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At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, we work with political leaders around the world to drive change. We help governments turn bold ideas into reality so they can deliver for their people. We do it by advising on strategy, policy and delivery, unlocking the power of technology across all three. And by sharing what we learn on the ground, so everyone can benefit. We do it to build more open, inclusive and prosperous countries for people everywhere.

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Role Summary

The Ministry of Health is leading the development of the National AI for Health Policy Framework and Guidelines to establish a coherent national approach for the safe, ethical, and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence across Kenya's health sector.

As AI technologies become increasingly integrated into healthcare delivery including clinical decision support, diagnostics, digital health platforms, administrative systems, disease surveillance, and health research there is a need for a robust policy and governance framework to ensure these technologies are deployed safely, equitably, transparently, and in alignment with Kenya's health priorities.

The National AI for Health Policy Framework will provide the overarching policy direction for AI adoption across the health sector, while the accompanying Guidelines will provide practical guidance on implementation, governance, regulatory oversight, ethics, standards, risk management, data governance, monitoring, and institutional responsibilities. Together, these instruments will create an enabling environment for responsible AI innovation while safeguarding patient safety, privacy, and public trust. This work builds on Kenya's broader digital health agenda, including the Digital Health Act, the National AI Strategy, and other relevant health sector policies and regulatory frameworks.

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) is supporting the Ministry of Health in the development, validation, and adoption of these policy instruments through embedded technical advisory, stakeholder engagement, and policy development support.

Role Overview

The Technical Advisor will provide strategic and technical leadership to support the Ministry of Health in developing the National AI for Health Policy Framework and accompanying Guidelines.

Working closely with the Digital Health Agency, Ministry of Health directorates, technical working groups, regulators, development partners, academia, and the private sector, the advisor will ensure that both documents are technically rigorous, evidence-based, aligned with international good practice, and responsive to Kenya's health system priorities.

The advisor will lead technical drafting, facilitate stakeholder engagement and consensus-building, coordinate policy refinement, and support the validation and adoption processes to ensure the Framework and Guidelines are practical, implementable, and government-owned.

Expected deliverables

• Situational Assessment and Landscape Analysis: Assessment of Kenya's AI-for-health ecosystem, policy and regulatory landscape, institutional arrangements, existing AI use cases, opportunities, risks, and implementation gaps.
• National AI for Health Policy Framework: Technical leadership in developing and refining the National AI for Health Policy Framework, including policy principles, governance arrangements, institutional responsibilities, regulatory considerations, implementation priorities, and financing approaches.
• National AI for Health Guidelines: Development of comprehensive implementation guidelines covering governance, ethics, standards, data governance, clinical safety, accountability, risk management, procurement considerations, monitoring and evaluation, and operational guidance for AI deployment across the health sector.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Validation: Design and facilitation of technical working sessions, stakeholder consultations, co-creation workshops, validation meetings, and incorporation of stakeholder feedback into successive policy drafts.
• Final Policy Package: Final National AI for Health Policy Framework, National AI for Health Guidelines, executive briefs, presentation materials, and documentation supporting Ministry review, approval, and dissemination.
• Publication of at least one thought leadership piece on AI for Health in Kenya: Develop and publish at least one thought leadership piece that highlights Kenya's AI for Health policy priorities, emerging opportunities, and key lessons from the development of the National AI for Health Policy Framework and Guidelines. The publication should draw on programme evidence and stakeholder engagement to position Kenya's leadership in AI for Health and support dissemination through the Ministry of Health, TBI, and partner networks.

Expected Tasks

• Policy Development
• Provide technical leadership in the development of the National AI for Health Policy Framework.
• Lead drafting and refinement of the National AI for Health Guidelines.
• Ensure alignment with Kenya's Digital Health Act, National AI Strategy, existing health policies, and international best practice.
• Review existing legislation and identify policy and regulatory gaps requiring consideration.
• Technical Advisory
• Provide evidence-based advice on AI governance, ethics, accountability, transparency, safety, equity, interoperability, cybersecurity, and responsible AI adoption.
• Recommend institutional and governance arrangements for implementation of the Framework and Guidelines.
• Advise on implementation approaches that are practical within Kenya's health system.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Support engagement with Ministry of Health departments and agencies.
• Coordinate technical discussions with regulators, professional associations, academia, private sector, development partners, and county governments.
• Facilitate consensus-building throughout policy development and validation.
• Coordination and Delivery
• Develop detailed workplans and monitor implementation against agreed milestones.
• Support coordination across technical working groups.
• Track policy development progress and identify implementation risks and mitigation measures.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, briefing notes, and progress updates.

