Head of Thought Leadership

Role Overview

Financial Sector Deepening Kenya (FSD Kenya) is seeking a Head of Thought Leadership to provide strategic direction to the Thought Leadership and Impact area. The role ensures that research, data, and insights are effectively leveraged to deepen impact, particularly in advancing financial health, resilience, and inclusive growth across Kenya's financial system. The Head of Thought Leadership will also sit on the senior management team tasked with providing organizational leadership and allocating resources across pillars.

Objectives

The Head of Thought Leadership will provide strategic leadership in market information, research, impact, and strategic communications. Additionally, the role is part of the senior management team tasked with providing organizational leadership and allocating resources across pillars.

Scope of Work

Overall Thought Leadership Strategy & Narrative Shaping

• Develop and articulate a compelling vision for inclusive financial systems and financial health in Kenya.
• Position FSD Kenya as a trusted authority in financial sector development through high-impact publications and engagements via key global and domestic platforms.
• Lead the development of flagship knowledge products (e.g., FinAccess, financial health reports, state of the sector analyses, insight briefs).
• Shape narratives on emerging themes including inclusive finance for climate adaptation and resilience, MSME growth, resilient agri-food systems, financial health, digital financial ecosystems, consumer protection, responsible finance, and household financial behaviour.
• Drive dissemination and advocacy strategies to ensure that research and evidence translate into impact.

Research Strategy & Evidence Generation

• Define and lead the institution-wide research agenda in line with FSD Kenya's strategy and business plan.
• Oversee the design, commissioning, execution, and dissemination of high-quality research programmes.
• Ensure methodological rigor across quantitative (econometrics, quasi-experimental methods, big data analytics), qualitative, and mixed-method approaches.
• Provide technical advisory and oversight to flagship initiatives and financial inclusion surveys such as FinAccess, impact evaluations, and intervention-specific research to support programming (e.g., digital finance and innovation research).
• Ensure all research is applied, policy-relevant, and market-informing.

Financial Health Measurement & Tracking

• Lead the development of a comprehensive financial health framework for Kenya.
• Define and institutionalise indicators, metrics, and measurement tools for financial health at the household level, SME level, and market/system levels.
• Integrate financial health tracking into national surveys and datasets, FSD programme and monitoring systems, partner, and industry data platforms.
• Produce periodic Financial Health Reports to track progress, identify gaps, and inform action.
• Link financial health outcomes to financial inclusion, economic resilience, livelihoods, and poverty reduction pathways.

Role of Finance & Data Systems

• Lead the integration of financial data and analytics into research and impact measurement.
• Work closely with programme teams to strengthen data systems and databases for financial inclusion and financial health, ensure robust tracking of value for money (VfM) and programme impact, and align financial reporting with development outcomes and impact metrics.
• Leverage administrative and transactional data (e.g., financial service provider data), big data, digital footprints and pricing, and affordability data for insights and evidence.
• Guide analysis on cost structures and market efficiency, product pricing and affordability, and sustainability of financial services for low-income markets.
• Provide thought leadership on how finance (capital flows, pricing, incentives) shapes inclusive financial systems and outcomes.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with government departments/agencies and regulators, financial service providers, development partners, and academic and research institutions.
• Provide advisory to stakeholders, translate research into policy influence and market action, and support evidence-based decision-making across stakeholders.
• Represent FSD Kenya in national and global forums, conferences, and knowledge platforms.

Impact, Learning & Programme Support

• Support FSD's impact measurement and learning agenda, including impact synthesis reports and programme-level evaluation frameworks.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and mentor the Thought Leadership team.
• Promote a culture of teamwork, learning, curiosity, and evidence-based innovation across the organisation.
• Build internal capacity in analysis, data science, and research methods.
• Effectively manage partnerships with external researchers and consultants.
• Ensure effective planning, prioritisation, and delivery across a complex Thought Leadership portfolio.

Requirements & Key Capabilities

• Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Humanities, or a related field.
• Demonstrated depth in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, with a track record of published outputs.
• Extensive experience in applied economic or policy work, ideally in financial inclusion, economic growth, and resilience in emerging markets.
• Demonstrated experience managing and leading a team.
• Track record of generating, validating, and translating insights into scenarios, compelling narratives, policy influence, programming decisions, and measurable results.
• Deep understanding and experience in impact measurement.
• Proven ability to engage confidently with senior government officials, regulators, and policymakers.
• Strong ecosystem partnership building and public communication skills.