Purpose of the role:
The Fred Hollows Foundation Vision is a world in which no one is needlessly blind or vision impaired. In Kenya the Foundation is working and supporting the Government of Kenya at the National and County Level to elevate eyecare as a social-Economic and political Agenda. This entails increased investment for healthcare, fostering integration of multisectoral approach within and outside the healthcare sectors, promoting accountability for eyecare services and resources and ensuring more women, girls and persons with disability access high equality eyecare services. In 2023, Kenya signed into Law, four new Acts of parliament that will transform the healthcare service access, quality and coverage in Kenya including eyecare. The four healthcare acts are Primary Health Care Act, Facility Improvement Financing Act, Social Health Insurance Act, 2023 and the Digital Health Act, 2023. These legal and policy frameworks present an excellent opportunity for integrating eyecare into the primary healthcare system, increased domestic investment by Kenya to the Eye sector and data integration and operatability with the Healthcare information systems thus increasing data use through visualization, planning and monitoring by policy makers and technical staffs. The Advocacy and Policy Advisor is accountable for leading the development and overseeing the implementation of FHF Kenya advocacy major initiatives which The Foundation is engaged in at the national and county level. S/He ensures the advocacy and policy strategy is aligned to the Foundation Global Advocacy strategy. The role, working in partnership with Kenya Senior Management team (SMT) and technical staff will lead the identification and capacity building of local Civil Society Organisations that will partner with FHF for elevating eyecare as a social – economic and political Agenda and ensuring community voices are incorporated into development plans. The role will be the champion and driver of FHF Kenya Strategy (2025-29) Goal #1: Elevating Eye health as a social, economic and development issue that unlocks political will and resourcing. Lastly, the role will enhance FHF Kenya visibility in key events, forums and policy spaces for eyecare with MOH and sectors critical to eyecare such as Social Protection, Education, Labour and Agriculture among others. The position will lead in the identification of policy champions for eyecare at the national and subnational level and engagement with legislative and executive arms of government such as the National Assembly and County Assemblies. This role will also be expected to dedicate a proportion of its time to advocacy and policy support within Rwanda. The job holder will be expected to understand the Rwandan country context, engage with the FHF Rwanda team, and lead in developing, aligning, and advising on the Rwanda Advocacy objectives in the Rwanda Country Strategy 2025-2029, as well as designing new projects. In terms of time allocation for technical support, the role is expected to dedicate 75% of efforts to Kenya and 25% to Rwanda and other countries in the Kenya cluster, based on the cluster director’s direction and requests from the Global Advocacy Teams.
The role has responsibility for
Strategic and technical leadership.
- Informed by the Global, Kenya Country Strategy (2025-29) and Rwanda Country Strategy (2025-29), Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of a more detailed, aligned FHF Kenya and Rwanda advocacy plan.
- Act as the focal person for Policy and Advocacy engagement with Government of Kenya, at national level, and at county level where appropriate and supporting FHFK project staff to lead engagement at county level where appropriate)
- Support MOH/Eye Section and eyecare partners in Kenya track key Eyecare policies and strategies implementation and addressing barriers.
- Support MOH and Counties identifying outstanding eyecare areas that need policy attention informed by the World Health Organization Guidelines and policy adaptation at the county levels.
- Serve as a focal person and link between FHF Kenya and the FHF global advocacy teams leading to mainstreaming of advocacy initiatives across Kenya Program. Provide technical advice and support to Rwanda, ensuring advocacy initiatives are implemented on time, with briefs or documents prepared to inform external engagements with the Rwandan government and relevant stakeholders.
Capacity building and technical support to staff and partners
- In partnership with Kenya SMT, Managers and technical Staff lead the process of identification of a broad range of local CSOs, undertake capacity building and ongoing support on eyecare policy engagement and accountability mechanisms for eyecare health services.
- Strengthen advocacy and influencing skills that will lead to integration of advocacy and policy for eyecare across FHF Kenya and Rwanda programs
- Provide technical support to FHF Kenya and Rwanda program staff to effectively integrate advocacy objectives, activities and indicators into project design and annual and quarterly work planning
- Lead in the design, development and oversee execution of key advocacy and policy messages for use with National, County and CSOs informed by research, assessments and evaluations
- Lead and coordinate capacity building initiatives for FHF Kenya staff and assess improvement
Build and manage influential advocacy and policy relationships.
- With the National and county governments, Council of Governors, private sector and NGOs networks, and partners for increased visibility of eyecare in Kenya and investment by Kenya Counties.
- In partnership with Kenya’s Health Financing Advisor, M&E Manager and FHF Kenya regional technical staff lead the development and execution of an effective evidence-based advocacy for eyecare informed by the functions and mandate of different levels of government (Counties and National),
- Lead effective and productive engagements of County Executives, County Assemblies and County Departments for increased resource allocation for eyecare and accountability for quality eye services.
- Support implementation of the advocacy plan for the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB’s) 2030 In Sight global Sector Strategy – including coordination with eye health and other sector stakeholders, as well as with WHO AFRO regional and Kenya Country Offices
- Identify and make connections with other sectors key to eyecare- Education, Agriculture, Labor, Transport, Water and Sanitation and, Planning and Budgeting among others
- In liaison with MOH/Eye health Section and Eyecare partners and stakeholders continuously review the effectiveness of Eyecare coordination mechanisms and propose mechanisms for policy makers participation
- Together with the Kenya leadership, strategically identify and participate in high-level forum for influence for eyecare. This may include ministerial forums, strategic events by key Embassies such as Australian Embassy in Kenya among others.
- Represent the FHF Kenya Cluster in FHF Advocacy Leadership Group (ALG), responsible for oversight and monitoring progress against the Foundation’s organizational Advocacy Framework.
M&E
- Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of FHF Kenya and Rwanda ’s strategic advocacy objectives and approaches and sieve out learnings for sharing in Kenya, FHF Countries and Rwanda.
Essential Experience
- At minimum 6 years’ demonstrated strength and experience working in Advocacy and policy in Kenya, experience with the Health Sector an added advantage, preferably with reputable international or national development organizations
- Experience with Advocacy initiative in East Africa/Africa an added advantage
- Strong understanding of and experience negotiating/influencing government policy decision makers at County and National level in Kenya
- An understanding of Devolved functions and experience interacting with policy makers with Success.
- Experience Developing and using investment cases, briefs and policy positions for advocacy with local governments
- Capacity building/training skills in advocacy and influencing.
Skills
- Ability to lead and manage, design and develop programs and advocacy initiatives which are innovative, strategic and high quality.
- Strong collaborative skills and abilities to engage, support and influence multiple external stakeholders and people across the organisation.
- Outstanding interpersonal, facilitation, negotiation, influencing and presentation skills.
- Advanced written communication skills – for varied purposes and audiences, including program design documents, advocacy plans, donor proposals, reports and publications.
Desirable Experience:
- Experience in the health Sector, eye health or the public sector in Kenya
- Experience working with local CSO on Health issues
- Experience in health systems strengthening.
- Experience in health financing and social protection advocacy.
