The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) continues to play a central role in transforming Africa’s agriculture into a thriving, sustainable, and inclusive sector. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AGRA has established itself as an African-led institution dedicated to enabling smallholder farmers to build profitable businesses, contribute to food security, and sustain their livelihoods.
For years, millions of farmers across the continent have faced recurring challenges such as low yields, poor access to markets, inadequate policy frameworks, and climate-induced uncertainties. AGRA responds by creating uniquely African solutions that address these challenges head-on. Through a strategic focus on policy reforms, seed systems, sustainable farming practices, inclusive markets, and youth and gender empowerment, AGRA works hand-in-hand with governments, private sector actors, and civil society partners to deliver impactful results.
People are at the center of AGRA’s strategy. With a workforce drawn from over 24 nationalities, AGRA has cultivated a diverse and dynamic team that mirrors the resilience and creativity of Africa’s farmers. Its core values of Integrity, Respect, Innovation, Stewardship, and Equity (I-RISE) continue to drive its culture, while the organization emphasizes collaboration, excellence, constructive dialogue, and entrepreneurship as the hallmarks of its operations.
To strengthen its governance, compliance, and legal structures, AGRA is seeking to appoint a General Counsel & Corporation Secretary. This is a pivotal leadership position at the heart of AGRA’s executive leadership team, offering the right candidate an opportunity to shape not only the legal framework of the organization but also its governance effectiveness and overall strategic direction.
The Position: General Counsel & Corporation Secretary
Job Reference: PR/GCCS/09/2025
The General Counsel & Corporation Secretary will serve as AGRA’s chief legal advisor and principal custodian of governance excellence. This role combines legal stewardship, corporate governance, and compliance oversight while supporting the President and Board of Directors in executing their duties effectively.
The successful candidate will bring strategic insight, a strong legal background, and governance expertise to help AGRA navigate complexity across multiple African jurisdictions. They will also play a critical role in enabling the Board to act as a strategic partner in AGRA’s transformation journey.
The position reports administratively to the President and, in the secretarial capacity, to the Chair of the Board of Directors.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The General Counsel & Corporation Secretary will be entrusted with four broad areas of responsibility:
1. Legal Stewardship and Risk Management
- Serve as AGRA’s chief legal advisor, providing timely and reliable counsel to the President, Board, and Executive Committee.
- Ensure strict compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements across all countries where AGRA operates.
- Lead contract negotiations, drafting, and review for grants, partnerships, procurements, and consultancy agreements.
- Oversee litigation, manage relationships with external counsel, and protect AGRA’s reputation and legal standing.
- Establish robust policies and systems that minimize legal risk while enhancing organizational efficiency.
2. Governance and Board Effectiveness
- Serve as Secretary to the Board of Directors and its Committees, accountable to the Board Chair.
- Organize and manage all Board and Committee meetings, ensuring timely preparation of agendas, papers, and documentation.
- Drive innovation in Board engagement, including the use of communiqués and structured dialogue sessions to improve Board contribution.
- Support the President and Chair of the Board in aligning AGRA’s governance frameworks with global best practice standards.
3. Board Relations and Stakeholder Engagement
- Build strong, trusted relationships with Board members to ensure their full and effective contribution to AGRA’s strategy.
- Act as a central liaison between management, the Board, and external stakeholders on governance and legal matters.
- Ensure all Board communications align with institutional strategy and positioning.
- Collaborate with AGRA’s Partnerships and Communications teams to leverage Board networks for stakeholder engagement and institutional growth.
4. Compliance and Regulatory Affairs
- Provide oversight on compliance related to grants, procurements, and donor requirements.
- Advise on the institutional placement and strengthening of risk, compliance, and regulatory affairs functions.
- Ensure all organizational legal documents are properly maintained and safeguarded.
- Collaborate with internal audit and risk teams to embed strong governance and accountability frameworks.
5. Leadership and Capacity Building
- Lead and mentor AGRA’s legal and governance team to uphold professionalism, accountability, and service excellence.
- Build capacity across the organization on legal and governance matters through training and advisory support.
- Foster strong relationships with regulators, external legal partners, and key stakeholders.
- Ensure legal and governance functions act as enablers of AGRA’s mission rather than bottlenecks, supporting agility and innovation.
The Ideal Candidate
This is an executive-level opportunity suited for a highly experienced legal leader with a passion for institutional governance and a commitment to Africa’s agricultural transformation. The successful candidate will combine technical expertise with strategic vision and stakeholder engagement skills.
The ideal leader will be:
- Strategic and seasoned: An experienced lawyer with strong pan-African legal expertise, deep knowledge of Kenyan law, and proven experience working across multiple jurisdictions.
- Governance-minded: Skilled in enabling high-performing boards, with significant experience in corporate secretariat functions and board relations.
- Stakeholder-savvy: Confident in engaging governments, donors, partners, and senior leaders to advance AGRA’s mission.
- Team-builder: Capable of empowering and mentoring a professional legal and governance team.
- Adaptive and values-driven: Able to thrive under pressure, uphold AGRA’s values, and remain motivated by the mission of transforming Africa’s food systems.
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 of 15 years’ post-qualification legal experience, with at least 10 years in senior leadership roles across pan-African or multi-country contexts.
- Demonstrated expertise in corporate governance, compliance, litigation, and contract management.
- Strong negotiation and communication skills, with a proven ability to influence senior stakeholders.
- Experience in non-profit, intergovernmental, or international development organizations will be an advantage.
Why Join AGRA?
AGRA offers an opportunity to work at the forefront of agricultural transformation in Africa, with a team of passionate professionals committed to sustainable and inclusive development. This role provides exposure to international stakeholders, diverse partnerships, and an influential Board, positioning the successful candidate as a key contributor to shaping Africa’s future food systems.
AGRA is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusiveness. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, regardless of gender, age, or background.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications, including a cover letter and an updated CV, via email to [email protected] before the application deadline on 3rd October 2025.
All applications will be treated in strict confidence.
