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Isaac Waithaka

@isaacwaithaka

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Policy analyst with 10+ years' experience delivering evidence-based research and evaluation for public policy.

Kenya

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What I'm looking for

I seek roles where I can lead evidence-based research and M&E, engage diverse stakeholders, influence public policy, and support institutional reforms in mission-driven organizations.

I am a policy analyst and research professional with over a decade of experience in policy research, program evaluation, and strategic advisory services across governmental, development, and human rights sectors.

I design and conduct rigorous quantitative and qualitative research, using tools such as STATA, SPSS, R, and Excel to synthesize complex data into actionable insights for policymakers and development partners.

My work has included coordinating large stakeholder consultations, leading community empowerment programs that reached over 10,000 residents, and producing policy briefs and institutional reviews that informed sectoral reforms and improved program outcomes.

I bring proven strengths in monitoring & evaluation, survey design, regulatory review, and facilitation; I focus on stakeholder engagement and translating evidence into practical recommendations that drive policy uptake and institutional change.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Policy Research Consultant

Oxfam

Jan 2024 - Dec 2025 (1 year 11 months)

Delivered policy research and stakeholder engagement support for women empowerment and development programs, producing evidence-based recommendations for program design and implementation.

Program Evaluation Stakeholder Engagement Report Writing M&E Survey Design Data Analysis Capacity Building

Policy Research Consultant

Kenya Human Rights Commission

Jan 2024 - Dec 2025 (1 year 11 months)

Conducted a case study on royalty and revenue management in the mining sector and produced actionable governance recommendations that promoted community rights and improved stakeholder validation.

Stakeholder Engagement Report Writing Survey Design Data Collection M&E

Policy Analyst

Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis

Jan 2018 - Dec 2020 (2 years 11 months)

Designed and implemented policy research projects that shaped national development strategies, conducted advanced statistical analyses, and coordinated 30+ stakeholder consultations to inform sectoral reforms.

Policy Analysis Stata SPSS R Policy Briefing Data Analysis Report Writing

Consultant / Facilitator

Women Empowerment Link

Jan 2016 - Dec 2017 (1 year 11 months)

Facilitated stakeholder dialogues and developed training modules on leadership and political participation for women, supporting evidence gathering and reporting for USAID program monitoring.

Facilitation Training Development Stakeholder Engagement Monitoring & Evaluation Report Writing Program Support

Associate Economist

County Government of Nairobi

Jan 2014 - Dec 2015 (1 year 11 months)

Developed county policy documents and sectoral plans, conducted baseline surveys and feasibility studies, and facilitated public participation in budget preparation to strengthen inclusive planning.

Survey Design Policy Development feasibility studies Report Writing

Project Coordinator

Ministry of Devolution

Jan 2013 - Dec 2015 (2 years 11 months)

Led design and delivery of community empowerment programs benefiting 10,000+ residents, improved program outcomes by 30% through M&E, and secured an 85% increase in donor funding via robust planning and reporting.

Project Coordination Monitoring & Evaluation Budgeting Donor Reporting Stakeholder Engagement

Lead Researcher

Safe Hand Research Consultancy

Jan 2009 - Dec 2013 (4 years 11 months)

Designed and managed 30+ mixed-methods research projects, supervised research teams to ensure methodological rigor, and delivered policy-relevant outputs presented at national and international forums.

Research Design Team Supervision Qualitative Methods Quantitative Methods Report Writing Project Management Stakeholder Engagement

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

University of Nairobi

Master of Arts, Economics

Completed a Master of Arts in Economics focusing on economic policy analysis and research methods to inform public policy and institutional reforms.

Kenyatta University

Bachelor of Arts, Economics

Grade: Second Class Upper Division

Earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (Second Class Upper Division) with coursework and projects in economic analysis, program evaluation, and policy research.