The Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) seeks to accelerate a transformation of the world’s food and land use systems to better protect our natural environment; provide nutritious and affordable food; strengthen resilience and enhance prosperity; and meet the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. FOLU aims to provide the practical connections, the evidence base for action and a vision for change to drive food and land use system transformation. We do this by:
- Partnering with those best-placed to develop and deliver messages regarding food and land use systems transformation within a given political economy
- Working with national partners to develop compelling, evidence-based analyses, strategic land-use planning frameworks, pathways towards sustainable land-use and food systems, and policy recommendations; and
- Creating platforms and partnership models to encourage multi-stakeholder collaboration, both nationally and globally. In Kenya, coalition members include WRI Africa, AGRA and GAIN. Furthermore, the coalition has attracted other key local and international actors in the public and private sector that are active and or have interest in the food and land use systems. Overall, the coalition seeks to increase investments and impact towards sustainable food and land use systems in the country.
Job Highlight:
In this role, you will you will play an essential part in FOLU’s ambition to make the case for the urgent transformation of food and land use systems in Kenya. You will lead the FOLU country platform in the country and serve as a bridge between this country platform, FOLU partners and the FOLU Global Secretariat. Your substantive policy and engagement experience, as well as a proven track record of working with the Kenyan government, civil society and private sector partners to pursue policy objectives, will be critical. As the Director of FOLU Kenya, you will be responsible for the developing and delivering on FOLU Kenya strategy, fundraising, project delivery, building and managing partnerships and communications. You will provide overall leadership and strategic direction on approaches and best practices related to food systems transformation in Kenya by operationalizing and delivering on the four critical transitions in Kenya, as outlined in FOLU’s Growing Better report, namely: i) Productive and regenerative agriculture; ii) Protecting and restoring nature; iii) Reducing food loss and waste; and iv) Healthy diets. In this role you will leverage your networking and strategic capabilities. You will establish a broad range of partnerships including with governments, civil society, businesses, investors and other stakeholders. You will be adept at managing multiple opportunities to advance FOLU agenda in Kenya. You will be supported by the FOLU Kenya’s Governing Council but for coordination purposes, you will report to the Countries & Impact Director in the FOLU Global Secretariat. You will report to Director of Vital Landscapes Pillar at the World Resources Institute (WRI) based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Thought leadership & strategy (25%):
- Strategically develop and lead the work of FOLU Kenya, including interventions that will operationalize and deliver on food systems transformation
- Position the coalition strategically with key counterparts and represent the coalition in high level meetings in government, civil society and private sector, nationally and internationally
- Ensure FOLU Kenya, i.e., the coalition partners, achieve the outcomes set in the strategy by setting clear goals and robust execution plans
- Lead the process for developing FOLU Kenya’s strategic and programming framework
- Explore and act on opportunities for cross-collaboration and cross-learning between FOLU Kenya and the rest of the global coalition including other country platforms
- Oversee analytical work that makes an economic case for prioritized land use options and identify new financing options.
People and program management (25%):
- Oversee financial and administrative management of FOLU Kenya country platform in close coordination and alignment with FOLU Global Secretariat where appropriate. The postholder should ensure that project finances are managed and within budget according to donor procedures
- Provide overall leadership and oversight in the day-to-day operations of FOLU Kenya with respect to human resources, finance, programming and risk management
- Management of FOLU Kenya staff, each hosted by different coalition partners including GAIN, AGRA and WRI. This includes supervision, coaching, and programmatic support to staff, including recruitment of new FOLU Kenya staff
- Ensure FOLU Kenya has robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems in place, and delivers timely reports to donors
- Document findings and progress of programs and activities in written reports with coalition members and other relevant partners, including the quantified reporting of results
Outreach and Engagement (25%):
- Oversee FOLU Kenya’s communications and public relations strategy
- Provide visible leadership and establish, cultivate, and facilitate relationships with key stakeholders to advance a FOLU approach in agriculture, food, and land use forums
- Build trust and collaborative ways of working between coalition partners, identify and develop new partners to support the implementation of FOLU’s Action Agenda
- Work with FOLU partners to engage and build relationships with officials and policymakers to advocate for policies and practices that support the FOLU approach in Kenya
- Support FOLU Kenya team in building relationships with a diverse network of relevant public and private sector actors to maintain a strong network for FOLU Kenya with a particular focus on in-country engagement
- Provide the ultimate accountability for the strategic management of all FOLU Kenya partnerships
- Report and present coalition progress and program findings through publications and presentations at meetings and conferences and to donor agencies
Fundraising (25%):
- Leverage your substantial fundraising experience and existing relationships with public and philanthropic funders to increase funding and secure major grants for the program
- Identify new and maintain existing relationships with foundations and donor agencies; develop and lead outreach to research and project proposals, with an ambition to seek medium to large multi-year funding opportunities for integrated sustainable programming
- Work closely with the FOLU Global Secretariat’s fundraising manager to facilitate, coordinate, and track engagement and optimize donor relationships
- Work with FOLU Kenya platform partners to ensure compliance with grant making policies and procedures. Review grant documents and advise grantees on donor compliance, policies, and procedures as relevant and required. Oversee partnership management of subgrant and contract agreements.
- Education: You will have a completed master’s degree in a related field (e.g., business, economics, international development, international relations, agricultural economics, environmental studies, food-related subjects)
- Experience: You will have 10+ years of relevant work experience with at least 2 years of direct-line management experience
- Prior international development project management experience
- Experience working in the agri-food sector and/or in food systems in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Kenya
- Leadership experience particularly in one or more of the following sectors: international development, food and agriculture, climate, nature restoration, food security, hunger, and healthy diets.
- Have an existing network of contacts in government, business, research institutes, NGOs in Kenya on related topics
- Strong track record of fundraising and significant experience in writing proposals and donor liaison
- Experience managing and overseeing donor-funded budgets
- Expertise in advanced problem-solving and analytical skills, with a focus on strategic challenges
- Strong social and relationship management skills, highly self-motivated, entrepreneurial style with strong track record in developing new initiatives
- Significant experience and aptitude in managing people
- Languages: Verbal and written proficiency in English. Knowledge of Swahili is an advantage
- Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.
- A competitive salary
- Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US.
- The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
- A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work.
- The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI.
- Long-term commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours.
- Generous leave days that increase with tenure.
