The British Government is a proud advocate of diversity, inclusion, and equality. At the heart of our values is a commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, gender, disability, religion, or sexual orientation. We are dedicated to enhancing our organisational capabilities through inclusion and seek applicants who reflect the diversity of the society we serve.
We are now inviting applications for the role of Development Economist based at the British High Commission (BHC) in Nairobi, Kenya. This is a strategic and technically demanding position ideal for an individual who is passionate about applying development economics to shape impactful international policy, guide aid spending, and enhance value for money across programmes.
This role sits within the Strategy, Assurance and Results Team (START), which is central to ensuring that BHC’s programmes are driven by robust data, strategic thinking, and evidence-based decisions.
About the British High Commission in Nairobi
BHC Nairobi houses over 400 staff members drawn from 10 UK Government departments, covering both Kenya and regional responsibilities. The UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership guides our work in promoting mutual prosperity, security, climate resilience, sustainable development, people-to-people engagement, democracy, and human rights.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget stood at £81 million, supporting programmes implemented in partnership with national and county governments, civil society, businesses, and multilateral bodies such as the United Nations, World Bank, and IMF.
About the Role – Development Economist
Job Category:
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Programme Roles)
Subcategory:
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Programme Roles)
Grade:
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Type of Position:
Fixed Term (24 months)
Working Hours:
36.25 hours per week
Location:
Nairobi, Kenya
Monthly Salary:
KES 532,256.22
Number of Vacancies:
1
Application Deadline:
4 April 2025
Start Date:
2 July 2025
Main Purpose of the Role
As the Development Economist, you will play a vital technical role in embedding economic thinking and evidence-based decision-making across the High Commission’s development and policy operations. Your primary objective is to enhance the impact of economic analysis, data utilisation, and research to drive policy effectiveness and improve the value for money in development investments.
Working as part of START, you will ensure that economic evidence is available, relevant, and used effectively to shape strategies, programmes, and spending. The role requires a dynamic, consultative, and innovative economist who will engage with a wide network of stakeholders across government, civil society, and international institutions.
Roles and Responsibilities
1. Enhance Economic Analysis Across the Development Portfolio
- Perform value-add assessments of programmes within the development portfolio.
- Conduct diagnostic and “what works” analyses in priority development sectors.
- Carry out contextual economic and development sector analysis to inform strategic decisions.
2. Enhance Value for Money Analysis
- Develop and implement a value for money strategy across the development programme portfolio.
- Guide teams in assessing cost-effectiveness and impact to improve budget allocation.
- Evaluate the financial efficiency and economic return of ongoing programmes.
3. Improve the Availability and Use of Evidence
- Maintain and update a statistical database for economic data across key programme sectors.
- Promote robust use of statistics and economic analysis in official reports and internal documents.
- Conduct quality assurance of economic inputs and support evidence-based programme evaluations.
4. Participate in the FCDO Economist Community
- Dedicate up to 10% of time (approx. 22 days per year) supporting FCDO’s broader economic priorities.
- Contribute to other country programmes, support annual reviews, develop knowledge products, and deliver training to HMG colleagues.
5. Contribute to Team and Corporate Objectives
- Actively participate in START team responsibilities, including contributing to joint workstreams and taking up additional duties as needed.
- Play a corporate role within BHC, supporting office-wide initiatives and strategic functions.
6. Resources Managed
- This position does not involve direct line management or oversight of a specific budget.
Key Skills and Experience Required
Technical Competencies:
- Strong background in development and applied economics, preferably with over 5 years of professional experience.
- Proven ability to deliver timely, high-quality economic analysis that informs policy and programming.
- Solid command of microeconomic principles, including:
- Firm and household behavior
- Market dynamics
- Demand and supply analysis
- Sector competitiveness
- Behavioral economics
- Public policy rationale and project appraisal
- High-level analytical and data interpretation skills with a focus on actionable insights.
- Demonstrated capability to explain complex economic concepts to non-specialists and provide policy implications clearly.
Other Skills:
- Deep understanding of the Kenyan economic and development context.
- Experience working in international settings, particularly on sensitive and multifaceted issues.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
Required Behaviours
Candidates are expected to demonstrate the following civil service success profile behaviours:
- Changing and Improving
- Developing Self and Others
- Managing a Quality Service
Important Information
- Only candidates with the right to live and work in Kenya without requiring a work permit are eligible.
- Salaries for employees not liable to pay local income tax may be adjusted accordingly.
- All appointments will be made subject to reference checks and security clearance.
- Only applications submitted through the official platform will be considered. Beware of fraudulent third-party recruitment sites.
For more information on civil service profiles and expected behaviours, refer to:
Success Profiles – GOV.UK
How to Apply
To submit your application for the Development Economist position, kindly visit the official job portal. Only online applications submitted through the British Government’s official system will be accepted.
