Economic Governance Expert – STTA

Economic Governance Expert – STTA

Background:

SoCha (a name created by combining the terms Social and Change) is an independent MEL firm that provides bespoke solutions to social challenges. Since its inception in 2010, SoCha—a small, veteran-owned business—has grown into a full-service MEL and analytical firm that works with USAID Missions and implementing partners around the world. SoCha is USAID/Kenya East Africa’s Implementing Partner for the Mission Support for the Journey to Self-Reliance Pivot (MSP) Activity. The MSP Activity supports USAID/Kenya and East Africa (KEA) staff and stakeholders to be more efficient, effective, transparent and skilled in achieving development outcomes through the use of evidence, performance management techniques, and Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) practices that enable KEA’s journey to self-reliance.

SoCha LLC is recruiting for a candidate with a strong background in economic governance and extensive knowledge of anti-corruption efforts in Kenya.

USAID Kenya and East Africa (KEA) seeks support in drafting a foundational Anticorruption concept note. Kenya continues to struggle with corruption. Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks Kenya #128 of 180 countries. USAID seeks to understand the nature of corruption at all levels and the ways in which programmatic risk can be mitigated and reduced.

Scope of Work:

The economic governance expert will draft a concept note which addresses

● the historical problems of corruption in Kenya;

● the current domestic anti-corruption legal framework; strategies and policies in place; incentives that to prevent corruption;

● the ways in which the government has sought to mitigate corruption, including how well institutions mandated to address corruption have performed; the current governmental and non-governmental organizations working to counter corruption in Kenya and their effectiveness;

● the ways in which USAID has approached corruption in Kenya to date, and

● the ways in which USAID may more effectively target corruption through programs.

Responsibilities

● Hold a kickoff, exploratory conversation with the USAID team to develop a better understanding of knowns and unknowns, refine research questions, propose methodological approaches, and discuss overall timeline, outputs, deliverables, and expectations.

● Develop and share an inception report including an understanding of the assignment, research work plan, methodological approach, and outline.

● Conduct a review of published research and grey literature.

● Develop an understanding of the criteria in place that provide guidance to the wider agency, to include laws, executive orders, regulations, policies, and all levels of anti-corruption strategies.

● Assess agency-wide anti-corruption initiatives for lessons that can be derived and incorporated. Identity lessons and best practices from the Agency’s global initiatives, such as the Anticorruption Task Force, including specific lessons about known bad actors in direct USAID past experience.

● Develop an understanding of the way in which corruption, and anti-corruption, have evolved over time in Kenya.

● Examine measures that have been attempted and implemented to mitigate corruption in Kenya and assess the success, or the lack thereof, of these efforts over time, and specifically, identify what has worked and what has failed.

● Conduct key informant interviews with Kenyan stakeholders, USAID staff, implementing partners, and other experts and development actors.

● Develop a map or matrix of key institutional stakeholders and key actors.

● Develop an understanding of the interests of key actors and groups.

● Develop recommendations for ways in which USAID may more effectively target its resources and programs for positive anti-corruption results.

● Develop recommendations for what practices should be continued and replicated due to past or current success.

● Share early findings and information on these topics with USAID and select partners during an activity co-creation event.

● Prepare a sequence of drafts answering part or all of the agreed-upon research questions.

● Prepare the first full complete draft of the paper.

● Revise drafts based on USAID feedback and compose a final foundational Anticorruption concept note for USAID/KEA.

Deliverables:

● Inception report including an understanding of the assignment, research work plan, methodological approach, and outline

● Anti-corruption stakeholder map of key institutional actors

● First drafts of each chapter as outlined in the inception report

● Full first draft foundation concept note on anti-corruption in Kenya

● Final revised foundation concept note on anti-corruption in Kenya

Location:

Nairobi, Kenya

LOE or Contract Length:

60 days level of effort

Reporting:

The Economic Governance Expert STTA will report to MSP Strategy and Programs Advisor.

Qualifications:

● Experienced economic governance expert with understanding of political economy dynamics related to anti-corruption in Kenya

● Independent researcher with the ability to uncover and present new ideas

● Understanding of both internal control and law enforcement aspects of corruption

● Ability to engage and gather information from key informants and stakeholders

● Experience working with a key stakeholder institution in the anti-corruption space in Kenya preferred

● Excellent English writing and analytical skills

● Master’s degree or Ph.D. preferred

● At least 10 years of experience working in Kenya