The position
The main objective of this position is to strategically lead, support and manage multi-stakeholder initiatives aimed at influencing systems-change. Equally, the role will entail mapping systems dynamics, connect grassroots insights to institutional decision-makers, and support long-term sustainability to enhance access to quality early childhood care and education to benefit all young girls and boys in ASAL regions – Kenya, specifically, Kilifi, Isiolo, Lamu and Tana River Counties. The incumbent will be responsible and accountable for timely project delivery, ensuring productive and timely submission of all required milestones, risk management in alignment with MECP-K’s organizational values and aspirations as well as donor & statutory compliance.
Reporting to: Programme Director
Duration of Contract: Initial 9-Months with potential for extension for 4 years – subject to availability of funding.
Station: Mombasa
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.
Interested, qualified and available individuals should send application letters, CVs and contact information of three professional referees not later than Friday, 20th November 2026.
Sector
Social Development
About the Agency
The Madrasa Early Childhood Programme (MECP), an affiliate of the Aga Khan Foundation, was established in East Africa in the 1980s to improve access and quality of Early Childhood care and services in marginalized communities on the Coast of Kenya, Zanzibar and Uganda. As a locally rooted entity with an entirely local staff, MECP has been a driving force in championing affordable, high-quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs for the past four decades.
MECP works with key stakeholders to deliver (ECD) interventions for children ages 0-8. MECPs have been working closely with governments to enhance delivery of quality ECD interventions focusing on supporting front-line education and health workers and influencing ECD policy and practice, including quality teacher training. To date, MECP has trained over 8,000 teachers and reached over 1 million children. MECP's technical proficiency spans across various domains, including teacher capacity development, curriculum design, community engagement, and program evaluation. Graduates of MECP have successfully and consistently transitioned to higher levels of education, and over 10,000 have gained employment as ECD teachers, head teachers, caregivers, and community development workers.
Region
Eastern Africa
Location
Kenya
Job Expires
20-Nov-2026
Closing date: 2026-11-20
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested, qualified and available individuals should send application letters, CVs and contact information of three professional referees not later than Friday, 20th November 2026.
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