The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is an African-led institution that stands at the forefront of agricultural transformation and food system sustainability. At AGRA, we believe that empowering Africa’s 33 million smallholder farming households is not only critical to achieving food security but also a powerful pathway to economic growth, poverty reduction, and inclusive development.
For decades, Africa’s smallholder farmers have faced systemic challenges—from limited access to quality inputs such as high-yielding seeds to inadequate infrastructure and restricted entry to profitable markets. AGRA has responded to these challenges with uniquely African solutions designed to empower farmers, increase their harvests, and strengthen household incomes while reducing hunger.
Our approach is grounded in five major intervention pillars:
- Policy and State Capability – Partnering with governments to create an enabling environment for private sector involvement in agricultural transformation.
- Seed Systems – Ensuring the availability and accessibility of improved seeds to enhance productivity.
- Sustainable Farming – Supporting farmers with tools, knowledge, and systems to build resilient farming practices, including irrigation and mechanization.
- Inclusive Markets and Trade – Strengthening linkages between farmers and market actors, enabling commercialization and reinvestment.
- Youth, Gender, and Inclusiveness – Promoting equity by ensuring that women and youth are active beneficiaries and contributors to agricultural and economic growth.
AGRA’s progress is fueled by its people. Our team comprises diverse professionals from over 24 nationalities, all driven by values of integrity, respect, innovation, stewardship, and equity (I-RISE). Together with our partners, we are deeply collaborative, sincerely constructive, increasingly entrepreneurial, and committed to excellence.
To strengthen our leadership capacity and uphold the highest standards of governance, we are pleased to announce an exciting executive-level opportunity for the position of General Counsel & Corporation Secretary.
The Position: General Counsel & Corporation Secretary
Purpose of the Role
The General Counsel & Corporation Secretary will lead AGRA’s legal and governance functions, ensuring compliance, accountability, and institutional integrity across multi-country operations. The position also plays a strategic role in maximizing the effectiveness of AGRA’s Board of Directors, enhancing governance frameworks, and serving as a trusted legal advisor to both the President and the Board Chair.
This is not only a legal stewardship role but also one that requires governance leadership, stakeholder engagement, and strategic foresight. As a key member of the executive leadership team, the General Counsel & Corporation Secretary will ensure AGRA is well-positioned to navigate legal complexities while enabling its governance structures to fully support its mission of transforming Africa’s food systems.
Detailed Job Description
1. Legal Stewardship and Risk Management
- Serve as AGRA’s principal legal advisor, providing expert counsel to the President, the Executive Committee, and the Board of Directors.
- Ensure AGRA’s compliance with statutory and regulatory frameworks across multiple African jurisdictions where the organization operates.
- Oversee contract negotiations, drafting, and reviews for grants, procurements, partnerships, and consultancy agreements.
- Provide leadership in managing litigation, supervising external counsel, and safeguarding AGRA’s legal and reputational integrity.
- Establish policies, processes, and internal controls that minimize legal risk and promote operational efficiency.
2. Governance and Board Effectiveness
- Serve as Secretary to the Board of Directors and its Committees, accountable to the Board Chair.
- Manage the scheduling, preparation, and documentation of Board and Committee meetings, ensuring adherence to best-in-class governance practices.
- Drive innovation in Board engagement, including practices that strengthen communication, transparency, and alignment between Board and management.
- Support the President and Board Chair in strengthening governance frameworks consistent with global best practices.
3. Board Relations and Stakeholder Engagement
- Cultivate strong working relationships with AGRA’s influential Board members, enabling them to provide greater strategic input.
- Ensure alignment of external communications with Board-level messaging, supporting AGRA’s positioning in key forums and convenings.
- Collaborate with the Partnerships and Communications teams to leverage Board members’ networks, broadening AGRA’s reach and strategic influence.
- Act as a trusted liaison between the Board, management, and external stakeholders on legal and governance matters.
4. Compliance and Regulatory Affairs
- Oversee institutional compliance with grants, procurement policies, and donor requirements.
- Advise on the organizational placement and integration of risk, compliance, and regulatory affairs functions, ensuring effective systems of checks and balances.
- Maintain custody of AGRA’s legal documentation and ensure compliance with donor, national, and international frameworks.
- Partner with audit and risk teams to strengthen accountability mechanisms.
5. Leadership and Capacity Building
- Lead, mentor, and inspire AGRA’s legal and governance team, promoting a culture of excellence, accountability, and service.
- Build organizational legal capacity by initiating knowledge-sharing platforms, training, and professional development opportunities.
- Position the legal and governance functions as enablers of innovation and agility, supporting AGRA’s mission rather than acting as bottlenecks.
- Foster strategic relationships with external legal experts, regulators, and institutional partners.
The Ideal Leader
The General Counsel & Corporation Secretary role is pivotal at a time of transformation for AGRA. We seek a leader with not only deep legal expertise but also the vision, resilience, and strategic gravitas to guide AGRA in navigating complexity with agility and integrity.
The ideal candidate will embody the following attributes:
- Strategic and Seasoned: A senior lawyer with extensive pan-African legal experience and in-depth knowledge of Kenyan law.
- Governance-Minded: Skilled in corporate governance, with a proven record of enabling high-performing boards.
- Stakeholder-Savvy: Adept at engaging government, donors, partners, and Board members with diplomacy and confidence.
- Team Builder: A mentor and leader who inspires, delegates effectively, and strengthens institutional resilience.
- Adaptive and Values-Led: Committed to integrity and collaboration, able to lead under pressure, and motivated by AGRA’s mission.
Key Requirements
- Master’s degree in Law from a recognized institution; admission to the Bar in a sub-Saharan African jurisdiction.
- Certified Public Secretary and Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
- Minimum 15 years of post-qualification legal experience, including leadership roles across multiple African jurisdictions.
- Proven expertise in board governance, corporate secretariat functions, and compliance management.
- Strong skills in negotiation, litigation, and contract management.
- Demonstrated ability to build and mentor legal teams.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience in international development, intergovernmental, or non-profit organizations is a significant advantage.
Why Join AGRA?
AGRA is more than an institution—it is a movement dedicated to shaping the future of Africa’s food systems. By joining as the General Counsel & Corporation Secretary, you will be at the heart of a transformative journey that impacts millions of farmers and communities.
We offer an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and equal opportunity. Our team thrives on collaboration, innovation, and shared commitment to building resilient, prosperous, and sustainable food systems for Africa.
If you are a visionary legal leader who wants to apply your expertise to a cause that matters, this is your opportunity to contribute to real and lasting impact across the continent.
Application Process
AGRA welcomes applications from qualified and passionate leaders. All expressions of interest will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter and an updated resume/CV to the following email address:
Deadline: October 3, 2025, at 12:00 am.
