Programme Co-ordinator - Systems Change & Government at Aga Khan Foundation

Key Responsibilities
Program Planning, Co-ordination & Execution:

• Co-ordinate day-to-day initiative workflows by monitoring the design phase work plan and supporting smooth implementation.
• Support in the drafting of relevant project documentation, specifically, the specific required modules.
• Sharpen the modules content based on coordinated feedback from relevant colleagues, particularly, the design coach and the donor to ensure accurate and timely final module compilation and submission.
• Support in the development of the Organizational Learning and Measurement Evaluation framework and ensure it aligns with the organizational Vision and Strategy for Change.
• Co-ordinate the review and updating of the Organizational Structure including review of the existing Institutional Strengthening Plan (ISP) in alignment with the Organizational Vision and strategy for Change.

Institutional Liaison & Coordination

• Serve as the primary focal point for joint government-civil society technical working groups or steering committees' engagements.
• Diplomatically navigate Partner, National and County bureaucratic channels to secure necessary approvals, memorandums of understanding (MoUs), and letters of support for successful roll-out and implementation of the project initiatives.
• Organize and facilitate high-level government site visits, study tours, and policy briefings necessary for increased awareness and appreciation of the importance of systems-change

Government & Partner Relations

• Support in building new, strengthening existing and maintaining a robust network of contacts within key Partners, National and County sectors, including the Ministry of Education, Kenya Institute for Curriculum Development (KICD), National Council for Children’s Services (NCCS), Council of Governors (CoG), County Departments of Education, Health, Nutrition, Social Protection, Partnerships and Policy and Finance.
• Keep the project team timely updated on shifting government priorities, personnel changes, county leadership timelines, emerging legislative opportunities and bottlenecks.

Compliance, Reporting & Documentation

• Compile internal organizational reports/progress briefs, official government reports/communique with high-potential recommendations for adoption.
• Secure formal institutional sign-offs on project data, pilot evaluations, and joint transition or exit strategies.

The requirements

Required Qualifications, Experiences and Skills

• Experience: 5+ years of professional experience in early childhood development as well as government relations, public policy engagements, or inter-agency liaison roles within Kenya. Experience in working closely with National & County Governments is highly critical.
• Devolution & Systems Literacy: Exceptional understanding of Kenya's Early Childhood Development (ECD) space including devolution structures, national & county budget cycles, public participation frameworks, and the split mandates between various National Government (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, National Council for Children’s Services) and devolution will be an added value.
• Communications: Demonstrate high-level strategic communication, negotiation, convincing both verbally and written communication skills. Ability to draft formal government letters and MoUs in a professional tone.
• Languages: Strong written and fluent verbal communication in English and Kiswahili. Basic understanding of the local languages will be an added advantage.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Education, Development Studies, Project Management with professional development competencies in teams' management and stakeholder engagement or an equivalent field.