Environmental Policy Officer (based in Nairobi)

Essentials

Job Title: Environmental Policy Officer
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Employment type: Full-time
Compensation: $35,550-$44,000 USD Gross p/a commensurate with experience
Line Manager: Deputy CEO
Deadline: 27 July 2025

Context

About the World Federation for Animals

The World Federation for Animals is a global federation of 70+ NGOs working towards the recognition of animal welfare as essential for sustainable development. Our efforts focus on integrating animal welfare into international health, food, and environmental regimes and trade and development finance rules. Established in 2020, this coalition now drives transformational change for animals as a UN-accredited force that harnesses the collective strength of animal protection peers and experts worldwide, and influences global decision-making at the UN and other international institutions. We achieve global impact for animals – together.

The team

Working closely with policy and communications staff, the successful candidate will join a small, international, remote team of professional, ambitious, and supportive individuals, as well as colleagues from WFA member organisations, all committed to making a positive, long-lasting difference for animals worldwide.

The successful candidate

The successful candidate will be someone with exceptional ability to foster relationships and deliver persuasive arguments. You are capable of inspiring and being persuasive, helping others quickly see “the bigger picture”. You will need to be a team player who loves working with colleagues from diverse organisations and cultures to achieve unprecedented results.

The role

This role is a unique opportunity to make a difference at a global scale by elevating animal protection and welfare within international environmental and sustainability policy. This role will be integral to building the success of our movement.

The work of the Environmental Policy Officer will be focused broadly on international environmental policy through engagement with the UN Environment Programme, UN Environment Assembly and major biodiversity Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on Migratory Species. This role will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with Parties and convention secretariats, sensitising them to WFA messaging, and representing WFA at UN and other related meetings and events. With a view to enhancing animal welfare, ending wildlife exploitation and securing better protections for animals, the Environmental Policy Officer will focus on the following key issues : wild animal use, trade and trafficking, bushmeat, wildlife conservation and management, human-animal coexistence, animal health and welfare, role of animals for ecosystem services, habitat protection (to an extent), among others.

The Environmental Policy Officer’s role will be home-based with occasional local, international travel, including to represent WFA at relevant policy conferences, such as relevant MEAs’ subsidiary body meetings and Conferences of the Parties. The role will be full-time.

We’re a global team working from five different countries and with members active in every region of the world. We aspire to build a kind, supportive and inclusive culture that fosters collaboration and creativity to achieve our collective mission. Diversity of experience and background is essential to our work.

This role will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Overall accountability

The role has two primary objectives:

To support the refinement, coordination and implementation of WFA’s strategy around UNEA
To support the refinement, development, coordination and implementation of WFA’s strategies related to international biodiversity policy.

Engaging with country representatives and other stakeholders

Build constructive relationships with country representatives and delegations.
Research, identify and advise on opportunities for engagement around animal protection and welfare within the international environmental and biodiversity policy space.
Develop and implement novel and effective framings and approaches that advance the protection and well-being of animals and their habitats within these policy spaces, with a focus on integrating these issues within the wider sustainability contexts (specifically food systems, health and related environmental challenges including climate, pollution and habitat loss).
Promote WFA positions among other strategically relevant stakeholders, such as institutional agents, academia, business, civil society, Indigenous Peoples and local communities among others.

Building a WFA presence at the UN Environment Programme and within biodiversity-related Multilateral Environmental Agreements

Represent WFA at the UN Environment Programme and UN Environment Assemblies.
Represent WFA at international biodiversity policy meetings and other relevant events, particularly those focusing on sustainable development, food systems, health, biodiversity and climate.
Engage and coordinate as needed with key stakeholders in the environmental and biodiversity policy processes, including other intergovernmental organisations, civil society organisations and NGOs, and Major Groups and other Stakeholders.
Occasionally, organise events to advance WFA’s environmental and biodiversity strategy, from conceptualisation to logistics.
Travel, often internationally, 2-5 times per year to participate in biodiversity and UNEP policymaking conferences (Subsidiary body meetings, conferences of the parties, etc).

Providing coordination for advocacy efforts

Create annually, with relevant policy colleagues and WFA members, a coordinated strategy for animal welfare advocacy at the UN Environment Programme and in international biodiversity frameworks.
Supporting the completion of a project conducted by WFA to develop guidance for countries on how animal welfare can support countries in implementing the Biodiversity and Health Global Action Plan and the broader Global Biodiversity Framework.
Collaborate with WFA members, including by leading two WFA working groups focused on the coordination of member activities at the UN Environment Programme, UNEA and on international biodiversity policy, respectively, to implement WFA’s environmental and biodiversity strategies.
Provide coordination and support to WFA members for advocacy activities before and during major policy moments.
Preparation of inputs in response to calls for input from UNEP and MEAs, as well as policy briefs and analyses of policy changes, key decisions or relevant reports for WFA staff and members.
Coordination with communications staff to highlight policy advocacy efforts for WFA members and supporters.

Other tasks

From time to time, the post holder will be required to occasionally support the policy team or colleagues on other tasks, as needed and requested by the Deputy CEO.

Key relationships

Deputy CEO (manager)
Global Health Policy Manager, also based in Nairobi
All members of the WFA team
Members of the WFA, across a wide range of roles, cultures and locations.
Occasional contact with the Board and Board members.

Required Skills & Experience

You must have the right to work in Nairobi, as WFA cannot support any visa application process.

Skills

Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strategic relationships and deliver policy advocacy outcomes.
Able to speak and write persuasively and constructively, and think and respond quickly during conversations and debates. Effective negotiating strategy development and implementation are desirable.
Ability to quickly comprehend complex issues and interlinkages.
Excellent English. Additional language skills are a plus.

Experience

5+ years of experience lobbying policymakers or working in policy advocacy, including previous engagement with UN bodies or Member States.

Knowledge

Demonstrated technical understanding of biodiversity, ecology and conservation science and policy, particularly in an international context.
Understanding of international policymaking process and institutions, specifically key biodiversity MEAs and related institutions.
Understanding of sustainable development and international policy trends.
Understanding of the interlinkages between environmental, biodiversity and conservation science and policy with animal welfare, climate, health and food systems is desired.

Education

A Master’s level education in a relevant degree, or equivalent work experience.

Essential Attributes

Passionate, driven, proactive: a self-starter.
Organised and reliable, with good attention to detail.
Ability to engage and work with others constructively.
Able to carry conviction in the face of pressure.
Collaborative team player.

Values

Commitment to WFA’s mission and values, i.e. altruism, inclusion, trust, impact, and transformation. For more on WFA values, see the Federation’s long-term strategy here.

Benefits

We offer a competitive salary package of $35,550-$44,000 USD Gross annually, along with health insurance, generous holidays and paid leave, and opportunities for training. WFA endeavours to ensure fair pay.

The above job description is subject to amendment or discussion with the successful applicant before appointment.

WFA will not cover relocation costs.

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