Evidence Action Senior Policy Manager Job in Nairobi, Kenya

Position Title: Senior Manager, Policy

Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya

Reports To: Director, Africa Region

Start Date: ASAP

About Evidence Action: Evidence Action scales proven development solutions to benefit millions of people around the world. We fill the gap between knowing ‘what works’ and having impact at scale. 

We implement cost-effective interventions whose efficacy is backed by substantial rigorous evidence. 
We identify innovative, appropriate financing mechanisms and build best-practice operational models. 

 

We voraciously self-evaluate, learn, and improve our models for scaling with a commitment to transparency on progress, impact, and value for money.  Our two flagship programs reached over 100 million people this year. 
One of them, the Deworm the World Initiative, was again selected by GiveWell as one of only four Top Charities on the planet.  

About Deworm the World Initiative

The Deworm the World Initiative enables governments to eliminate the public health threat of intestinal worms through school-based mass deworming programs. 

We advocate for school-based deworming to policymakers and provide technical assistance to launch, strengthen and sustain programs targeting all at-risk school-age (and sometimes preschool-age) children.
Our technical assistance, currently provided to Kenya, India, Ethiopia, and Vietnam, is intended to support implementation of high coverage, cost-effective programs that can be sustained by governments as long as worms are a public health problem in that country.

In Kenya, we work in close partnership with the Government of Kenya on the National School-Based Deworming Program, a government program implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Health with the goal of eliminating parasitic worms as a public health problem among children in Kenya. 

The Program, currently in its fourth of five years, is successfully achieving high coverage of and reduced infection among preschool and school-age children across all areas where worm burden is high enough to warrant mass drug administration according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. We are the key technical assistance provider and fiscal manager for the program.

In 2015, we began discussions with the government and current donors about the need to continue the program beyond the current five year term, which ends in June 2017. We intend to secure sufficient technical and financial resource capacity to continue the program for another five years. A key component of this strategy is developing this capacity within the government.

About the Position: The Senior Manager, Policy will report to Evidence Action’s Director, Africa Region and will be based in Evidence Action’s regional office in Nairobi. S/he will work closely with organizational leadership including the Director, Global Innovation and Director, Deworm the World Initiative, and the Kenya deworming program team. 

This workstream requires high-touch relationships with the relevant ministries and other key stakeholders; a thorough understanding of Kenya’s education and health infrastructure and domestic financing landscape; and an ability to work constructively and creatively with a variety of stakeholders to achieve objectives.  
This position will focus initially on the Kenya deworming program, however there may be opportunities for future work in support of Evidence Action’s other programs in Kenya and perhaps the Africa region pending success in achievement of the current objectives.

Responsibilities

  • Support and cultivate productive government and partner relationships including building new relationships, managing existing relationships, and understanding and observing appropriate protocols.
  • Formulate, articulate, and execute key policy goals and objectives for the Deworm the World Initiative – Kenya.
  • Collaborate closely with other managers to achieve advocacy and policy-related outcomes.
  • Perform research and analysis of relevant policy and regulatory issues at local and national levels, and provide recommendations to senior leadership.
  • Understand and advise on appropriate governance structures that advance the goals of the program.
  • Translate technical details of programmatic work into strategic opportunities through a variety of communications techniques.
  • Promote the use of evidence for decision-making internally and in external relationships, communications and actions.
  • Support other policy tasks as required and in consultation with program staff.
Qualifications and Skills
  • Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree economics, international relations, public health or related field from a recognized University strongly preferred.
  • At least 5 years of progressively senior policy and analysis experience.
  • Track record of building relationships with senior leaders and policymakers
  • Proven skill in negotiation, networking, and managing complex relationships.
  • Strong interpersonal skills; experienced and comfortable working collaboratively across teams and cultures.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Significant experience in developing countries required. Kenya-specific experience strongly preferred.
  • Subject matter expertise in health, education, economic development, neglected tropical disease, or other development areas strongly desired.
  • Passionate about social impact and experienced in social enterprise, entrepreneurial nonprofit, or start-up environment.
  • A sense of humor.
How to Apply
CLICK HERE to apply online

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