AfricaNenda Foundation is inviting qualified professionals to apply for the position of Research and Advocacy Specialist, an opportunity for an experienced policy, research, advocacy or digital financial services professional to contribute to the expansion of inclusive instant payment systems across Africa.
The role will focus on generating credible evidence, translating research into policy recommendations and advocacy messages, supporting stakeholder engagement, and helping influence policies and practices that advance inclusive instant payment systems (IIPS).
The successful candidate will report to the Director, Advocacy and Capacity Development and contribute to AfricaNenda’s evidence-to-influence work across research, policy analysis, advocacy and stakeholder engagement.
About AfricaNenda Foundation
AfricaNenda Foundation is an Africa-led organisation focused on building expertise, coordinating stakeholders and accelerating the rollout of inclusive instant payment systems for Africans, including financially excluded populations.
The organisation works to address regulatory, structural and technical barriers affecting the effective deployment of IIPS. Its work includes supporting policy and regulatory advocacy, capacity development, technical support, knowledge-sharing, collaboration and thought leadership.
The Research and Advocacy Specialist will therefore work at the intersection of research, policy and influence, helping ensure that evidence is converted into practical recommendations and advocacy strategies.
Key Responsibilities
The Specialist will support AfricaNenda’s evidence-generation and advocacy priorities across several areas.
Evidence Strategy and Research
The successful candidate will support the development of annual and rolling evidence agendas aligned with organisational priorities and emerging issues affecting inclusive instant payments.
Responsibilities will include:
- Developing research questions, analytical workstreams and evidence products.
- Identifying critical evidence gaps affecting policy action.
- Conducting desk research, literature reviews and policy and regulatory reviews.
- Undertaking comparative and political-economy analysis.
- Supporting qualitative and quantitative primary research.
- Designing interviews, focus groups, surveys, consultations and case studies.
- Conducting country, regional and continental policy scans.
- Developing research frameworks, methodologies, interview guides and evidence matrices.
- Validating findings through triangulation, peer review and stakeholder consultation.
- Maintaining traceable sources and ensuring factual claims are verifiable.
- Identifying areas where evidence is incomplete or contested.
The role may also cover adjacent areas including digital public infrastructure, digital identity, data governance, competition, open finance, cross-border payments, digital trade and responsible innovation.
Advocacy and Policy Engagement
A major component of the position will involve converting research findings into practical advocacy and policy products.
The Specialist will support the Director in developing and implementing advocacy strategies aligned with AfricaNenda’s institutional priorities.
Key duties will include:
- Translating research into policy implications and advocacy recommendations.
- Developing issue-specific advocacy plans.
- Identifying policy windows and important decision points.
- Mapping stakeholders according to influence and interest.
- Preparing policy briefs, position papers and regulatory analyses.
- Producing consultation responses, executive memos, briefing notes and talking points.
- Supporting coalition building and leadership engagement.
- Coordinating advocacy activities across technical programmes, communications, partnerships and capacity development.
- Monitoring stakeholder responses and advocacy outcomes.
- Maintaining approved policy positions, messages and supporting evidence.
- Supporting policy dialogues, consultations, roundtables and bilateral meetings.
The organisation expects advocacy work to remain technically sound, politically informed, non-partisan and inclusion-focused, consistent with its mission.
Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should have a master’s degree in public policy, economics, finance, development studies, law, political science, international relations, public administration or another relevant discipline.
Candidates must also have at least seven years of progressively responsible experience in areas such as applied research, policy analysis, advocacy, financial inclusion, digital financial services, payment systems, digital public infrastructure or a closely related field.
Applicants should demonstrate experience in:
- Conducting research and translating findings into policy recommendations.
- Producing policy briefs, research reports and stakeholder materials.
- Engaging policymakers, regulators, central banks, development partners and private-sector institutions.
- Managing research assignments or consultants.
- Quality-assuring technical research outputs.
- Understanding African digital financial services policy and regulatory environments.
- Managing multiple workstreams and delivering under tight deadlines.
The role also requires demonstrated experience with systematic-review methodologies and tools, including PRISMA 2020 and PRISMA-P protocols.
Applicants should have experience managing references and citations using Zotero and EndNote, as well as conducting qualitative thematic coding and analysis using NVivo and ATLAS.ti.
Desirable Skills
Direct experience in instant payments, interoperability, payment-system governance, financial-sector regulation or digital public infrastructure will be advantageous.
Experience working across multiple African countries or regions and applying political-economy analysis to policy or advocacy work is also desirable.
Applicants with relevant publications or a demonstrable portfolio of research and policy products are encouraged to apply.
English proficiency is mandatory, while bilingual English-French proficiency is desirable.
Application Requirements
Qualified candidates must submit:
- A cover letter demonstrating suitability for the position.
- A current CV highlighting relevant responsibilities and achievements.
- Contact details for three professional referees, including a recent supervisor or client.
- Two substantially applicant-authored publications.
The two publications should include one research output and one advocacy or thought-leadership output, such as a policy note, blog or thematic think piece.
Applications should be submitted by email by 5 October 2026, close of business East Africa Time (EAT).
The email subject line should read “Research and Advocacy Specialist.” Applicants should label their files appropriately, for example, “CV – Name” and “Cover Letter – Name.”
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Selection Process
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted applicants may also be required to complete a practical written assessment covering insight synthesis, policy analysis, advocacy positioning and thought leadership.
AfricaNenda Foundation states that it is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds.
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How to Apply
Professionals with the required research, policy, advocacy and digital financial services experience can prepare their application and submit the required documents by email before the 5 October 2026 deadline.
This opportunity may be particularly relevant to experienced African policy researchers, financial inclusion specialists, digital finance professionals, economists, development practitioners and advocacy experts with a strong understanding of African digital financial services ecosystems.
Deadline: 5 October 2026
