In-Country Road Safety Advocacy Consultant - Kenya

The Global Road Safety Partnership (www.grsproadsafety.org) (GRSP) is a hosted programme of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and is a voluntary association of governments, businesses and civil society organisations. Both the IFRC and Global Road Safety Partnership are headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.  The Global Road Safety Partnership’s mission is to reduce death and serious injuries that result from road crashes in low- and middle-income countries.  According to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries claim more than 1.19 million lives each year and tremendously affect health and development in low- and middle-income countries. Globally, road traffic deaths are the leading cause of death among young people and cost governments approximately 3% of GDP.  Road traffic injuries and deaths represent a manmade humanitarian crisis and GRSP/IFRC are committed to evidence-based interventions to address this global crisis.

GRSP’s work specifically contributes to meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3.6 - “By 2030, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes” and 11.2 – “By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons.” GRSP also contributes to meeting the broader SDG sustainability agenda.

GRSP’s work includes:

• Running a variety of member and non-member funded road safety projects throughout the world but focussed primarily in Africa, Asia and Latin America;
• Managing a Road Safety Grants Programme that supports civil society and Red Cross National Societies to strengthen legislation and policies that impact on road safety;
• Undertaking projects in low- and middle- income countries to reduce road crash deaths and serious injuries funded through the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS)
• Running road policing Capacity Building programmes including as part of the BIGRS

In conjunction with John Hopkins University, running a range of Global Road Safety Leadership Programmes supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The aim of this consultancy role is to assist and support GRSP’s Road Safety Grants Programme under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road safety (BIGRS) in Kenya, implemented through road safety government agencies working on road safety issues and through civil society organizations. The consultant will serve as a GRSP focal point for organisations in Kenya that may receive funds from the Road Safety Grants Programme, especially in relation to identifying potential grantees and supporting existing grantees to advocate for stronger road safety laws.

Consultancy objectives

The Incumbent will work closely with the GRSP Road Safety Grants Programme team to execute the following tasks:

• Coordinate work of GRSP to advance comprehensive road safety policies in Kenya
• Represent GRSP at in-country road safety-related meetings and events
• Provide regular updates on the road safety situation in Kenya, specifically linked to the existing road safety legal framework and possible improvements to meet global best practice.
• Work collaboratively with all GRSP teams and other BIGRS partners to support the aims of the intiative
• Identify the political landscape, administrative systems, processes and actors to identify opportunities for change in policies to improve road safety in Kenya
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with local advocacy and road safety-related organisations and regularly update knowledge of local civil society and road safety policy landscape in Kenya
• Cultivate relationships with key government officials and political leaders involved in road safety
• Support the identification of road safety policy opportunities in Kenya and contribute to the country strategy formulation process and periodic review
• Liaise with in-country stakeholders to identify potential grantees and provide input and support as required during the proposal development and grant negotiation processes.
• In consultation with GRSP Headquarters, support GRSP grantees through provision of guidance, support, advice, and relevant capacity building activities to enable them to deliver effective advocacy for evidence-based road safety polices
• Assist in co-ordination of advocacy activities among GRSP grantees and the broader road safety stakeholder community in Kenya
• Support the organization of workshops, trainings, meetings and other events as required
• Complete regular programme reporting as required by GRSP Headquarters
• Participate in regular calls with GRSP and other BIGRS partners, providing updates as required
• Support the organization of workshops, trainings, meetings and other events as required.

Desired outcomes

 Strong coalition and capacitation of BIGRS grantees and, as a result of grantees’ efforts, improved national road safety legislation in relation to the identified BIGRS risk factors.

 Consultancy outputs

• Coordinate work of GRSP to advance comprehensive road safety policies in Kenya
• Represent GRSP at in-country road safety-related meetings and events
• Provide regular updates on the road safety situation in Kenya, specifically linked to the existing road safety legal framework and possible improvements to meet global best practice.
• Work collaboratively with all GRSP teams and other BIGRS partners
• Identify the political landscape, administrative systems, processes and actors to identify opportunities for change in policies to improve road safety in Kenya
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with local advocacy and road safety-related organisations and regularly update knowledge of local civil society and road safety policy landscape in Kenya
• Cultivate relationships with key government officials and political leaders involved in road safety
• Support the identification of road safety policy opportunities in Kenya and contribute to the country strategy formulation process and periodic review
• Liaise with in-country stakeholders to identify potential grantees and provide input and support as required during the proposal development and grant negotiation processes.
• In consultation with GRSP Headquarters, support GRSP grantees through provision of guidance, support, advice, and relevant capacity building activities to enable them to deliver effective advocacy for evidence-based road safety polices
• Assist in co-ordination of advocacy activities among GRSP grantees and the broader road safety stakeholder community in Kenya
• Support the organization of workshops, trainings, meetings and other events as required
• Work with all BIGRS in-country partners to progress the aims of the initiative
• Complete regular programme reporting as required by GRSP Headquarters
• Participate in regular calls with GRSP and other BIGRS partners, providing updates as required.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in road safety, public health, law, management, social sciences or a related field 

Preferred

• Graduate degree in road safety, public health, law, management, social sciences or a related field
• Advanced training in project management or advocacy 
  

Required

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in policy or policy advocacy
• Demonstrated experience in project management, including coordination of multiple stakeholders
• High degree of demonstrated competence working collaboratively in networks or coalitions to create a shared vision and progress shared workplans
• Experience in supporting policy process in Kenya
• Experience in road safety advocacy or related road safety field
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex formal and informal relationships to support policymaking in Kenya
• Ability to travel internationally 
  

Knowledge and Skills

Required

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking skills
• Strong organisational skills 

Languages

Required

• Fluently spoken and written English

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Method of delivery and reasons for selecting that method

This GRSP Consultant is expected to work independently but with direction and guidance from the GRSP’s Advocacy & Grants Programme Manager or the Senior A&G Grants Officer. 

The consultant will primarily operate from their home location and will require excellent internet connectivity to allow them to communicate seamlessly through digital medians. National travel in Kenya to attend meetings and workshops will be regularly required. International travel, for example to attend partner meetings or conferences, will be required from time to time.

Support to be provided to the consultant

The Consultant will be provided with administrative support from the GRSP Secretariat, as well as the support and guidance of relevant programme manager, grants administrators and senior officers working in the programme.

Schedule for payment of fees

The Consultant is expected to submit an invoice monthly for the consultancy period.

Time Allocation, for budget purposes

This assignment is for a period of 24 month from 1st January 2026 to 31st December 2027 working for a maximum of 220 days per year.

Application Process

By Tuesday, 18^th November, please submit a financial offer along with your proposal and CV, which contains the following information:

• Cover letter (which includes the expected daily rate of remuneration in Swiss francs)
• CV (which includes the applicant’s city and country of residence)
• Fee for services to be provided based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference (Asking Daily Rate in CHF).
• Documentation of valid current health insurance (in English)