Policy Advisor, GAIN Kenya Full Time

About GAIN

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with governments, businesses and civil society, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver healthier diets for all people, especially the most vulnerable.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, GAIN has offices in countries with high levels of malnutrition: Bangladesh, Benin, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. To support work in those countries, we have representative offices in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

At GAIN, we believe that everyone in the world should have access to nutritious, safe, and affordable food. Today, one in three people – drawn from nearly every country on the planet – are unable to consume enough nutritious food. We work to develop and deliver solutions to this daily challenge.

About the role

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a Policy Advisorto provide technical support across different projects in policy and advocacy components ensuring that the interventions led by GAIN Kenya and by its different partners are achieving set policy milestones.

The Policy Advisor will also provide support to the Deputy Country Director in strengthening the food and nutrition influencing agenda for GAIN in Kenya amongst key actors – Government, donors, the UN, civil society including peer NGOs, the private sector and consumers. The position holder will manage and support high level stakeholder relationships with businesses, government, donors, UN and civil society.

This role will be offered on a one(1) year fixed term contract, subject to availability of funding and will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Key Responsibilities include.

• Lead the provision of technical policy support through conducting data-based analyses to predict how policies will impact food and nutrition outcomes.
• Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with technical specialists in government and non-government organizations to forge consensus on what needs to be done on a technical level to accelerate nutrition outcomes.
• Lead on external engagement with key stakeholders in government, private sector, UN, donors and civil society including academia, media, and other development practitioners; to improve support for GAIN’s mission and increase resources allocated to nutrition in Kenya.
• Synthesize and disseminate knowledge and evidence from GAIN Kenya programmes that can help drive the agenda for nutritious and safe food in Kenya.
• Compile insights from the analyses and existing literature into simple yet nuanced narratives, through contextualized briefing documents.
• Create opportunities to spread key messages arising from GAIN Kenya country programming through e.g. media, social media, and positioning events.

About you

The ideal candidate should have extensive experience in policy and/or budget advocacy, strategic planning, and project management. You should have a track record for partnership building and brokering with different stakeholders such as government, private sector businesses and implementing partners. Understanding of food systems transformation approaches with the ability to leverage this understanding to achieve positive outcomes is required.

The post holder should have experience leading advocacy campaigns related to development, health, nutrition or other public interest issues. You should have strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple moving parts combined with analytical skills in food and nutrition related policy analysis, including for example political economy analysis, budget analysis.

An education background with a degree or recognized international accreditation in public policy, economics, management or related field is required. Masters’ level would be an added advantage.

About our offer

The starting gross salary on offer for this role is from KES 4,808,508 – KES 5,497,476 gross per annum, depending on experience.

GAIN has a fair and competitive salary structure that allows for annual progression subject to good performance. In addition, GAIN offers a total of 37 days holiday per year (including annual leave, public holidays and additional office closure days), an attractive pension scheme and competitive insurance cover including health, travel and life assurance. We are committed to the health of our staff, especially in these challenging times, and have developed a programme of wellbeing that includes flexible and hybrid working, additional leave allowances, wellbeing days, mindfulness coaching and access to independent and confidential counselling.

GAIN also has a strong commitment to professional development. We will support you to grow in your career through both formal and informal training, and are committed to providing opportunities through internal recruitment, secondments, and promotion. All of this is delivered in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Our working culture and environment

We provide a flexible working environment that includes a combination of home and office working opportunities through our global hybrid working policy. This encourages our staff to have a healthy work-life balance and increases staff motivation, enriches employee wellbeing, and improves performance and productivity.

All of our positions are based in one or more of GAIN’s designated offices as stated on our job advertisements. Successful candidates will be based in one of GAIN’s country offices and must have the existing right to live and work within a reasonably commutable distance of the relevant city / cities in which the role is advertised. Please note, that GAIN does not sponsor working visas and relocations.

GAIN reserves the right to withdraw an offer of employment for candidates who are considered to ineligible under the above conditions during or after the recruitment process.

Applicants must have the right to work and be currently based in the advertised country location, to be eligible to apply for this position.

This advert closes on 10th July 2025. Early applications are encouraged. GAIN reserves the right to close this advert early should we receive suitable candidates ahead of the closing date.

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition is committed to equality of opportunity and creating an inclusive environment where diversity is valued. We are keen to reflect the diversity of our society at every level within our organisation and therefore welcome applications from talented and committed people from all backgrounds, representing the diverse societies we operate in.

Our core values

GAIN is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating discrimination. All staff are expected to follow GAIN Values

Our commitment to safeguarding

GAIN is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment where all staff, volunteers, and job applicants are treated with dignity and respect. We are also committed to safeguarding the communities we work with. We have a zero-tolerance approach to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, exploitation and abuse of power or trust.

Safeguarding is integral to our recruitment practices, and we have robust procedures in place to prevent any form of harm, abuse, or discrimination. As part of our commitment to safeguarding, all successful candidates will undergo thorough background checks and vetting procedures, which can include references, criminal records and terrorist finance checks where applicable, in accordance with our Safeguarding Policy.

We provide comprehensive training and support to our staff and volunteers and associates to raise awareness of safeguarding issues and ensure they are equipped to recognise and respond to concerns effectively.

By applying for a position with GAIN, you agree to uphold our safeguarding principles and contribute to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all individuals.

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