Programme Manager– Systems-change & Early Childhood Development (ECD) at Aga Khan Foundation

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Systems Advocacy

Drive the overarching strategic vision of the ECD systems-change initiative, ensuring all activities address root causes rather than just surface symptoms.

Interface directly with high-level institutional stakeholders, including County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) for Education and Health, Sub-County Administrators, Members of the County Assemblies, national ECD networks and other relevant partners and stakeholders on the ground.

Systems-Change facilitation and ensure programme goals align with institutional and policy guidelines or shifts.

Lead formal execution of agreed commitments including signing of MoUs where needed.

Champion the institutionalization of community-led ECD models into County integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) and annual budget allocations.

Team Management & Oversight

Manage and collaborate with relevant field officers, independent consultants, specific specialists (gender, design & innovation, data & insights) and or evaluators.

In collaboration with the Programme Director periodically appraise relevant team and recommend strategic role assignment and adjustment to align with emerging needs thus, maximize overall efficiencies.

In collaboration with the Programme Director oversee contractual agreements, procurement processes and onboarding of relevant structures contributing to timely processes and results.

Risk Management & Adaptive Governance

Identify, track, and mitigate high-level project risks (e.g., changes in county political leadership, shifting local security contexts, or systemic resistance to policy changes).

Guide the project team through complex adaptive pivots, transforming field roadblocks into strategic levers and learning opportunities.

In collaboration with the Programme Director convene and facilitate project steering committees, advisory boards, and donor review sessions.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Compliance

Contribute to designing the initiative’s Learning and Measurement Evaluation (LME) Framework to facilitate timely tracking and measure systemic shifts (e.g., policy implementation, resource flows, and power dynamics).

Compile comprehensive, high-quality progress reports, impact case studies, for donors, institutional partners, and government.

Ensure strict adherence to all organizational and partner policy guidelines and standards are maintained at all times.

The requirements

Required Qualifications, Experiences and Skills

Experience: 5+ years in project management within social development sector, public policy engagement, or public health sectors in Kenya. At least 2 years must be in a leadership role managing teams, partners and compiling quality donor reports. Further, demonstrate experience in delivering highly successful educational or systems-change programmes.

Domain Expertise: Deep practical knowledge of the Kenyan Early Childhood Development (ECD) landscape, including policies and community/parental involvement, devolution structures (County government systems), and community-health frameworks (e.g., the CHP strategy), strong relationship building and maintaining positive influence amongst partners.

Education: Master’s or bachelor’s degree in education, Project Management, Development Studies, Public Health, Social Sciences, or a related field. Professional certifications (e.g., Management Fundamentals, Understanding Systems- Change) are highly valued.

Negotiation & Influence: Proven track record of successfully navigating government bureaucracies, building coalitions, and managing high-stakes multi-stakeholder relationships.

Languages: Strong written and fluent verbal communication in English and Kiswahili. Basic understanding of the local languages will be an added advantage.

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