About AKF Kenya Education

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. The current portfolio includes programmes in education, early childhood development, and civil society strengthening. Within education, AKF’s portfolio in Kenya covers teacher transformation (including professional development), school leadership, community engagement, and system strengthening. AKF focuses on pre-primary, primary, and secondary education.

About the Role

Reporting to the Regional Education and ECD Advisor, the Education Programme Manager (EPM) is responsible for leading AKF’s education strategy at a national level, leading project design processes to develop and maintain a robust portfolio, award management, programme quality and learning, and representing and promoting AKF with education government and non-government education partners at a national and international level.

About the Specific Responsibilities

1.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.
• Stay informed on funding developments and trends for education globally and in Kenya. Collaborate with global and regional education advisors, programme teams, and partnerships teams to identify and determine which new funding opportunities aligned to the education strategy, priorities, and existing programme portfolio.
• Proactively engage donor agencies, foundations, and other funders to mobilise resources to deepen and broaden AKF’s education programming in Kenya.
• Lead inclusive co-design processes to develop projects proposals aligned to AKF’s education strategy and priorities. These processes will include AKF staff, AKDN sister agencies, and partner organisations.

2. 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.
• Ensure timely and quality internal and donor reporting that meets all compliance standards. This will include regular updates on key sector indicators to the Regional Education and ECD Advisor and senior AKF team.
• Manage donor communications to maintain positive partnerships and relationships.

3. 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.
• Support Programme Managers and programme teams to leverage programme data and local/global best practice to conduct periodic reviews on the quality of programme implementation and support continued improvements in programme delivery.
• 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.
• Integrate findings and learning from monitoring data and qualitative studies to inform project strategy.

4. 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.
• In close collaboration with Programme Manager and Regional Education and ECD Advisor, develop and implement a focused policy engagement agenda and workplan to inform selected public sector policy and/or programmes.
• Collaborate with Programme and M&E team, develop and lead the research and learning agenda.
• Collaborate with the communications team, lead on using programme evidence and data to produce policy, learning, and communication products to reach critical national, sub-national, and school level decision makers and practitioners.
• 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