Policy Analyst – Research at Food for Education
Role Overview
The Policy Analyst – Research is a vital
member of Food for Education’s policy team, responsible for
generating evidence to shape and influence school feeding policies at both
national and county levels.
The role leads the development of research initiatives,
strategic analyses, impact assessments, and the creation of policy
briefs to support data-driven advocacy and decision-making. By producing timely
and relevant insights, the Analyst ensures that F4E’s policy work is grounded
in strong evidence and contributes to systemic improvements in school feeding
programs.
Working closely with the Senior Manager, Policy and the
Development & Impact team, the Analyst also supports policy
monitoring, maintains a research repository, and engages in translating
research into actionable recommendations for stakeholders.
This position plays a strategic role in positioning school
feeding as a national development priority, contributing to F4E’s mission to
ensure that every child has access to nutritious school meals for better
health, learning, and economic potential.
Key Responsibilities
Lead Strategic Policy Research
- Design
and oversee research initiatives that generate evidence to inform and
influence school feeding policies and systems at national and county
levels.
- Identify
and pursue strategic research opportunities aligned with Food for
Education’s (F4E) policy priorities and advocacy goals.
Develop High-Impact Knowledge Products
- Produce
high-quality policy briefs, reports, and strategic papers that translate
complex research findings into actionable insights for policymakers,
donors, and partners.
- Ensure
that research outputs are timely, relevant, and strategically aligned to
support advocacy and policy change.
Inform Policy Design and Financing
- Provide
data-driven recommendations to improve the design, financing, and
implementation of school feeding policies and programs.
- Analyze
national and county policies, identifying gaps, innovations, and alignment
with global and regional best practices.
Advance Evidence-Based Advocacy
- Generate
and curate strategic evidence to support advocacy messaging, policy
dialogues, and campaigns led by the policy team.
- Collaborate
closely with the advocacy and finance function under policy to ensure that
research informs and strengthens influencing strategies and public finance
work.
Support Policy Monitoring and Learning
- Monitor
and assess policy implementation, providing analytical insights to improve
policy effectiveness and delivery mechanisms.
- Establish
a policy research repository and feedback loops to enable continuous
learning within the policy team and support knowledge exchange with other
functions and departments.
Build and Leverage Strategic Policy Partnerships
- Collaborate
with universities, think tanks, and research institutions to strengthen
the evidence base and co-create policy-relevant studies.
- Represent
F4E in technical working groups, research consortia, and external policy
forums as needed.
Support Internal Policy Function Strategy and Planning
- Contribute
to the development and review of F4E’s policy strategy by providing
analytical input and identifying emerging trends, risks, and
opportunities.
- Align
research initiatives with institutional priorities and policy influence
goals.
Other Duties
- Undertake
additional responsibilities as assigned, in support of the policy team’s
objectives and F4E’s mission.
Qualifications and Experience
Education:
- Bachelor’s
or Master’s degree in Public Policy, Development Studies, Economics,
Public Health, Nutrition, Social Sciences, or a related field with a
strong research component.
- Additional
training and/or certification in policy analysis, research methods, or
data analytics is preferred.
Experience:
- At
least 5 years of relevant experience in policy research, analysis, or
evidence-based advocacy, preferably in the fields of education, nutrition,
food systems, or public health.
- Proven
experience in designing and implementing research studies, including both
qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Experience
in developing policy briefs, reports, and other knowledge products
targeted at government and development partners.
- Demonstrated
experience working with or influencing public sector actors, multilateral
agencies, research institutions, or think tanks.
- Experience
working within or supporting policy and advocacy functions in NGOs,
government, or multilateral institutions is a strong asset.
Skills and Competencies:
- Strong
analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to interpret
data and translate findings into clear, actionable policy recommendations.
- Excellent
writing, editing, and presentation skills, including the ability to
communicate complex research findings to non-technical audiences.
- Proficiency
in research tools such as Stata, R, SPSS, NVivo, or other
qualitative/quantitative data analysis software.
- Strong
understanding of policy-making processes in Kenya, particularly within
education, nutrition, or school feeding sectors.
- Ability
to manage multiple research projects and deadlines simultaneously in a
fast-paced environment.
- Collaborative
mindset with strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Commitment
to F4E’s mission of advancing equitable access to nutritious school meals
and supporting systemic change.
Key Personality Attributes:
- Analytical
and Strategic Thinker – Able to interpret complex data and
translate it into actionable, policy-relevant insights.
- Proactive
and Self-Driven – Takes initiative, works independently, and
delivers results with minimal supervision.
- Clear
and Impactful Communicator – Effectively conveys research
findings to diverse audiences in a persuasive and accessible manner.
- Collaborative
and Relationship-Oriented – Builds strong partnerships and works
well across teams and with external stakeholders.
- Adaptable
and Agile – Thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, quickly
adjusting to shifting priorities and emerging policy opportunities.
- Passionate
about Social Impact – Deep commitment to advancing equitable
access to school meals and transforming public systems through policy
change.