Regional Programme Director

Closing date: 31 Jan 2011
Location: Kenya - Mombasa
AGA KHAN FOUNDATION, EAST AFRICA
Madrasa Early Childhood Education and Development Programme

The Aga Khan Foundation wishes to recruit an experienced Regional Programme Director for the Madrasa Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED) Programme in East Africa.

The Programme supports community-based early childhood initiatives to improve quality, access and effectiveness of early years development through locally registered Madrasa Resource Centres (MRCs) across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The Regional Programme Director (RPD) will be responsible for strategic direction and effective management and implementation of the Programme at a regional level and providing technical support in collaboration with the three MRCs under guidance of the Madrasa Regional Committee and the Aga Khan Foundation.

S/he will (i) provide strategic direction and leadership in successfully achieving current and future programme objectives; (ii) ensuring ongoing capacity building of the MRCs and of community based ECD initiatives through them; (iii) providing technical assistance for programme innovation and delivery; and (iv) developing longer-term strategic and operational planning for the Programme in conjunction with the MRCs, their National Boards and the Madrasa Regional Committee. The RPD will report to the Chairman of the Regional Committee on technical matters and to the Aga Khan Foundation Regional Programme Officer for Education on management and operational matters.

Qualifications, Experience & Skills required:

- A post-graduate degree in Education and at least five years of experience in the education sector, preferably specialised in early childhood;
- A solid track record of working with Government(s) and NGOs, especially at local levels;
- Experience of working in the East African context;
- Proven experience in managing complex grants; programme planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; managing an organisation including financial and HR management; community mobilization;
- Proven experience in developing strategies, training programmes and delivering training for ECD programmes;
- A good understanding of education in the local Islamic context with hands-on experience in working with Muslim communities in the region; excellent interpersonal skills including high quality oral and written communications; and the ability to work independently and manage a regional team and to meet strict and high quality implementation and reporting deadlines.

The RPD will be based in Mombasa, Kenya and will require frequent travel to other locations within East Africa.

Further information on the Madrasa Resource Centres may be found at the following websites:
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/acdicida.nsf/En/REN-218125519-PYT?OpenDocument
http://www.mwambao.com/madrasa.htm; http://www.akdn.org/agency/akf_special.html; http://www.akdn.org/agency/akf_current.html

Applications should include a cover letter describing why you are interested and qualified for this position, CV, and contact information for at least three referees not related to you. Please do not send copies of certificates or awards. Applications marked confidential should be delivered or e-mailed by 31st January, 2011 to the following address:

The Regional Human Resources Manager, Aga Khan Foundation, East Africa
P.O. Box 40898, 00100, Nairobi
Email: recruitment-akfea@akdn.org

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The Aga Khan Foundation is an Agency of the Aga Khan Development Network.

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