COGv Advisor at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

Key Responsibilities
To support the CoG Secretariat in the establishment and utilisation of delivery structures to support delivery of its mandate.

The Consultant will perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Lead a study of Service Delivery Units (SDUs) in 7 select counties (Nyandarua, Kwale, Isiolo, Makueni, Bomet, Kakamega and Siaya – representative of each of the Country’s economic regional blocs) to establish whether the SDUs in those counties were able to catalyze transformation or not; and provide recommendations
• Design, establish and operationalise a Delivery Unit for the Council of Governors Secretariat to include expert advice on how to operate delivery units, including organisational structures, relevant competency requirements, as well as relevant processes, tools and methodologies for tracking and advancing the delivery of specific priority projects
• Develop a strategic framework to support implementation of the counties development agenda through a structured delivery approach
• Develop and operationalise the approach to support identification and prioritization of the key focus areas
• Develop the strategic framework for alignment of the national and county government development priorities to enable coherence in the development agenda, collective impact, and overall transformation of the country’s economic development agenda to achieve the desired impact of the citizens
• Provide training and facilitate skills transfer to CoG and TBI colleagues on delivery tools and methodologies
• Drive the team’s internal knowledge management efforts on delivery and avail it for others

Person Specification

• Significant experience in a leadership role, cutting across centers of government, governance, delivery and management consulting in Africa
• Experience working with African governments, particularly Kenya; prior experience engaging with leaders at the devolved level would be an advantage
• The ability to work and interact at the highest levels of political decision-making structures in Government and to support emergence of trusted relationships
• Strong political acumen and judgment coupled with the ability to rapidly develop an understanding of the needs of senior officials in government
• Proven track record of delivery – whether policy, operational or functional – is essential, as is relevant experience of working in a project and programme management environment in devolved systems of governance
• Good understanding of the National and County Government levels of devolved structures in Kenya. Prior work with the Government of Kenya highly desirable.
• An ability to work independently, think strategically and translate strategies into concrete and implementable plans; strong attention to detail with excellent analytical, organizational, communication and presentation skills.
• Strong sense of ethics, resilience and excellent inter-personal skills
• Experience of living and working in developing countries is highly desirable
• Fluency in English is required. Swahili would be advantageous.
• Right to live and work in Kenya required

Functional Skills

• Sound devolution knowledge in line with the 2010 Constitution of Kenya and County Government Structures and functions
• Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills and high-quality communication, drafting and presentational skills
• Excellent in building and managing effective relationships including the ability to navigate complex political environments
• Strong professional oral and writing skills, including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the governments and key partners and stakeholders
• Ability to work under pressure and to coordinate with multi-disciplinary stakeholders
• Ability to present information in a concise, insightful, and structured manner, written and oral