The transition to clean energy is one of the most pressing challenges and opportunities of our time. As countries worldwide continue to align with global climate goals, Kenya has made remarkable strides in expanding electricity access, reaching over 75% of households by 2022. Yet, the adoption of clean cooking solutions remains a major hurdle, with nearly 68.5% of households still relying on traditional biomass fuels. This reliance not only contributes to environmental degradation but also has serious health, economic, and gender-related implications.
The UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) programme, funded by the UK Government, works to improve the effectiveness of key public, private, and civil society institutions in partner countries, enabling them to transition toward low-carbon, climate-resilient growth. In Kenya, UK PACT is partnering with the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoEP) to strengthen the country’s technical capacity in designing and evaluating policies for clean cooking.
As part of this initiative, UK PACT is seeking to recruit an Energy Modeler – Clean Cooking. This is a highly specialized, embedded role within the MoEP in Nairobi, where the professional will play a key part in strengthening evidence-based policymaking. The position is both strategic and technical, requiring not only advanced modelling skills but also the ability to collaborate with government stakeholders, integrate inclusive approaches, and help shape Kenya’s long-term energy transition strategy.
This is a full-time assignment running from November 2025 through October 2026, with an opportunity to make a tangible impact on Kenya’s clean energy future while contributing to the country’s commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Position: Energy Modeler – Clean Cooking (Kenya)
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Duration: November 2025 – October 2026
Programme: UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions)
Department Embedded In: Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MoEP)
Reference: req24409
Posted on: 12/09/2025
Role Overview
The Energy Modeler will play a central role in supporting the MoEP to design, evaluate, and implement effective clean cooking policies through advanced modelling and scenario analysis. The selected candidate will integrate robust modelling tools into the policy cycle, enabling evidence-based decisions that align with Kenya’s broader socio-economic and climate goals.
The work will directly contribute to the Kenya Clean Cooking Transition Strategy Action Plan, the E-Cooking Action Plan, and other key legislative frameworks, ensuring that policy design incorporates technological feasibility, cost-effectiveness, inclusivity, and long-term sustainability.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The Energy Modeler will be expected to:
- Develop Clean Cooking Models: Collaborate with MoEP to design models that evaluate policy options, assess technologies, and incorporate sex, age, and disability-disaggregated data into cost-benefit analyses.
- Integrate Modelling into Policy: Build capacity within the ministry to adopt robust modelling tools in formulating and implementing clean cooking policies.
- Conduct Scenario Analyses: Align clean cooking strategies with Kenya’s wider energy, climate, and socio-economic goals by running comparative scenarios and assessing technology pathways.
- Provide Daily Technical Support: Work alongside MoEP staff to strengthen energy modelling activities, ensuring coordination with electrification and broader energy access strategies.
- Policy and Technology Evaluation: Support decision-makers in evaluating clean cooking technologies, financing options, and challenges, backed by quantitative and qualitative modelling outputs.
- Develop County-Level Tools: Create analytical tools that county governments can use to assess demographic impacts and design targeted interventions for their clean cooking programs.
- Knowledge Sharing and Communication: Lead the development of workshops, policy briefs, technical papers, and reports. Prepare clear and engaging presentations that communicate trends, projections, and policy implications to stakeholders at all levels.
- Research Integration: Leverage existing national and international research on clean cooking to provide evidence-based guidance for policy design and implementation.
- Support Legislative Development: Provide technical inputs into national strategies, action plans, and legislative frameworks on clean cooking.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitate dialogue among government agencies, NGOs, private sector actors, and international partners to promote coordinated action on clean cooking.
Required Qualifications and Experience
To succeed in this role, candidates should demonstrate a strong mix of technical expertise, policy knowledge, and practical experience. The following qualifications are required:
- Academic Background: Proven academic credentials in a relevant field, such as Environmental Science, Energy Policy, Engineering, Economics, or Climate Change.
- Specialised Training: Certifications in clean energy technologies, environmental modelling, or policy analysis are an added advantage.
- Professional Experience: Extensive experience in clean cooking, energy policy, environmental modelling, or sustainable development.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Experience in leadership and collaboration with government institutions or similar settings.
- Sector Knowledge: Strong understanding of clean cooking dynamics in Kenya or comparable environments.
- Technical Skills: Demonstrated ability to develop and apply scenario analysis models in the energy sector.
- Policy Evaluation Expertise: Ability to assess technologies and conduct cost-benefit analyses to inform policy decisions.
- Data Proficiency: Skilled in leveraging data for decision-making processes.
- Gender-Responsive Analysis: Experience with gender-responsive policy analysis in energy and development contexts.
- Household-Level Insights: Knowledge of barriers to household energy access and adoption patterns.
Why This Role Matters
This role is not just about technical modelling—it is about shaping the future of energy access in Kenya. The Energy Modeler will directly influence how millions of households transition from harmful traditional fuels to safe, affordable, and sustainable clean cooking solutions. Beyond reducing health and environmental risks, clean cooking interventions are critical to achieving Kenya’s NDCs, improving gender equality, and driving socio-economic transformation.
Working within the MoEP offers the opportunity to be at the heart of policymaking, directly advising and empowering government officials with tools, data, and strategies that will have a long-lasting national impact.
Terms of Engagement
- Assignment Duration: November 2025 – October 2026
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya (full-time, embedded role)
- Application Review: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.
- Start Date: Estimated November 2025, subject to candidate availability.
Equal Opportunity Statement
The programme is committed to diversity and inclusion. Equal employment opportunities (EEO) are provided to all employees and applicants regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. All qualified applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Interested candidates who meet the above requirements are invited to submit their applications through the official portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is strongly encouraged.
