Head of Thought Leadership

About FSD Kenya

FSD Kenya is an independent trust founded in 2005 dedicated to fostering inclusive financial markets in Kenya. Its mission focuses on building a financial ecosystem that supports a green, digital, and inclusive economy benefiting women, youth, and micro and small enterprises (MSEs). Over two decades, FSD Kenya has served as an influential market catalyst backing innovations such as mobile money, agency banking, digital credit, and comprehensive household financial surveys like FinAccess. It operates through rigorous research, partnerships with government, regulators, banks, insurers, fintechs, and innovators, all under a market systems approach. Their 2026-2030 strategy emphasizes four pillars: Policy & Financial Market Infrastructure, Thought Leadership (evidence and impact engagement), Green and Resilient Agri-food Systems, and Strategic Initiatives targeting affordable financial solutions for MSMEs.

Role Overview

FSD Kenya seeks a Head of Thought Leadership to guide its research, insights, and evidence generation efforts to deepen impact on financial health, resilience, and inclusive growth in Kenya's financial system. As a senior management team member, this role provides strategic leadership of the Thought Leadership & Impact pillar and contributes to organizational direction, including resource allocation.

Main Responsibilities

• Craft and communicate a visionary narrative for Kenya's inclusive financial systems and financial health.
• Elevate FSD Kenya as an authoritative voice via flagship publications and participation in domestic and international platforms.
• Lead creation of key knowledge assets such as FinAccess reports, financial health analyses, and sector insight briefs.
• Narrate emerging themes like climate resilience finance, MSME development, digital financial ecosystems, consumer protection, and household financial behaviors.
• Drive dissemination and advocacy campaigns to translate research findings into actionable impact.
• Define and steer a comprehensive institutional research agenda aligned with strategic goals.
• Oversee design, commissioning, delivery, and publication of rigorous research using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies, including econometrics, quasi-experimental designs, and big data analytics.
• Provide technical guidance on flagship studies like FinAccess, impact evaluations, and digital innovation research supporting programming.
• Ensure research is applied, policy-relevant, and informs market development.
• Lead creation and adoption of a financial health measurement framework across household, SME, and system levels, embedding indicators into national surveys and programmatic monitoring.
• Produce recurring financial health reports that reveal progress, challenges, and guide strategic actions.
• Integrate financial data and analytics into insights generation and impact evaluation, collaborating with program teams on data systems strengthening and metrics alignment.
• Utilize diverse data sources including administrative, transactional, big data, and pricing information to generate market and policy insights.
• Guide analysis concerning financial service cost structures, pricing, affordability, and service sustainability targeting low-income demographics.
• Provide thought leadership on the role of finance, capital flows, pricing, and incentives in shaping inclusive financial systems.
• Build and nurture relationships with government, regulators, providers, development partners, and academia; offer advisory support to stakeholders and influence policy and market decisions.
• Represent FSD Kenya in national and international forums, conferences, and knowledge exchange platforms.
• Support impact measurement, learning initiatives, and evaluation frameworks across programs.
• Lead and develop the Thought Leadership team fostering a culture of innovation, evidence-based learning, and teamwork.
• Strengthen internal capabilities in analysis, data science, and research methodologies.
• Manage external research partnerships and effectively prioritize a diverse portfolio of Thought Leadership initiatives.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Humanities, or related disciplines.
• Proven expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods with a strong publication record.
• Significant experience in applied economics or policy research, particularly related to financial inclusion, economic growth, or resilience in emerging markets.
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience overseeing teams.
• Capacity to generate and translate insights into policy influence, compelling narratives, and measurable outcomes.
• Deep knowledge of impact measurement methodologies.

Key Competencies and Attributes

• Confident engagement with senior government officials and regulators, influencing policy and regulation through evidence.
• Building and sustaining impactful partnerships across public, private, and development sectors.
• Experienced in uniting multiple stakeholders for collective system-level challenges.
• Well-established network across financial sector, research, and policy communities.
• Renowned thought leadership with capacity to influence financial sector development debates.
• Excellence in organizational leadership, managing multi-disciplinary teams and complex programs.
• Effective mentor with ability to develop analytical talent.
• Public-facing communication skills to represent the organization in high-level dialogues and forums.
• Strong alignment with mission-driven initiatives focused on systemic impact, inclusive finance, and sustainable development.
• Systemic thinker able to connect finance, behavior, policy, and market dynamics toward inclusive outcomes.