Expected Outcomes

• A nationally validated National AI for Health Policy Framework that provides a clear policy direction for the responsible adoption of AI across Kenya's health sector.
• Comprehensive National AI for Health Guidelines that provide practical guidance for implementation, governance, regulation, and oversight.
• Broad stakeholder consensus and government ownership of both policy instruments.
• A strengthened enabling environment for the safe, ethical, equitable, and scalable deployment of AI technologies across Kenya's health system.
• A clear roadmap for implementation, institutionalisation, and continuous improvement of AI governance within the health sector.

Reporting

The Technical Advisor (Consultant) will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Health Agency (DHA), or a designated representative, and administratively to the Tony Blair Institute Country Director.

The consultant will:

• Finalise an inception workplan within two weeks of commencement.
• Provide weekly progress updates during project meetings.
• Submit monthly progress reports against agreed deliverables and timelines.
• Participate in all relevant technical working groups, stakeholder consultations, and programme activities.
• Prepare a final handover report, including key outputs, lessons learnt, and recommendations to support implementation of the National AI for Health Policy Framework and Guidelines.

Person Specification

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years' experience in health policy, health systems strengthening, digital health, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting the development of national policies, strategies, guidelines, or regulatory frameworks within the health sector.
• Proven experience providing technical advisory support to government institutions and working effectively in multi-stakeholder environments.
• Experience in artificial intelligence, digital health governance, health informatics, or emerging technologies in healthcare is highly desirable.
• Experience working with governments or development partners in low- and middle-income countries, preferably in Africa, is an added advantage.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent policy analysis, drafting, and technical writing skills.
• Strong understanding of health systems, digital health governance, and responsible AI principles.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and consensus-building skills.
• Ability to synthesise complex technical concepts into practical and implementable policy recommendations.
• Strong project management, coordination, and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Public Health, Health Policy, Medicine, Health Informatics, Digital Health, Law, Public Policy, or another relevant discipline.
• Additional qualifications or professional training in artificial intelligence, digital health, health informatics, data governance, or technology policy will be an added advantage.

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the assignment, the Ministry of Health will have:

• A technically robust and nationally validated National AI for Health Policy Framework that establishes a clear vision and governance framework for the responsible adoption of AI across Kenya's health sector.
• Comprehensive National AI for Health Guidelines providing practical guidance for implementation, governance, ethical oversight, and responsible use of AI technologies.
• Strengthened institutional alignment and stakeholder consensus to support implementation and long-term ownership of the Framework and Guidelines.
• An enabling policy environment that promotes safe, ethical, equitable, and scalable adoption of AI to improve health service delivery and health outcomes.

End-State

A government-owned National AI for Health Policy Framework and accompanying Guidelines that provide a coherent governance and implementation framework for the safe, ethical, and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence across Kenya's health sector, enabling innovation while strengthening quality of care, patient safety, and health system performance.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early applications, as we reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date if a suitable candidate is identified.

• Provide technical leadership in the development of the National AI for Health Policy Framework.
• Lead drafting and refinement of the National AI for Health Guidelines.
• Ensure alignment with Kenya's Digital Health Act, National AI Strategy, existing health policies, and international best practice.
• Review existing legislation and identify policy and regulatory gaps requiring consideration.
• Provide evidence-based advice on AI governance, ethics, accountability, transparency, safety, equity, interoperability, cybersecurity, and responsible AI adoption.
• Recommend institutional and governance arrangements for implementation of the Framework and Guidelines.
• Advise on implementation approaches that are practical within Kenya's health system.
• Support engagement with Ministry of Health departments and agencies.
• Coordinate technical discussions with regulators, professional associations, academia, private sector, development partners, and county governments.
• Facilitate consensus-building throughout policy development and validation.
• Develop detailed workplans and monitor implementation against agreed milestones.
• Support coordination across technical working groups.
• Track policy development progress and identify implementation risks and mitigation measures.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, briefing notes, and progress updates.

• Excellent policy analysis, drafting, and technical writing skills.
• Strong understanding of health systems, digital health governance, and responsible AI principles.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and consensus-building skills.
• Ability to synthesise complex technical concepts into practical and implementable policy recommendations.
• Strong project management, coordination, and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Master's degree or higher in Public Health, Health Policy, Medicine, Health Informatics, Digital Health, Law, Public Policy, or another relevant discipline.
• Additional qualifications or professional training in artificial intelligence, digital health, health informatics, data governance, or technology policy will be an added advantage.