Research and Advocacy Specialist

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AfricaNenda is an African-led team of experts committed to unlocking the potential of digital financial services for the financially excluded across the continent by accelerating the scale-up of instant and inclusive payment systems. Our approach is to provide public and private sector stakeholders with technical expertise and the capacity to reduce barriers...

Research and Advocacy Specialist

Job Type

Full Time

Qualification

MBA/MSc/MA

Experience

• 7 years
• Location
• Nairobi
• Job Field
• Research and Development
• Key
• in applied research, policy analysis, advocacy, financial inclusion, digital financial services, payment systems, digital public infrastructure or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated
• conducting research and converting findings into clear DFS ecosystem recommendations and advocacy propositions.
• Strong
• producing high-quality policy briefs, research reports, presentations and stakeholder engagement materials.
• engaging policymakers, regulators/central banks, development partners and private-sector institutions
• managing research assignments or consultants and assuring the quality of technical outputs.
• Strong understanding of African DFS policy, regulatory and instant payment system contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams and deliver high-quality outputs under tight timelines.
• Demonstrated
• applying systematic-review methodologies and tools, including PRISMA 2020 and PRISMA-P protocols; managing research references and citations using Zotero and EndNote; and conducting qualitative thematic coding and analysis using NVivo and ATLAS.ti.
• Ability to develop concise executive products as well as substantive research outputs
• Desirable qualifications
• Direct
• in instant payments, interoperability, payment-system governance, financial-sector regulation or digital public infrastructure.
• working across multiple African countries or regions and applying political-economy analysis to policy or advocacy work.
• Relevant publications or a demonstrable portfolio of policy and research products.
• Mandatory proficiency in English, while bi-lingual English - French desired.
• Check how your CV aligns with this job
• Method of Application
• Qualified candidates are invited to submit:
• A cover letter demonstrating their suitability for this role.
• A current curriculum vitae (CV) highlighting relevant

Responsibilities

• Evidence strategy and planning
• The Specialist will:
• Support the Director to define and maintain AfricaNenda Foundation’s evidence-generation and advocacy priorities.
• Develop an annual and rolling evidence agenda linked to AfricaNenda Foundation’s organizational strategy, program priorities and emerging sector issues.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear research questions, analytical workstreams, products, audiences and influencing opportunities.
• Identify critical evidence gaps that limit policy action or weaken the case for inclusive instant payment systems reforms.
• Maintain a forward-looking calendar of research outputs, policy processes, regulatory developments, stakeholder moments and advocacy opportunities.
• Ensure that evidence-generation plans are realistic, appropriately sequenced and linked to intended policy or advocacy outcomes.
• Research and analysis
• The Specialist will:
• Conduct high-quality desk research, literature reviews, policy and regulatory reviews, comparative analysis, political-economy analysis and rapid evidence assessments.
• Design and support primary research using appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods, including
• interviews, focus groups, surveys, consultations and case studies. Support research commissioning and quality assurance.
• Analyze developments affecting IIPS, including, governance, participation rules, scheme design, pricing, use cases, access channels, consumer protection and recourse.
• Produce analysis on relevant adjacent issues, including digital public infrastructure, digital identity, data governance, competition, open finance, cross-border payments, digital trade and responsible innovation.
• Undertake country, regional and continental scans to identify policy trends, implementation gaps, emerging risks and transferable lessons.
• Develop research frameworks, methodologies, interview guides, survey tools, evidence matrices and quality-assurance protocols. Validate findings through triangulation, peer review and stakeholder consultation.
• Maintain complete and traceable source records and ensure that all factual claims are verifiable.
• Present evidence honestly, distinguishing clearly between findings, interpretation, assumptions and recommendations.
• Identify where evidence is incomplete or contested and advise on the implications for AfricaNenda Foundation’s position.
• Maintain a clear record of approvals, versions, sources, research ethics
• and achievements, including contact details for three professional referees, including a recent supervisor or client.
• Two publications substantially authored by the applicant; one research output and one advocacy thought leadership output (policy note or blog or thematic think piece).
• The above should be submitted to
• applications@africanenda.org
• by COB EAT on October 5, 2026, the subject line should read “Research and Advocacy Specialist” and relevant files labelled accordingly e.g.: ‘CV – (Name)’ ‘Cover letter – Name’.
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Requirements

• and intellectualproperty arrangements.
• Advocacy strategy and execution
• The Specialist will support the translation of AfricaNenda Foundation’s evidence into clear institutional positions, targeted advocacy strategies and coordinated actions that influence policy, regulation and practice.
• The Specialist will:
• Support the Director in developing, executing and periodically refining AfricaNenda Foundation’s advocacy strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and approved institutional positions.
• Translate research and technical evidence into clear policy implications, institutional positions, practical recommendations and targeted advocacy asks.
• Develop issue-specific advocacy plans defining objectives, priority audiences, influence pathways, key messages, tactics, milestones, risks and indicators.
• Produce high-quality advocacy materials, including policy briefs, position papers, regulatory analyses, consultation responses, executive memos, briefing notes and talking points.
• Identify policy windows and decision points, segment stakeholders by influence and interest, and tailor advocacy approaches to the mandates and incentives of priority actors.
• Coordinate advocacy execution across technical programs, capacity development, communications and partnerships, including coalition building, leadership engagement and systematic follow-up on commitments.
• Monitor stakeholder responses, institutional constraints and advocacy outcomes; adapt approaches accordingly; and maintain a repository of approved positions, messages, recommendations and supporting evidence.
• Ensure all advocacy is technically sound, politically informed, non-partisan, inclusion-focused and consistent with AfricaNenda Foundation’s mission.
• Design and coordinate stakeholder engagement strategies, policy dialogues, consultations, roundtables and bilateral meetings, including preparing materials and decision-focused briefing packs for the AfricaNenda leadership.
• Build trusted relationships, represent AfricaNenda Foundation when delegated, incorporate underserved-user perspectives, and maintain disciplined records and follow-up on decisions, commitments and agreed actions.
• Essential qualifications
• A master’s degree in public policy, economics, finance, development studies, law, political science, international relations, public administration or another relevant discipline.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible