A. Background and Justification
FoodTrade ESA is a 5 year programme aimed at improving national and regional markets efficiency in the trade of staples. FoodTrade ESA is based in Nairobi, and covers 9 countries; Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda (East Africa) and Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe (Southern Africa). FoodTrade ESA systemically improves the functioning of national and regional staple food market systems; impacting directly on over 400,000 households and consumers through stable markets for staple food products.
FoodTrade East and Southern Africa (ESA) recognises the transformative potential of agriculture and trade to improve the lives and incomes of thousands of small scale farmers, as well as strengthen food security in the region. To harness this potential and bridge the gaps that exist in the trade of staple foods in East and Southern Africa, FoodTrade ESA is investing in innovative systems to allow small-scale farmers to improve their inputs and gain access regional markets. We support the private sector, governments, and other development actors to bring small scale farmers closer to the heart of agricultural systems in East and Southern Africa. In addition to this, we recognise the specific challenges that prevent both men and women from equally participating in, and benefiting from, regional agricultural value chains.
FoodTrade ESA has recently developed a programme Policy Influencing Strategy as a foundation framework for engaging relevant stakeholders with the aim of facilitating policy reforms for enhanced regional grain trade. The programme now seeks to strengthen its efforts in this area by recruiting a dynamic policy officer to be based at its headquarters in Nairobi Kenya.

B. Scope of work, duties and responsibilities
The Policy officer will support the Regional Trade Policy expert in the implementation of the FoodTrade ESA Policy influencing strategy by working closely with africapractice, our partner, advisory forums set up in countries as well as project grantees in ensuring that policy, regulatory and capacity gaps that impede regional trade in grains are addressed and/or resolved.
• Assist in the implementation and review of the programme policy influencing strategy;
• Support setting up of and management of advisory forums in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania;
• Support development and review of policy pieces and collateral for engagements with critical stakeholders as per influencing strategy;
• Participate in engagement sessions in collaboration with africapractice or otherwise with the aim of lobbying for policy changes;
• Participate in policy engagement meetings, workshops or other forms of consultations with the aim of identifying key policy constraints affecting the sector;
• Carry out light touch policy analysis and review of regulations and capacity gaps affecting grain trade in the region;
• Build good relations with government, media, grantees, other programmes/projects and related stakeholders within the trade and agricultural sector;
• Organize in collaboration with our key partners and grantees policy events and workshops;
• Work closely with the members of the FTESA PMU under market systems as well as communications with the aim of understanding potential policy risks and how best to communicate results of engagement work and attitudes;
• Support in scooping and implementation of relevant studies to inform programme delivery at PMU and grantee level;
• Assist in review of study and progress reports from grantees with the aim of understanding policy challenges or achievement of reforms in line with the FTESA strategy and advise accordingly;
• Any other additional reasonable duties as assigned by supervisor.

C. Required Key Skills & Qualifications
• A degree in agriculture economics or any relevant qualification with a focus on trade, market systems and or economic policy;
• 8 years’ experience in implementation of policy programmes with government, development partners or other such institutions;
• Experience in policy research and analysis is an asset;
• Good network and contacts with government stakeholders at national and/or regional level;
• Good team working skills;
• Ability to deliver high quality products under pressure;
• Excellent written and spoken English.

D. Project location
To be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
E. Reporting
To FoodTrade East & Southern Africa Regional Policy Trade Expert

HOW TO APPLY:
F. Application instructions
Interested and suitably qualified candidates can send their CV and cover letter by email only throughfoodtrade_recruitment@dai.com. Applications should include three work-related referees and day-time telephone numbers.
Application deadline is 14 days from the date advertised. Only candidates who meet qualifications will be shortlisted and contacted.
We are committed to minimizing the environmental impacts of operations related to the programme, and to ensuring our work supports social protection for everyone without bias. We encourage gender equity and diversity in our programme.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin. We are an equal opportunity employer. Only Kenyan nationals or persons with Kenyan residence/work permits will be considered.