PRACTICAL ACTION – KENYA
About Us
Practical Action is an international development organization with a vision for a world that works better for everyone.
We exist to change the systems that keep people in poverty and vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, nature loss and pollution. We work alongside communities to build resilient livelihoods and thriving, inclusive societies.
In Kenya, we have been active since 1990, implementing impactful programmes that have changed lives. We are a trusted partner to the national and county governments, private sector, communities, funders and development organizations. We operate offices in Nairobi, Kisumu and Kakamega. For more information, visit www.practicalaction.org
About the Role
The Clean Cooking Technical Officer serves as the technical lead for the UK PACT project while providing broader organizational technical support to Practical Action’s energy portfolio. The Technical Officer will support the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of clean cooking initiatives. The officer will provide technical expertise to ensure the adoption of clean cooking technologies and fuels, contribute to program design and delivery, support stakeholder engagement, and promote evidence-based approaches for improving health, gender, environmental, and economic outcomes.
SCOPE
Title: Clean Cooking Technical Officer
Reporting to: Project Manager
Direct reports: N/A
Relationships:
Internal: Programme Delivery Teams, Impact & Influence Team, Business Development team, Communications team, Finance & Systems, People and Culture and Operations functions.
External: Strategic Partners relevant to PA strategies
Financial scope: N/A
Location: Nairobi
Grade: 5
Travel requirements: Frequent
Position Status: Full-time
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Technical Leadership (45%)
- Support the technical execution of clean cooking projects, ensuring alignment with the UK PACT’s goals for clean energy transition in Kenya.
- Provide technical guidance and capacity building to local manufacturers, governments, and other partners to enhance the quality and production of clean cooking appliances and fuels.
- Provide technical input on clean cooking technologies (e.g., improved biomass stoves, LPG, biogas, electric cooking).
- Oversee the establishment of at least one pilot sites of energy crops, eligible ones being sugar cane, sweet sorghum and cassava.
- Support implementation of testing, standardisation and labelling for local clean cooking appliances.
- Monitor the performance and impact of clean cooking interventions using agreed KPIs (health, gender, environment, economic outcomes) and ensure verification of project results.
Strategic Alignment and business development. (10%)
- In collaboration with Business Development, monitor and analyze the regional context to position Practical Action as a competitive technical and consulting entity across all its Goal/ Thematic areas.
- In collaboration with the Business Development team, lead on the development and delivery of Practical Action’s energy programming strategy within the wider organizational strategic business plan with support from other organizational units including project delivery, policy and practice, M&E and business development.
- Support ownership and commitment to the strategy by staff and relevant departments through clear communication, regular feedback on progress and engagement of all functions in updates
- Provides supplementary technical support to proposals Design and execution.
- Increase PA’s technical capacity to apply inclusive Market approaches mainly in energy interventions.
Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer (15%)
- Oversee the digitisation and deployment of training modules and certification of farmer groups and Distributors.
- Create knowledge products and technical guidance materials for clean cooking technologies.
- Coordinate with UKPACT consortium members on clean cooking capacity building initiatives.
- Support establishment of sustainable training program beyond project timeline.
- Contribute to market assessments to identify demand for clean cooking appliances, launch awareness campaigns on their benefits, and promote local manufacturing for domestic and international markets.
- Map and strengthen linkages within the clean cooking supply chain, connecting local producers, distributors, retailers, and international buyers to foster new trade opportunities.
- Working closely with the Impact & Influence team, ensure project monitoring frameworks are developed and monitored and outcome harvesting done.
- Support in strategic project communication.
Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership (15%)
- Support private sector engagement in clean cooking sector and investment mobilization.
- Facilitate knowledge sharing between counties and with international partners.
- Represent Practical Action at technical forums and energy sector meetings.
- Provide technical leadership to the clean cooking component ensuring alignment and cohesiveness to the project consortium.
- Ensure quality engagement and quality assurance on inputs with external associates and consultants in achieving project deliverables.
- Provide leadership in PA engagement with external stakeholders in the clean cooking component.
Project Management Support (15%)
- Collaborate closely with Project Manager on project implementation and coordination to ensure organizational and donor compliance.
- Provide technical input to project planning, monitoring, and reporting.
- Support risk management related to technical delivery and capacity building.
- Ensure timely delivery of technical milestones and deliverables.
- Participate in project team meetings and coordination activities.
- Support in the preparation of annual, quarterly, and monthly work plans and budgets for effective execution of the project activities.
- Ensure the effective and timely management and control of project budgets, managing project and operational expenditure against approved budgets and ensure that expenditure does not exceed allowed limits.
- Execute work plans, MEL plans, procurement plans, communication plans, and documentation plans, in a timely manner.
- Monitor and review the project risk register during implementation and adopt mitigation measures when and where necessary.
Sensitivity on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion:
Should have respectful beliefs regardless of their gender, age, sex, race, ethnic background, culture, different ability, nationality, religion, and marital status. Is sensitive and adaptable to gender and social inclusion and adopts inclusive practices. Responds and behaves appropriately in different situations.
Safeguarding
It is all staff’s shared responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work with, including vulnerable adults and children.
Practical Action believes that it is unacceptable for anyone to experience exploitation or abuse in any form, anywhere. All staff members undergo mandatory Safeguarding training and are expected to always commit/adhere to our Safeguarding Policy whilst working for or on behalf of Practical Action.
PERSON PROFILE
To be successful in the role, the ideal candidate should meet the following requirements:
Experience & Knowledge
- Bachelor’s degree in Energy, Environmental Engineering,Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy or a related field.
- 3–5+ years of hands-on experience in implementing clean cooking or related energy projects.
- Strong understanding of clean cooking solutions (e.g., improved biomass stoves, LPG, electric cooking, biogas, ethanol).
- Knowledge of market-based approaches to clean cooking.
- Familiarity with standards, testing protocols, emissions, and health-related impacts.
- Understanding of how clean cooking integrates with broader energy access strategies and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Experience with energy access in off-grid and rural contexts.
- Experience engaging with government institutions, advocating for clean cooking policies, and supporting the implementation of national energy or clean cooking plans.
- Proven experience in supporting clean cooking initiatives that deliver on gender equality, health improvement, environmental sustainability, and livelihoods.
Essential
- Excellent communication (written and verbal) skills
- Experience in using MEL frameworks related to energy access.
- Demonstrated ability to build the technical and institutional capacity of local partners and/or community actors.
How to apply
A detailed Job Profile can be accessed from Practical Action Website – Career section
If you are ready for an exciting challenge with an organisation whose mission and values are particularly relevant in these rapidly changing times, please forward your application, curriculum vitae and cover letter to: Practical Action, Kenya Office by email:c[email protected][email protected] no later than Friday, 31st October 2025 indicating ‘Practical Action: ‘Clean Cooking Technical Officer’ in the subject line of the email. Your cover letter should outline why you feel you are the right candidate for this position. Please include the names of 3 referees in your CV. All information/data provided will be handled in utmost confidentiality and will only be used for recruitment purposes.
Additional Information
Practical Action is an equal opportunities employer, and we encourage applications from under-represented groups. We stay committed to cultivating an inclusive and diverse working environment and believe that people from different backgrounds or cultures give us different perspectives, and the more perspectives we have, the more successful we will be. By building a culture where everyone feels heard, respected and valued we give everyone working with us the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Practical Action is committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults and as such candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
