IPA Policy Advisor Job Vacancy in Kenya

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a global organization, with operations in over 40 countries. It designs innovative, cutting-edge approaches to solving development problems, rigorously evaluate these programmes, and promote the adoption of those with proven impact. This is done both through the dissemination of results to policy makers, practitioners and donors, as well as the actual design and implementation of new programmes at a national level.

IPA-Kenya (IPAK) is IPA’s oldest and largest country office, and the site of many of its most influential research projects. IPAK is also the site of two of IPA’s scale-up initiatives; Kenya’s National School Based De-worming Programme and the Safe Water Programme which is pursuing a national scale-up of the chlorine dispenser system in Kenya. Both programmes are the first of their kind not only in Kenya, but internationally, and offer unique opportunities to transform child health and development based on rigorous evidence of their cost-effectiveness and impact.

Job Purpose

The Policy Advisor is a senior member of these programmes’ management teams who will lead key elements of major planned expansion efforts. De-worming will reach over 5 million children in Kenya, dramatically reducing morbidity from parasitic worm infections nationwide.

He/she support the drive for scale and sustainability of the programmes by developing and maintaining broad and deep support for chlorine dispensers and school-based de-worming within Government of Kenya (GoK) policy and planning
arenas.

The Policy Advisor will also strengthen institutional capacity for long-term implementation of these programmes by the government and its partners. The Advisor will also help maintain current funding and identify mechanisms for additional long-term programme financing by GoK, development partners and other major institutions

The Major Duties and Responsibilities:

a. Programme Management

• Manage IPA’s policy influencing initiatives in accordance with agreed strategies and plans for Kenya
• Lead program planning and ensure timely completion of programme components in collaboration with staff and partners
• Ensure adherence to IPA’s organisational values and principles of high-quality programming
• Continuously monitor the Kenya policy and practice environment to ensure that IPA’s strategic and operational choices remain relevant and appropriate

b. Representation

• Help manage and develop relationships with MoE, MoPHS, MoWI and relevant parastatal headquarters, bilateral and multilateral institutions, implementing partners and major NGOs in Kenya
• Represent the programmes as delegated in policy-level forums, workshops, networking events, conferences and major public events at the national, regional and possibly international levels Ø Liaise between external stakeholders and programme operations and evaluation teams to incorporate relevant external input into programme design, execution and evaluation
• Advocate for policies supporting the overall program goals at the GoK and other key stakeholders
• Manage IPA’s involvement in collaborative and networking mechanisms aimed at promoting IPA’s strategic policy influencing opportunities

c. Dissemination and Policy Influence

• Contribute to efforts to improve the policy environment for school-based deworming and chlorine dispenser programmes through one-on-one meetings with key officials and representatives, participation at conferences and workshops, circulation of policy memos and reports, etc.
• Provide input on behalf of the programmes into policy- and decision-making processes of government ministries, bilateral and multilateral institutions and other major stakeholders
• Prepare and disseminate information on programme outcomes and other relevant results to government partners so as to promote evidence-based policymaking and programming

d. Resource Mobilisation and Fundraising

• Strengthen programme relationships with local and international funding institutions in the education, health and water sectors
• Improve knowledge of and input into government budgeting processes and relevant government managed financing mechanisms
• Develop and pursue new leads for programme funding
• Initiate and support proposal development processes

e. Learning and Knowledge Management

• Conduct in-depth mapping exercise to review and analyze the existing policy environment relevant to school-based deworming
• Provide ongoing evaluation and analysis of dynamic policy environment, particularly with respect to ongoing decentralization processes
• Submit written policy memos to IPA staff and other key stakeholders to inform the long-term sustainability of the programme.
• Ensure the documentation of IPA’s policy experience in Kenya to inform further work and also contribute to IPA’s efforts elsewhere
• Author programme update reports for internal consumption and by major partners and other external stakeholders

Academic and Professional Qualifications

• The candidate we are looking for should be of holder a bachelor’s degree in Development/Social Studies or Humanitarian Studies, preferably with significant relevance to public health.
• Sound knowledge of Government of Kenya operations and decision-making processes at the national level.
• Knowledge of the working systems and structures of the Ministries of Education and Public Health and Sanitation will be an added advantage.

Experience

• Should have at least 5 years relevant work experience in an INGO, (3 of which should have been at senior management level).
• Substantial experience in policy influencing and/or advocacy
• Experience in conducting policy analysis and review
• Experience in Kenya and/or East Africa region
• Strategic and operational planning and partnership management
• Experience in project and programme management; proposal writing for resource mobilization and fundraising, financial planning and management including budgets, and monitoring and evaluation.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong communication skills, good in written and oral communication and presentation both in English and Kiswahili, negotiations, persuasion and diplomatic skills
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Senior representational experience at the domestic policy level
• Understanding of government decision-making and donor funding processes in a developing country context—Kenya or elsewhere in East Africa preferred.
• Displays strong critical thinking and judgment skills and demonstrates intellectual flexibility and willingness to form and adjust opinions based on evidence
• Demonstrates good management and leadership skills especially in leading and empowering teams
• Ability to manage self-performance while working independently
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team of IPA and partners
• Thorough understanding of Microsoft office suite (Excel, Word, Powerpoint), Internet, and email systems

How to Apply

If interested, send an application by e-mail to the address below indicating on the subject line “Policy Advisor Application”. The application should be accompanied with the following:

• Brief cover letter explaining your interest in the position and why you qualify for the job,
• A detailed Curriculum Vitae,
• Names of at least three (3) professional referees, and their daytime telephone contact,
• Current and expected monthly remunerations (monthly gross salary and cash benefits),
• Optional: A work sample which ideally should be a report or similar business/policy document that showcases writing ability.

The application to reach the address below before the close of business on Friday, 13th January 2012.

(Please do not attach certificates and testimonials at this point).

Executive Selection, Strategic Dimensions Limited
Management and Development Consultants
E-mail: info@strategicdl.com