Programme Assistant-Short Term

Short Term Staff

Designation: Programme Assistant

Positions: 1 Post

Location: Mombasa

1. Background

Madrasa Early Childhood Programme-Kenya (MECP-K); an affiliate of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has been operating in the Coast region-Kenya for over 40 years now. The MECP is a regional initiative with operations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The programme works in partnership with underprivileged communities, civil society organizations, national and county governments to promote inclusive, equitable and gender responsive holistic Early Childhood development (ECD) services benefiting girls and boys aged 0-8 years to have the best start in life. This is achieved through supporting a network of high-quality, gender responsive, culturally relevant, Climate sensitive and sustainable community owned preschools in marginalized communities as well as through collaboration with public pre-schools in target areas of operation. Further, the programme has a strategic focus on enhanced support for children 0-3 years and their families. This is achieved through collaboration with caregivers and families as well as with county government departments of health and entails capacity strengthening knowledge, skills and attitudes of key stakeholders’ in aspects of child care, stimulation, play, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation as well as ECD and Climate aspects.

MECP-K is looking for young, dynamic and enthusiastic individuals with appropriate technical expertise, passion and strong personal commitment to the welfare of young children and their families, particularly in early childhood education and community development to fill in the position of the below outlined short term contract staff to be located in Mombasa with field work in Kilifi and Kwale counties.

Summary Of Responsibilities

Below are some specific areas of contribution:

• Participate in facilitating design workshops and other capacity strengthening sessions geared towards supporting participating established design teams to practically implement their innovations, particularly, through the Human Centred Design (HCD) approaches.
• Participate in planning, support, and mentorship for the design teams including caregivers, Cluster Facilitators, Community Health Workers (CHWs0, ECD teachers, community leaders engaged in the HCD course to ensure effective implementation of the Play & Learn initiatives and document key learnings.
• Participate in conducting reflection meetings with caregivers, ECD teachers and ECD Officers and document key reflections and action items.
• Support design teams to effectively utilize the resources provided through the Flexible Response Fund (FRF) for timely implementation of their innovations.
• Support in review and updating of relevant caregiver and community training content/manuals as per the guidance from your supervisor as and when required.
• Support in developing, review and updating of relevant simple monitoring and evaluation tools as and when required.
• Participate in staff monthly and quarterly review meetings.
• Compile quality and share timely activity reports for all activities undertaken during the period of engagement, including end of internship report.
• Perform any other duty that may be assigned to you by your supervisor and or by the Programme Director.

Qualifications and competencies

• Minimum Degree in a relevant discipline, such as education, early childhood education, community development, social sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation, IT and Communications from a recognized local University.
• Practical experience in the area of internship applied for i.e. facilitating training and mentoring sessions for pre-primary schoolteachers, ECD Officers, caregivers, community representatives and other stakeholders in early childhood education and care contexts will be an added advantage.
• Experience in IT and Communications will be highly preferred.
• Experience in contributing to developing and reviewing key training resources taking into account stakeholder needs and aspirations for development will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrate experience with compiling results-based reports and timely sharing.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English and Kiswahili is required.
• Excellent proficiency in the use of Ms. Office applications, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Highly organized, self-driven, visionary and able to work under minimal supervision.
• Good analytical, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrate openness to change and able to manage multiple tasks