Job Title: Country Education Programme Manager
Hiring Organization: Aga Khan Foundation
Location – Locality: Nairobi
Location – Region: Kenya
Industry: Non Profit
Job Type: Full Time
Salary: KES
Date Posted: 05/28/2024
Programme
background
AKF-Kenya
is part of the AKF-East Africa regional structure that supports programmes in
Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. In Kenya, AKF is managing an ambitious portfolio
of multi-input initiatives that seeks to address the interconnected causes of
poverty and poor quality of life in rural areas. Within education, AKF’s
portfolio in Kenya covers teacher transformation, school leadership, community
engagement, and system strengthening. AKF focuses on pre-primary, primary, and
secondary education and incorporates wider interventions associated with Early
Childhood Development
Overall Role:
Reporting
to the Regional Education and ECD Advisor, the Education Programme Manager
(EPM) is responsible for leading the education portfolio and co-lead the ECD
portfolio. The EPM will be responsible for developing and maintaining a robust
portfolio of education and ECD programmes, grant management, high quality
delivery of existing programmes, promoting learning and innovation, fostering
effective partnerships, and enhancing visibility of AKF and AKDN in the
education sector in Kenya. The EPM will work closely with the AKF(EA) Regional
Education and ECD Advisor based in Nairobi.
Specific
Responsibilities include:
Programme
Strategy, Design, and Resource Mobilisation: Lead programme design processes
for new opportunities to ensure a robust pipeline of for new education projects
in Kenya:
Develop a
deep understanding of AKF’s Education strategy and priorities in the education
sector in Kenya, East Africa, and globally.
Develop
an understanding of the priorities of other AKDN education agencies including
the Aga Khan University – Institute for Education Development, Aga Khan
Schools, and the Madrasa Early Childhood Programme.
Proactively
engage donor agencies, foundations, and other funders to mobilise resources to
deepen and broaden AKF’s education programming in Kenya.
Effective
portfolio and award management: Ensure high quality award management and
reporting for all donor grants for education.
Implement/improve
award management system, processes, guidelines, and tools to effectively
collaborate with Programme Managers to ensure all projects are delivered on
budget, on time, and with quality.
Collaborate
with Programme Managers to set-up new education projects, including start-up
plans, inception workshops, and recruitment plans, to ensure projects are
set-up to succeed.
Manage
donor communications to maintain positive partnerships and relationships.
Programme
Quality and Learning: Improve the technical implementation and quality of
education programmes in Kenya.
Invest in
developing a deeper understanding of education theory, best practices, and new
thinking in Kenya and Globally as well as a deep understanding of the progress,
challenges, and solutions from the school to systems level in Kenya.
Proactively
identify technical assistance needs of projects and the implementing teams.
Organise technical advisory services/consultancies, as needed and ensure TA is
delivered effectively.
Introduce
innovative ideas/approaches/technologies to improve programme implementation,
sustainability, and impact based on findings and evidence.
Learning,
Policy Engagement, and Communications: Lead a robust learning, policy
engagement and communications agenda for the education targeting key
stakeholders (government, donors, NGOs/CSOs, practitioners, AKDN etc.) to
inform policy, programmes, and practices.
Identify
critical aspects of Kenyan education sector where AKF can influence policy and
practice to develop and implement a learning and dialogue framework to enable
AKF to influence policy and practice.
Collaborate
with Programme and M&E team, develop and lead the research and learning
agenda.
Manage
relations with relevant ministries and parastatal bodies to enable information
exchange and for influencing/informing national policies, strategies,
regulations, and programmes.
About
you
To
succeed in this role, you will need to be demonstrate a expertise and
experience across the roles and responsibilities outlined, including:
Strategic
thinking
Respect
for diversity with a commitment to listen, hear, and appreciate diverse
perspectives.
A
commitment to personal, professional, and collaborative learning.
Self-motivated
and able to take initiative.
Inclusive
programme design.
Successful
resource mobilisation.
High
quality report writing.
Bachelor’s
degree in education, development, or relevant social science. Masters is
desirable.
Seven
years of professional experience including evidence leading education projects
and teams.
Expert in
written and oral communication in English and Kiswahili