NGO Jobs in Kenya - Aga Khan Foundation

Project Officer

Closing date: 31 Jan 2020
For nearly 50 years, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has been partnering with communities, governments and other sectors to improve the quality of life. AKF’s work is rooted in core values of self-reliance, pluralism, and respect for human dignity. AKF is a member of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), one of the world’s leading poverty solutions networks. AKDN’s integrated approach makes long-term investments, builds permanent institutions, and cultivates an active civil society, impacting tens of millions of people annually in over 30 countries. Alongside its sister AKDN agencies, AKF implements innovative, community-driven solutions that are based in decades of experience, learning, and expertise.

Project background
Tucheza Kujifunza (TuKu) delivered by AKF in partnership with LEGO Foundation and Government of Kenya. TuKu aims to institutionalise playful pedagogies within formal, non-formal, and informal learning opportunities to equip primary aged children with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values they need to contribute effectively to society. To achieve this, TuKu will work with national and county governments, education leaders, schools, and institutions, civil society, community partners, and parents to enable teachers and schools to effectively implement the competency-based curriculum using a range of playful learning approaches.
Roles and resposibilities
Based in Lamu and reporting to the Coast Programme Manager the Project Officer will be responsible for the delivery all project activities on time, on budget, with quality and meeting internal and funding partner compliance.
  • Mobilise, engage, and develop strong and collaborative partnerships with principle education actors at the County level, including government, school head teachers and teachers, civil society, and community partners to deliver project activities and embed playful learning;
  • Deliver teacher professional development courses aligned to TuKu’s vision of playful learning;
  • Support teachers to create playful and impactful learning environments
  • Collaborate with 20 Innovation Schools in Lamu to establish an active school networks to inculcate a culture of playful learning in all primary schools in Lamu;
  • Deliver Human Centred Design processes to enable schools to develop locally rooted solutions;
  • Collaborate with Civil Society Organisations to work with schools to integrate playful learning into school development plans and implement parent engagement strategies;
  • Contribute to the planning and delivery of the annual County Learning Event to showcase successful solutions and innovations in playful learning;
  • Ensure effective and efficient use of all project resources, and timely reporting of expenditure;
  • Data collection and data management of project activities;
  • Contribute to the timely submission of quality project reports;
  • Any other duties as assigned by the Coast Programme Manager
Key Qualifications and Experience
  • A University degree in education, community development or social sciences;
  • At least 3 years relevant working experience in education with a strong understanding of the national and county education sector, preferably Primary;
  • An in-depth Understanding of the local socio-cultural context in Lamu and community dynamics;
  • Demonstrated experience implementing participatory and community driven approaches;
  • Proven problem solver with the ability to work in adverse team environment;
  • Flexible professional with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities with strict deadlines;
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills in English required;
  • Competent in ICT with prior working with Microsoft packages.
HOW TO APPLY:
Candidates interested in this unique career opportunity with AKF should submit a cover letter, CV and the names and contact information of three professional referees by 31st January 2020 via e-mail to recruitment@akfea.org with ‘LEGO Project Officer’ in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Schools2030 Officer

Closing date: 31 Jan 2020
About the Aga Khan Foundation
  • The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), was established by His Highness the Aga Khan in 1967. AKF is a private, not-for-profit international development agency that seeks to provide long-term solutions to society’s problems. AKF brings together human, financial, and technical resources to address challenges faced by the poorest and most marginalised communities in the world. AKF has a special focus on investing in human potential, expanding opportunity, and improving the overall quality of life, especially for women and girls. AKF’s primary areas of focus are; Education; Early Childhood Development (ECD); Health and Nutrition; Civil Society; Agriculture and Food Security; and Economic Inclusion.
  • AKF is committed to ensuring girls and boys, women and men, are equipped with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to help them interact effectively with the world and be contributing members of a pluralistic society. This demands AKF assumes a holistic, life-long, and systems approach to education. AKF ensures all interventions are globally informed, locally rooted, are embedded in government and community interests and structures, and work to promote social inclusion, equity, and pluralism.
About Schools2030
AKF, in partnership with a global consortium of private foundations, is co-launching Schools2030, a 10-year (2020-2030) learning improvement programme. Schools2030 will partner with national governments and 1000 school sites (pre-primary, primary, secondary, and youth education providers) across 10 countries from around the world to develop understanding and evidence of ‘what works’ in equipping children and young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values needed to successfully navigate uncertainty and become contributing members of society. In Tanzania, AKF will partner with 100 school sites to drive classroom level innovation to enable teacher generated solutions to identify and inform ‘what works in education’ for Coast.
Purpose of the position
  • AKF is seeking a dynamic, enthusiastic, and self-motivated individual to lead the direct delivery of Schools2030 activities in Coast.
  • Working under the direct supervision of the Schools2030 Coordinator, the Project Officers will be responsible for the direct delivery and support to schools, contributing to developing positive partnerships with government and non-government stakeholders, and effectively communicating Schools2030.
  • This role will demand the person to work within a dynamic, fast-paced environment and work closely with the Regional Education and ECD Advisor and other Schools2030 team members in the region to ensure the timely, quality implementation of all Schools2030 activities.
Duties and Responsibilities
  • Lead the direct delivery of all Schools2030 activities at the district level with partner schools and youth partners. A core deliverable will be implementing a Human Centred Design processes with all partner schools, including workshops, school-based support, school network support, and effective use of flexible innovation response funds;
  • Ensure all aspects of the project cycle are delivered with quality and contribute to the development of workplans, budgets, and activity and narrative reports;
  • Provide project information and feedback to communicate progress, challenges, learning, and upcoming priorities and workplans to the Schools2030 Coordinator;
  • Ensure all project funds you are responsible for are fully accounted for and liquidation is done in a timely manner to enable timely reporting;
  • Ensure all project delivery and processes comply and promote with AKF’s gender and social inclusion and child and community safeguarding policies;
  • Be the main point of contact for schools2030 at the district level;
  • Engage and coordinate principle partners and stakeholders at district level to ensure collaborative delivery of project activities;
  • Work with education actors to strengthen the education ecosystem connections and networks at the district level;
  • Lead on the effective collection and management of data at the school and District level
  • Ensure project learning is effectively communicated through the internal and external feedback loops and that principle partners have access to and understand the learning;
  • Effectively engage in internal AKF learning opportunities to develop professional and technical understanding of education and Human Centred Design.
Key Qualifications and Experience
  • BA in Education, Sociology, Business Administration or related field
  • Proven experience of working in social programming with a minimum of 3 years relevant experience working in education programming and international development.
  • Experience collaborating with government and non-government partners as well as schools, children, teachers and young people
  • Strong understanding of the Kenyan education system and emerging technologies in the education and development sector.
  • Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation frameworks for education programmes with experience in data collection methods
  • Excellent communication and inter-personal skills,
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
  • Ability to work independently and under pressure;
  • Proficient in ICT and Microsoft software
HOW TO APPLY:
Candidates interested in this unique career opportunity with AKF should submit a two-page cover letter and maximum three-page CV including the names and contact information of three professional referees by 12 noon on Friday 31st January 2020. E-mail these documents to recruitment@akfea.org with ‘Schools2030 Officer, Coast’ in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
AKF is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is Committed to Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children and Vulnerable Adults and Expects all Staff and Partners to Share this Commitment.
The Aga Khan Foundation is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org)