Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Application Deadline: 21st August 2025
Start Date: September 2025
Contract Duration: Until June 2026 (with potential renewal to June 2027)
Reporting to: Head of Network and Delivery
Compensation: Competitive (Daily rate: €450–€550 based on experience)
About the African Food Fellowship
Africa’s food systems are at a pivotal juncture. Transforming them requires bold, collaborative, and systems-oriented leadership. The African Food Fellowship is a pan-African initiative cultivating such leadership, equipping individuals to drive systemic change for healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable food systems.
Founded in Kenya and Rwanda, the Fellowship now boasts a growing community of over 220 leaders across sectors—government, private enterprise, academia, civil society, and media. These leaders are united by a shared vision and core values, and are committed to delivering change through collective action.
The Fellowship is delivered by a Secretariat comprising experts from Wageningen University & Research and Wasafiri Consulting. It supports Fellows through four core pillars:
- Connect: Fostering vibrant country Fellowships and collaborative platforms
- Learn: Delivering a high-caliber Food Systems Leadership Programme
- Act: Supporting Fellows to design and scale transformative initiatives
- Advocate: Championing human-led transformation of African food systems
The Role: Kenya Country Lead
The Kenya Country Lead will spearhead the Fellowship’s work in Kenya, playing a key role in shaping the country’s food systems leadership landscape. This role combines strategic oversight with day-to-day programme management and community curation.
This is a human-centered leadership position requiring empathy, vision, operational acumen, and systems-thinking. The Lead will accompany Fellows on their leadership journeys, foster a vibrant network of changemakers, and catalyze collaborative action across Kenya’s food systems.
Key Responsibilities
1. Programme Leadership – Food Systems Leadership Programme (FSLP):
The Lead will ensure successful delivery of the flagship FSLP in Kenya.
- Oversee recruitment and onboarding for the upcoming (5th) cohort
- Provide end-to-end programme management and coordination
- Work with facilitators and delivery partners to maintain high learning standards
- Offer coaching and support to Fellows during their development journey
- Anticipate and respond to challenges within the cohort
2. Community Building – Kenya Food Fellowship:
The role involves nurturing a strong, engaged, values-led network of leaders.
- Maintain relationships with Fellows beyond the programme
- Organize events, learning dialogues, and spaces for collaboration
- Support system actions addressing key food systems challenges
- Shape the strategic direction and culture of the Kenya Fellowship
3. Team and Operations Management:
The Lead will oversee country-level operations and manage a small Kenya-based team.
- Supervise, guide and develop local team members
- Oversee financial management, including budgeting and reporting
- Align Kenya activities with the wider continental strategy
- Collaborate with the cross-country Secretariat to ensure consistency and learning
4. Ecosystem Development:
The Lead will play an ecosystem-building role, engaging with key stakeholders across Kenya.
- Build and sustain strategic partnerships across sectors
- Curate convenings that promote action, visibility, and collaboration
- Establish the Fellowship as a trusted platform for food systems transformation
5. Contribution to Pan-African Fellowship:
As part of the continental team, the Lead will contribute to the Fellowship’s evolution.
- Participate in strategy development, learning forums, and communications
- Share insights from Kenya to inform wider programme development
- Contribute ideas to strengthen the pan-African Fellowship model
Ideal Candidate Profile
Required Skills and Experience:
- At least 7 years of leadership experience in agriculture, food systems, or related sectors
- Proven expertise in project management, network building, and stakeholder engagement
- Strong experience with cross-sector collaboration and ecosystem curation
- Team leadership and people management capabilities
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Desirable Attributes:
- A track record of enabling collaboration and systemic change
- Curious, proactive, and resilient in dynamic environments
- Familiar with leadership development programmes
- Comfortable navigating complex systems and driving innovation
Education:
- Advanced degree in agriculture, development studies, business, public policy, or a related field—or equivalent professional experience
- Fluent in English, both written and spoken
- Willingness to travel (up to 10%, domestic and international)
Contract Details
- Engagement: Part-time consultancy (approx. 50 days per 6-month period)
- Location: Based at Wasafiri’s Nairobi office (Westlands, Peponi), with flexible remote work options
- Contracting Entity: Wasafiri Consulting
- Term: Until June 2026 (extendable to June 2027, pending review)
Application Process
To Apply:
Submit the following to Angela Akweyu at [email protected]:
- Resume (max 3 pages)
- Cover Letter explaining your motivation and fit for the role
Deadline: 6:00 PM EAT, Thursday, 21st August 2025
Interviews: Week of 25th August 2025
Note: All applicants will be contacted. Please check your spam folder and add the application email to your safe list.
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the hiring organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
