Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) – Field Office Kenya
Vacant
Position: Policy
Assistant (1 Position)
Reporting
to: Senior Policy Associate
Start
Date: 1st May 2023
Location: Nairobi
Duration: 1
Year renewable subject satisfactory performance and project need
Deadline: 12th
April 2023
Eligibility: Position
open to local Kenyan hires only
About
Innovations for Poverty Action: Innovations for Poverty
Action (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to discovering and
promoting effective solutions to global poverty problems.
In
close partnership with decision makers — the policymakers, practitioners,
investors, and donors working with the poor around the world — IPA designs and
evaluates potential solutions to poverty problems using randomized evaluations,
the most rigorous evaluation method available.
We
also mobilize and support these decision makers to use these solutions to build
better programs and policies at scale.
About the position: The Policy Assistant, under the general supervision of the Senior Policy Associate and within the limits of Innovations for Poverty Action-Kenya policies and procedures, will assist in the design and execution of IPA Kenya’s policy communication and outreach work.
Duties
and Responsibilities
· Policy
outreach and dissemination: Assist with drafting and storing/filing
presentations on IPA- Kenya’s work, disseminating research findings to
policymakers and the media, and encouraging the scale-up of evidence-based
policies; Support in organizing and running policy dissemination events at
Country Office- and project-level.; Timely drafting and dissemination of
approved materials (e.g., scientific literature, policy briefs, county updates)
to relevant stakeholders.
· Engagement
and advocacy: In coordination with the Policy team members, organize meetings
and build relationships with key partners, record meeting minutes and ensure
that follow-up activities are carried out according to established timeline.
Work with the Policy Associate and the project management teams to perform
project-level stakeholders’ mappings and build project and Country Office
policy development plans.
· Stakeholder
mapping: In collaboration with policy management, conduct a stakeholder mapping
exercise for policy and research partners, identify key bodies (government,
donors, NGOs, and private sector) at the national or local level as
appropriate, and work with management to create an
engagement plan.
· Information
management: Regularly update and maintain the IPA internal database of
stakeholders’ contacts. Ensure that all policy-relevant activities and meeting
minutes are timely and correctly logged into the internal information
management system.
· Communication:
Support the production of internal and external communication materials, help
coordinate the publication of Mukhtasari, the monthly IPA-Kenya newsletter,
work with the global
communications team to feature key country office events in the quarterly
newsletters, IPA website and social sites. Work with the policy team to device
creative ways to sensitize and capture positive attention to IPA-K’s public
events.
· Linkage
of Policy and Projects: Scan IPA’s project development platforms to flag out
any starting/ongoing projects with high policy impact and communicate the same
to the senior Policy
Associate for further engagements. Liaise with project development/start-up to
identify any important policy windows of interest. Coordinate with projects to
obtain project approvals at County and/or national levels.
Qualifications
and Experience:
· Education:
bachelor’s degree in economics, public policy, communication, or related fields
from a recognized university. Strong interest in domestic policy as
demonstrated by coursework and/or
professional experience is strongly preferred. Interest in international
development issues is required to better understand the work of other IPA
centers worldwide.
· Experience:
At least 2-3 years of relevant experience working in a research or policy
organization.
The ideal candidate for this position will be very knowledgeable about domestic
public policy issues
in Kenya. Any prior experience working with players in the various Kenyan
policy and
communications spaces is an added advantage.
· Communication:
Attention to detail and advanced writing, verbal, and presentation skills for
communicating policy lessons from academic papers in ways that policymakers
understand. This
requires clear, precise, non-technical writing, and confident, effective public
speaking skills.
· Time
Management: Excellent organizational skills. Proven ability to multi-task and
successfully complete projects on tight deadlines with little supervision. A
willingness to work hard, be self-motivated and learn will be essential for
doing well in this position.
· Other:
Willingness to travel within Kenya.
How to
Apply
Please CLICK HERE to apply online.
Only
shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Applicants
are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be reviewed on a ROLLING
BASIS.
DISCLAIMER:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of
the work being performed by the Policy Assistant- Field Office Kenya. The
statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties,
tasks, and responsibilities. Management reserves the right to amend and change
responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary. Please note that
IPA will never request any form of payment from an applicant.
Applicants
are encouraged to confirm the information listed above with IPA.