Senior Policy Specialist at Food and Agriculture Organization

Background

The Food and Nutrition Security Impact, Resilience, Sustainability and Transformation (FIRST) initiative is a partnership programme between target governments, European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO) aimed at strengthening the enabling environment for Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) in selected countries through policy assistance and capacity development support. The FIRST Programme has been operational in Kenya since 2016. In the last 4 years, FIRST has made significant contribution in strengthening policy environment within the FNSSA in Kenya. A notable achievement is the development of the Agriculture Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS) through an inclusive process. The ASTGS envisions “a vibrant, commercial and modern agricultural sector that sustainably supports Kenya’s development in the context of devolution, short-term national aspirations for 100% food security, and longer-term global Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) commitments.” A new office, known as the Agricultural Transformation Office (ATO), is in place to coordinate the implementation of ASTGS.

By design, the FIRST programme adds value to the priorities of the EU and government. Under the 2021-2027 EU Multi-annual Financial Framework, priorities include among others digitalization and sustainable agri-food systems, as outlined in the Farm-to-Fork Strategy of the Green Deal. In view of this, FAO in partnership with European Union (EU) through the FIRST Programme and in consultation with Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives (MoALF&C) seeks to engage an experienced senior policy expert to fill in the position of the Senior Policy Officer (SPO) under FIRST. The SPO (FIRST) will spearhead FIRST technical assistance to MoALF&C by building on previous work under FIRST to continue supporting evidence-based policies and strategies, policy dialogue, advocacy, and institutional and human capacity improvements while promoting strengthening of synergies across agricultural, socio-economic and environmental sectors to ensure food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture. Such support will include analysis and development of sector digitization policies and strategies, establishment and strengthening of institutional framework for sector digital policy engagement and dialogues; and sector policy monitoring and evaluation. This assignment will be for an initial period of eleven months.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Policy Specialist (FIRST) works under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the FAO Representative for Kenya. The incumbent will be based at the Agriculture Transformation Office (ATO) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives. Working closely with the ATO, he/she will support Government efforts towards transformation of agriculture through the implementation of the ASTGS, ensuring complementarity with other EU Delegation (EUD) supported programmes, and will report directly to the Principal Secretary (PS).

Technical Focus

The incumbent will work closely with the FAO Kenya Policy Sub–Programme to ensure that FIRST benefits from synergies and coordination with a wider ecosystem of collaboration, building on the programmes that FAO is implementing in the country.

Tasks And Responsibilities

Specifically, the SPS (FIRST) will be the Policy & Advocacy Lead as provided for in the ATO organizational structure. He/she will build on gains already realized to contribute to the government’s agricultural transformation agenda by supporting the ATO in the following:

• Lead on policy & advocacy work for ATO, including managing relationships with relevant external lobby groups, preparing documents on specific development issues for a range of stakeholders, lobby groups and audiences.
• Provide policy and political analysis on issues of agri-food systems and synthesise country's perspectives to national and global policy discussions.
• As part of knowledge sharing and information to policy decision makers and technical teams at national and county level, prepare policy briefs, technical notes, presentations and reports on a regular basis. This will include leveraging digital platforms such as the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS) among others, to develop knowledge products for evidence-based decision-support.
• Create policy proposals to further the GoK’s agenda through coordinating the policy-making process with state experts and agencies to solicit input into and facilitate an effective policymaking process.
• Building on the foundational support to the ATO and CAADP team, continue to support efforts to strengthen the M&E system of the Ministry. This activity links to support provided in the previous phase of FIRST to knowledge and information management, leading to the recommendation of developing the Kenya Agriculture Knowledge and Information System (KAKIS), which is now subsumed under KIAMIS.
• Support promotion of digital driven data collection and service delivery to enhance effective monitoring and reporting, including reporting on progress made in transforming agriculture, policy effectiveness, as well as SDG indicators monitoring and reporting by the Ministry.
• Support the rollout and domestication of ASTGS at the counties level to enhance coherence between implementation and the policy. This necessitates the continued collaboration between SPO (FIRST), the ATO, and the Joint Agriculture Sector Steering Committee (JASSCOM) to strengthen the capacity of counties to integrate the ASTGS in the county plans and strategies.
• Provide technical support to the Food Systems Dialogues in the build-up to the Food Systems Summit. Further to this, support the synthesis of key thematic areas of focus arising from the Food Systems Summit in line with GoK, EUD and FAO priorities for enhanced investment to accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Assist communications to ensure that policy ideas are accurately communicated in government’s messages.
• Ensure that linkages and synergies with other agricultural programs and projects are exploited for increased impact and avoidance of duplication.
• Liaison with policymakers, government agencies and non-state actors at the national, county, and local level.
• Incumbent will also perform any other tasks as may be required by the Principal Secretary.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in agricultural economics, public policy, development economics, policy analysis or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in agriculture and rural development in monitoring, mapping and analysis of policy decisions, programmes and investments in areas related to food, agriculture, food security and nutrition.
• Working knowledge of English and Swahili
• National of Kenya.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work
• Extent and relevance of experience working with multi-disciplinary teams, including the private sector.
• Knowledge and working experience with Government at a senior management level (in particular Agriculture or related sector) will be an added advantage.
• Ability to communicate and influence policy direction.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, lead and participate in teamwork as well as prepare reports.