The Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi is seeking to recruit a qualified and motivated individual for the position of Programme Staff – Trade and Development. This is a full-time position based at 13 Runda Drive, Runda, Nairobi, offered on a local 3-year contract with the possibility of extension, and subject to successful security clearance. The deadline for applications is 27 October 2025.
This position offers an opportunity to work within an international environment focused on promoting sustainable trade, economic growth, and private sector development in Africa. The selected candidate will be part of the Embassy’s Regional, Refugee, and Humanitarian Team, contributing to Denmark’s broader goals of integrating trade, development, and economic diplomacy under the Danish Strategy for Development Cooperation and the Danish Action Plan for Economic Diplomacy.
Introduction
The Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi represents Denmark in Kenya, Seychelles, Eritrea, Mauritius, and Malawi, as well as to the United Nations in Nairobi. It also hosts the Danish Representation Office to Somalia. The Embassy is an active diplomatic mission that manages diverse portfolios in development cooperation, trade, political relations, stabilization, and humanitarian assistance.
Across its programs, the Embassy promotes Denmark’s global priorities, including sustainable economic growth, democracy, human rights, climate change mitigation, equitable healthcare, and women’s empowerment. The Embassy’s work under the Kenya Strategic Cooperation Framework (2021–2025) places particular emphasis on strengthening trade and investment relations between Denmark and East Africa while advancing sustainable development and regional cooperation.
In this context, the Embassy seeks a professional who can contribute expertise and leadership in trade and private sector development, particularly within the framework of the Sustainable and Inclusive Trade in Africa (SITA) programme and other development engagements under Denmark’s trade and economic diplomacy agenda.
Position Overview
The Programme Staff – Trade and Development will act as the Embassy’s focal point on matters of trade policy, private sector engagement, and economic development across Kenya, the East African region, and the wider continent. The successful candidate will contribute to the Embassy’s development programming and policy efforts aimed at supporting job creation, economic growth, and inclusive trade.
The role involves implementing Denmark’s trade-related development initiatives, engaging with key regional and international partners, managing programme budgets and performance, and ensuring compliance with Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) standards and guidelines.
The position reports to the Team Leader of the Regional, Refugee, and Humanitarian Team.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
The Programme Staff will be responsible for the following key areas of work:
1. Trade Policy and Development Engagement
- Serve as the main focal point for the Embassy on issues relating to trade policy, trade agreements, and trade relations in Kenya, East Africa, and the African continent.
- Provide expertise and analysis on trade relations between African nations and external partners such as the European Union (EU) and China.
- Offer policy guidance on the intersection between trade, private sector development, and economic growth, supporting implementation of the Danish Strategy for Development Cooperation.
- Contribute to strengthening the Embassy’s role as a regional hub for trade and development programming.
2. Programme Management and Implementation
- Take lead responsibility for the implementation of Denmark’s regional trade facilitation programme, Sustainable and Inclusive Trade in Africa (SITA), focusing on East Africa.
- Oversee the management of partner relationships, including with TradeMark Africa, ensuring effective coordination with other donors, MFA departments, and Danish Embassies in the region.
- Manage programme administration, budgeting, financial oversight, performance management, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in accordance with Danish MFA guidelines.
- Ensure timely and compliant delivery of programme outputs, reporting, and closure of development engagements.
3. Stakeholder Coordination and Networking
- Build and maintain a strong network of stakeholders across the public, private, and development sectors, including government agencies, regional organizations such as the East African Community (EAC) and the African Union (AU), business associations, civil society organizations, and think tanks.
- Facilitate collaboration with TradeMark Africa, development partners, and relevant Danish government institutions to ensure coherence in trade and private sector initiatives.
- Represent the Embassy in coordination meetings such as the EU Global Gateway forums and TradeMark Africa Council meetings.
4. Economic Diplomacy and Policy Integration
- Work closely with colleagues across the Embassy and the Danish MFA to integrate trade and development priorities into Denmark’s broader economic diplomacy agenda.
