives
• Capacity building and knowledge sharing
• Project management and reporting

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience 

• Conduct policy analysis to assess the regulatory landscape for food environment policies, including FOPL, marketing restrictions, and NPM harmonization in the East African Region.
• Track and analyze existing national and regional policies related to food labelling, marketing, fiscal and nutrition regulations.
• Identify gaps in existing policy implementation and provide recommendations for strengthening regulatory frameworks.
• Conduct legal feasibility assessments for East African region and national level for Tanzania and Uganda.
• Engage with government agencies, regional bodies (the East African Community, the African Union), civil society organizations, and private sector actors to advocate for the adoption and implementation of evidence-based food environment policies.
• Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues, policy roundtables, and workshops to drive policy discussions and build consensus.
• Represent the organization in policy forums, technical committees, and regulatory consultations to provide evidence-based policy recommendations.
• Support government institutions in drafting and reviewing policy documents, regulatory frameworks, and guidelines for food environment policies.
• Provide technical assistance in the development of harmonized nutrient profiling models (NPMs) in the East Africa region and ensure alignment with global best practices such as the WHO-AFRO model.
• Contribute to the preparation of policy briefs, position papers and reports to inform decision-makers.
• Support the coordination of efforts to harmonize food environment policies across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, ensuring consistency in regulatory approaches.
• Work with regional organizations such as EAC to facilitate the integration of food labelling and nutrition policies into regional trade agreements.
• Ensure alignment between national and regional food policy strategies by collaborating with key technical committees and working groups.
• Organize and support capacity-building workshops for policymakers, public health officials, and regulatory agencies on FOPL, NPMs, fiscal and marketing regulations.
• Support the development of training materials and toolkits to support advocacy efforts and inform stakeholders about best practices in food environment policy.
• Contribute to the development of a regional learning platform to share policy lessons and experiences across Eastern Africa.
• Monitor progress on policy-related activities and provide regular updates to the project team.
• Support the preparation of progress reports, policy impact assessments, and funding proposals.
• Ensure that project deliverables are met in line with timelines and budget allocations.
• Bachelor’s degree in law, Health Policy, Public Administration, or a related field. A master’s degree in a health- related field would be an added advantage.
• A postgraduate diploma in legal studies or certification in regulatory policy is desirable.
• At least 5 years’ experience in legal and policy research, policy analysis, food regulation, or public health advocacy, preferably in food systems or NCD prevention.
• Experience engaging with advocacy organizations, government agencies, policymakers, and regulatory bodies.
• Experience working on regional policy harmonization efforts (e.g., EAC, AU) is an advantage.
• Familiarity with legal and institutional frameworks in Kenya, East Africa, and global health governance (WHO, AU, UN).
• Familiarity with food environment policies, nutrient profiling models, non-communicable diseases (NCD) prevention, or consumer protection regulations is an added advantage.
• Strong analytical and legal research skills with an understanding of public health governance.
• Strong policy analysis and advocacy skills, with a track record of engaging policymakers and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience drafting policy briefs and advocacy materials.
• Ability to coordinate multi-country policy initiatives and manage stakeholder relationships across different countries and sectors.
• Knowledge of regional trade policies and food regulations within EAC, AU, and COMESA is beneficial.
• Familiarity with the WHO-AFRO Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) and Front-of-Pack Labeling (FOPL) regulations is an added advantage.