Legal Advisor

Activity Background

SoCha is seeking an individual consultant to support USAID/KEA’s Health Population and Nutrition Office (HPN) to advance primary healthcare with a focus on preventive and promotive health measures, to achieve UHC. USAID/KEA support will improve the capacity of the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards in the Ministry of Health (MOH) to engage effectively in the development of health policies, development of regulations and guidelines, and implementation of UHC; improve fiscal, policy, and legal analysis on matters related to the health sector following the enactment of the new health laws to enhance service delivery; improve the coordination, collaboration, and cooperation within the MOH and other government agencies on the implementation of UHC; and improve the harmonization of UHC legislation and policies, and presentations to the National Assembly, Senate, and the Executive.

The Legal Advisor will:

• Review policies and legislation and conduct policy and legislative research to inform the policy and legal positions of the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards.
• Enhance collaboration with other semi-autonomous bodies towards timely implementation of laws, policies, regulations, and initiatives to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
• Support the streamlining and strengthening of coordination between the MOH, County Governments, Senate Health Committee, and the National Assembly Health Committee to effectively address challenges faced by the health sector.
• Identify and suggest solutions for legal, policy, and regulatory barriers that prevent effective implementation of healthcare, with a focus on the new health laws on Social Health Insurance, Primary Health Care, Digital Health, and Facility Improvement Financing.
• Work with the PS to strengthen the policy and legal interpretation that operationalizes frameworks for managing the health sector through the development of position papers, as well as policy and legislative proposals that will strengthen the delivery of health.
• Support the development of relevant meeting briefs for meetings with various partners, including development partners, that will address relevant policy, legal and regulatory issues, promote the exchange of knowledge and experience, advocate for appropriate interventions, and identify areas for potential collaboration.
• Perform any other tasks that may be assigned by the PS for the health sector.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of post-graduate qualifications in Law from a recognized university.
• Over ten (10) years of experience in reviewing laws and regulations, policy development, and implementation in the Kenyan context.
• A thorough understanding of the health sector in Kenya.
• Experience working with or consulting for development partners preferred.
• Strong leadership capabilities and a demonstrated record of successful leadership of multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong report writing skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to engage with high-level Government of Kenya officials.

Additionally, the candidate should have the following skills:

• Gravitas: Demonstrate the ability to interact with the highest levels of MOH and other government officials, commanding respect, and credibility.
• Diplomacy: Demonstrate tact, sensitivity, emotional intelligence with superior negotiation skills to interact with the highest levels of government and the donor community.
• Advocacy: Demonstrate the ability to make persuasive presentations and enhance strengthening of partnerships and building collaborative relationships between MOH, SAGAs, and other significant stakeholders.
• Relationship Building: Establish credibility and earn the trust of those they work with in support of successful outcomes.
• Communication: Ability to effectively organize and present data to various audiences using a multitude of media channels. Additionally, the ability to speak and write persuasively to various audiences is valuable.
• Teamwork: Ability to work closely with the MOH, Government entities, the donor community and stakeholders toward a common purpose, shared goals, and objectives.
• Effective Management of Complexity and Ambiguity: Demonstrated ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and diplomacy in a complex, fast-paced environment.
• Research: Ability to conduct information gathering and operational research and synthesize evidence from the data.
• Personality: Ability to maintain a calm demeanor and keep the team focused and productive when under pressure.
• Remote Working: Ability to effectively work virtually, and conversant with virtual meetings apps (e.g. Zoom, Google Meet, etc.).

Period of Performance:

200 days LOE over 12 months (June 2024 – May 2025)

Location:

Nairobi, Kenya