Regional Policy Officer at Amref Kenya

About You

• You are a strategic thinker with deep political acumen and cross-border experience. You bring both intellectual rigour and practical skills in government engagement, the ability to translate community evidence into powerful policy narratives, and the commitment to ensuring that girls' and survivors' voices inform policy change at all levels. You excel at building bridges between diverse actors - government officials, traditional leaders, youth advocates, CSOs, and survivors - and have the diplomatic sensitivity and cultural competency essential for navigating sensitive cross-border issues.
• A self-starter who works well independently across countries, you are equally skilled at collaborating as part of a regional team. You demonstrate pragmatic, adaptable approaches to problem-solving, with the ability to operate effectively in complex, sometimes volatile contexts. Given the critical nature of cross-border work, you have proven experience working across multiple countries, understanding border dynamics, and coordinating harmonized approaches. You understand that policy change is not transactional - it requires sustained engagement, relationship-building, and the ability to leverage evidence alongside community voice to drive meaningful change.
• Above all, we seek someone with a genuine passion for girls' rights, gender equality, and the elimination of harmful practices. You are enthusiastic about amplifying community voices in policy spaces, working with affected girls and survivors, and driving systemic change. You understand that policy advocacy is fundamentally about power - ensuring that those most affected by harmful practices have a voice and agency in the decisions that affect their lives.

Principal Responsibilities

Cross-border Policy Harmonziation & Coordonation (40%)

• Develop and support the implementation of cross-border policy advocacy initiatives connecting Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia on the elimination of harmful practices
• Develop harmonized legal and policy frameworks that address borderland dynamics and enable consistent girl protection across borders
• Support government engagement across three countries to build aligned policies on FGM/C and CEFMU elimination
• Facilitate cross-border policy dialogues bringing together government officials, regional bodies, CSOs, and communities from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia
• Map cross-border risks and protection gaps and develop policy recommendations to address them
• Build relationships with border county/regional administrators and government officials to support coordinated protection approaches
• Support harmonization of legal frameworks with regional bodies (EAC, IGAD) on FGM/C Bill and cross-border protection mechanisms
• Monitor cross-border harmful practices patterns and inform policy response

National Policy Advocacy & Reform (25%)

• Develop and support the implementation of evidence-based policy advocacy strategies for each country (Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia)
• Support engagement with national governments (ministries, parliamentarians, legislative bodies) on FGM/C and CEFMU elimination policies
• Support policy reform processes, including guideline updates, law enforcement, and implementation of existing bans
• Create evidence-based policy briefs tailored to each country context, drawing on programme data and survivor voices
• Develop policy position papers addressing key barriers to the elimination of harmful practices
• Support parliamentary advocacy and engagement with legislators on protective legislation
• Track and document policy changes and government commitments to elimination efforts
• Work with country teams to maintain a database of key policy contacts and decision-makers across three countries

Regional & International Policy Advocacy (20%)

• Support engagement with regional bodies (African Union, IGAD, EAC) on harmonized approaches to the elimination of harmful practices
• Coordinate advocacy on EAC FGM Bill and support regional legal harmonization
• Support participation in international forums (CEDAW, UN Human Rights Council, UNGA) to amplify evidence from border communities
• Leverage international observance days (Zero Tolerance for FGM/C, International Day of the Girl Child) for cross-border advocacy campaigns
• Build relationships with regional and international advocacy networks working on girls' rights and harmful practices
• Represent the programme at key regional policy meetings and conferences
• Document and share cross-border policy learnings with regional partners and international platforms

Youth & CSO Policy Advocacy Support (10%)

• Build the capacity of border-based CSOs in cross-border policy advocacy
• Work closely with Country Teams to support the training of youth advocates and CSO staff on evidence-based policy engagement across borders.
• Support cross-border youth networks in joint policy advocacy campaigns
• Work with country teams to coach survivors and affected girls in sharing their voices in policy spaces
• Organise joint CSO-youth advocacy activities that connect grassroots voices with policymakers
• Document and amplify policy wins from community-led advocacy efforts
• Ensure that safe spaces are created for survivors to participate in policy dialogue

Policy Evidence & Documentation (5%)

• Package programme evidence into policy-relevant materials for government and regional bodies
• Work with country teams to monitor policy developments across three countries and report on implications for girls' protection
• Document policy wins, barriers, and learnings from cross-border advocacy work
• Maintain records of government commitments and track follow-up and implementation

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, law, development, gender studies, international relations, or related field
• Minimum 7+ years professional experience in policy advocacy, government engagement, or policy analysis
• Minimum 5+ years working specifically on gender equality, women's rights, girls' protection, or harmful practices elimination
• Demonstrated experience working across multiple countries, particularly in East Africa or similar complex, borderland contexts
• Proven track record of influencing policy change or supporting policy reform processes
• Strong understanding of regional governance mechanisms (African Union, IGAD, EAC) and international human rights frameworks
• Direct experience working on FGM/C, child marriage elimination, or girls' rights is essential
• Fluency in English and proficiency in at least one of the following: Amharic, Somali, or Kiswahili.

Skills and Competencies:

Policy & Advocacy

• Advanced skills in policy analysis, advocacy strategy development, and evidence-based policy messaging
• Proven ability to translate research and community evidence into compelling policy narratives
• Demonstrated experience engaging with government officials, parliamentarians, and policymakers
• Strong understanding of policy processes, legislative development, and government decision-making

Cross-Border Experience

• Proven experience working across multiple countries simultaneously on complex issues
• Understanding of border dynamics, transnational challenges, and cross-border coordination
• Ability to facilitate dialogue and build trust across different governance systems and cultural contexts
• Experience harmonizing approaches across countries and developing coordinated strategies
• Diplomatic sensitivity and political acumen for navigating multi-country environments

Communications & Engagement

• Excellent written communication skills with ability to produce high-quality policy briefs, position papers, and advocacy materials
• Strong presentation and public speaking skills
• Ability to engage diverse stakeholders (government, CSOs, youth, survivors, traditional leaders) with cultural competency and respect
• Experience translating technical or research evidence into accessible, compelling messaging
• Track record supporting survivor and community voice amplification in policy spaces

Strategic & Operational

• Strategic thinker capable of managing complex, multi-country initiatives simultaneously
• Strong project management and time management skills, ability to deliver under pressure
• Problem-solving mindset with pragmatic, adaptable approaches to obstacles
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Gender, Rights & Justice Perspective

• Deep commitment to gender equality and girls' rights
• Understanding of power dynamics, social norms change, and gender-based violence
• Passion for amplifying the voices of those most affected by harmful practices
• Commitment to equity-centred approaches and community leadership

Additional Information

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND TRAVEL

• This role requires significant travel (estimated 40-50% of time) across the program regions as needed.
• Work across three countries with different governance systems, political contexts, and cultural norms
• Travel to border regions and borderland communities where much of the harmful practices work takes place
• Navigate complex political environments and work diplomatically with government at all levels
• Operate in some contexts where security is variable and require flexibility and pragmatism
• Engage with diverse stakeholders including government officials, traditional leaders, youth, survivors, and CSOs
• Work in field settings as well as urban policy spaces.