The position
The main objective of this position is to be the technical, operational and strategic lead in an innovative Early Childhood Development (ECD) & systems-change initiative. The incumbent will drive the day-to-day implementation of time-sensitive program interventions by fostering strategic institutional relationships with National, County government entities as well as with other stakeholders and partners. The Co-ordinator will facilitate execution of strategic activities while serving as the organizational primary point of contact for government and other relevant institutions leading to positive outcomes on systems-change and benefitting young children aged 0-6 in Kenya’s ASAL region, specifically, Kilifi, Isiolo, Lamu and Tana River Counties.
Reporting to: Programme Manager
Duration of Contract: Initial 9-Months with potential for extension for 4 years – subject to availability of funding.
Station: Mombasa
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.
Interested, qualified and available individuals should send application letters, CVs and contact information of three professional referees not later than Friday, 20th November 2026.
“MECP-K is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of staff, children, adults and all the stakeholders that we work with and do expect all staff and partners to share this commitment”
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.
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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