Policy Analyst - Research

About Food for Education 

Hungry kids can’t learn or grow.

Food4Education is an award-winning, locally rooted, and African-led solution to end classroom hunger. Building on more than a decade of learning by doing, we’re powering a new school feeding industry and sharing our blueprint to scale sustainable, nutritious, and affordable school feeding programs across Africa.

Today, we serve 600,000 kids DAILY in Kenya. But every day, we deliver more than a meal – improving nutrition and education outcomes for children while also creating jobs and opportunities for whole communities.

We are an experienced and trusted non-profit partner that operates with the excellence of a global business, reinvesting the value we create into local economies. 

To learn more, please visit www.food4education.org

Our Values

At Food for Education, our values are guiding principles that provide us with purpose and direction and set the tone for our interactions with all stakeholders:

• Build with excellence and curiosity  - We’re not afraid to try new things and iterate as much as we can to find the best and most efficient way to get results; 

• Be the change you seek - We acknowledge that continuous improvement is a shared responsibility; 

• We do what we say; and say what we do - We embrace an ownership mentality;

• Ask why; and commit - Share openly and question respectfully and commit fully. When we understand the why, we are able to work with a purpose.

About Policy & Research
The Policy and Research team sits within the Public Affairs function and is responsible for leading the generation of evidence that shapes school feeding policy across F4E’s county operations in Kenya and its growing footprint across Africa. The successful candidate will manage research portfolios, produce high-impact policy briefs, and build strategic partnerships with think tanks and universities while maintaining high standards of data integrity and advocacy.

About the Role
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.

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.

Requirements

Experience:

• 5 to 8 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.

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.

Skills & 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.

Benefits

We are an equal opportunity employer 

Food4Education is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against applicants on any basis. We also do not charge job seekers any fees at any point of the recruitment process. 

We value the time and effort applicants invest in applying to our roles. As part of our commitment to a fair and transparent process, all applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application, whether shortlisted or not. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly regarding next steps, while those not selected will be informed within two weeks. However, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to provide customised feedback to individual candidates. Please note that an unsuccessful outcome does not prevent you from being considered for future opportunities, so we encourage you to keep an eye on our job board and apply for roles that match your skills and experience.

Career Growth and Development 

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You will have weekly check-ins with your manager, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You will have the opportunity to shape a growing organisation and build a rewarding, long-term career.