- Identify and pursue opportunities for communication and public diplomacy on trade and private sector initiatives.
- Contribute analytical insights, policy briefs, and reports that support the Embassy’s strategic positioning and decision-making in trade and development.
5. Field Engagement and Representation
- Plan and undertake field missions across Kenya and the region to monitor project progress, engage with stakeholders, and assess impacts on local communities.
- Provide logistical and analytical support during high-level visits and official missions related to trade and development.
- Represent the Embassy at relevant regional and national events, workshops, and stakeholder consultations.
6. Reporting and Compliance
- Prepare detailed reports, analytical notes, and policy recommendations for the Embassy and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Ensure adherence to compliance standards across all stages of programme management, including procurement, financial management, and results-based reporting.
- Maintain comprehensive documentation and data integrity throughout the programme cycle.
7. Collaboration and Team Support
- Work collaboratively with other Embassy teams on cross-cutting initiatives related to private sector growth, innovation, green transition, and inclusive economic development.
- Provide technical backstopping and support to colleagues managing complementary programmes.
- Contribute to a positive, dynamic, and results-oriented team culture within the Embassy.
Education and Desired Experience
The ideal candidate should possess:
- A Master’s degree in economics, political or social sciences, international relations, business, trade, or a related discipline.
- A minimum of five years of professional experience in trade and development, programme management, or a related field.
- Strong familiarity with results-based management, financial oversight, and monitoring and evaluation processes.
- Experience working with or for international development organizations, donors, or intergovernmental institutions.
- Demonstrated understanding of economic development, trade policy, and private sector engagement in the context of East Africa.
- Substantial knowledge of regional and international trade frameworks, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), EAC trade policies, and the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
- Proven ability to produce analytical briefs, policy papers, and strategic inputs relevant to trade and economic diplomacy.
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and ability to adapt to other digital tools and systems.
Skills, Knowledge, and Attributes
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, managing multiple tasks with shifting priorities.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail and a structured approach to work.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact confidently across cultures and professional settings.
- A team-oriented mindset, capable of fostering collaboration across diverse sectors and teams.
- Strong written and oral English communication skills with a professional standard of drafting and presentation.
- Willingness to undertake fieldwork and travel within Kenya and the region when required.
- Interest in policy-driven work within a political organization and the ability to align programme activities with strategic objectives.
- Familiarity with Danish funding mechanisms and compliance frameworks will be considered an advantage.
Employment Conditions
- The position will be governed by the local staff regulations of the Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi.
- Employment is contingent upon successful security clearance from relevant Danish authorities.
- The position offers a three-year contract with the possibility of extension based on performance and organizational needs.
- The standard workweek is 37 hours, with flexibility in daily scheduling as required.
- The selected candidate will receive 25 days of paid annual leave.
- Salary will be determined based on qualifications, experience, and performance, complemented by a workplace pension scheme.
- The employee and dependents will have reasonable medical coverage provided by the Embassy.
Application Process
Interested candidates should apply via the Fuzu recruitment platform through the following link:
https://www.fuzu.com/kenya/jobs/programme-staff-trade-and-development-the-royal-danish-embassy
The email subject should read: “Programme Staff – Trade and Development”.
Please note that only applications submitted through the Fuzu platform and in the requested format will be considered. Late submissions will not be accepted.
The Embassy emphasizes equal opportunity employment and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, gender, age, religion, or disability. Any form of canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification.
Successful applicants will be required to present a Certificate of Good Conduct (“No Criminal Record”) and undergo security clearance before appointment.
About the Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi
The Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi serves as Denmark’s diplomatic representation in Kenya and several other countries in the region. It plays a vital role in strengthening bilateral relations, managing development cooperation, and advancing Denmark’s global priorities such as climate action, green growth, democracy, and social inclusion.
With approximately 90 staff members, including 25 posted from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy fosters a professional and dynamic work environment characterized by collaboration, integrity, and results-oriented engagement.
Through its development cooperation, the Embassy contributes to the shared vision of promoting sustainable trade, inclusive growth, and regional stability across East Africa.
