Location: Nairobi or Kisumu, Kenya with extensive engagement with Nakuru and Kakamega Counties.
Position Type: Full-time
Application Deadline: 8th May 2024
Start date: Immediate
Shortlisting and Interviewing will be ongoing so kindly apply early
About Uthabiti
Uthabiti Africa is the African non-profit social enterprise dedicated to accelerating quality, affordable childcare for all. Our 7-year Strategic Plan is focused on reaching 100,000 childcare workers and 10 million children by 2030. We envision a functioning childcare market that is anchored by a good policy and legal framework and systemic, mutually reinforcing interventions. This market will generate jobs and income opportunities, primarily for young women, while improving the health, development and well-being of young children under 8. Through the Collaborative Action for Childcare (CAC) platform, Uthabiti brings people together through the Annual Collaborative Action for Childcare Forum; the periodic Women in Childcare Forum and the bi-ennual Africa Childcare Forum – all focused on accelerating quality, affordable childcare for all across the continent.
As we embark on an exciting growth stage, we are seeking a dynamic, self-driven and highly efficient individual to join our team as a Policy and Partnerships Coordinator overseeing the management of our Childcare Legal, Policy and Regulatory Reforms work in Kenya and potentially, in Malawi, while actively supporting the growth of our work across our portfolio.
Job Overview: Policy and Partnerships Coordinator
The ideal candidate will be a highly outgoing, articulate and self-driven professional with a proven track record in policy development, advocacy, partnership development as well as women’s economic empowerment. The candidate will should have the capacity to effectively represent the organisation in high-level processes and forums at County, national and potentially regional level.
The Policy and Partnerships Coordinator is responsible for leading collaborative efforts to advance childcare and childcare-related legal, policy and regulatory reforms in the country, supporting the CEO and the management to develop and maintain relationships across the Collaborative Action for Childcare platform to experdite childcare-related legal, policy and regulatory reforms at national level and, initially, in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Kakamega Counties.
Reporting to the CEO or his designate, you will also be responsible for developing and managing the Policy and Regulatory Reforms Technical Working Group of the CAC and leveraging partnerships and resources to ensure these are held in an efficient and effective manner.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Policy and Regulatory Reform
- Lead the Legal, Policy and Regulatory Reforms workstream, coordinating work planning engagement with external and internal partners at national, county and regional level
- Lead the review of existing policies and regulations at national and county level
- Stay abreast of developments in the childcare and childcare-related policy at national and county level and ensure Uthabiti’s leadership in providing guidance to the sector
- Manage the coordination of key stakeholders at national level – particularly the Council of Governors; National Council for Children’s Services, National Gender and Equality Commission; Ministry of Education and Ministry of Gender
- Influence and partner with senior leaders to define County and national policy strategy aligned with Uthabiti Africa strategic plan
- Be abreast of regional, national and international events relating to childcare and women’s economic development.
- Measure the effectiveness of policy work/initiatives; define and lead change to meet objectives
- Effectively collaborate with the Communications and Development teams to enable and facilitate Uthabiti positioning across its core areas of focus and increase engagement of stakeholders through the strategic use of diverse media platforms
- Serve as ambassador of Uthabiti Africa mission and policy and advocacy priorities etc.)
Children and Women’s Rights
- Lead Advocacy work on the rights of female childcare workers
- Support the generation of evidence through the development and implementation of broad-based support programmes for caregivers and children
- Lead advocacy work on caregiver rights
Stakeholder Engagement
- Support the building of the Collaborative Action for Childcare collective, including the Policy TWG
- In coordination with the CEO, COO and other managers, build relationships with organizations and other stakeholders in the childcare sector whose work aligns closely with the work of Uthabiti
- Support with troubleshooting and advice the CEO, COO and PM on potential challenges and responsibilities.
- Represent Uthabiti in stakeholder meetings, helping to ensure visibility for the organization key conversations
- Ensure coordination and teamwork between different workstreams, seamlessly participating in community as well as policy conversations.
- Maintain an up-to-date stakeholder engagement list and regularly conduct a ‘state of stakeholder engagement’ exercise and support the CEO, COO and other managers to anticipate challenges
- Support the CEO in maintaining key strategic relationships between Uthabiti Africa, the Early Childhood Network for Kenya, AfECN, ECDAN and others – and play an intermediary responsibility on matters joint programming and stakeholder mobilization
Learning, and Collaboration
- Initiate and facilitate learning networks that accelerate peer-to-peer learning approaches, document and share knowledge between stakeholders to help strengthen early childhood care and education in Kenya.
- Oversee the implementation of the communications, research and learning functions and ensure case studies, reports and other documents are produced from time to time.
- Leverage the research and learning generated through our work to support technical innovation and strengthen programme quality
- Input into organisation-wide strategies, reporting, thought leadership, team management and innovation promotion processes.
- Conduct and document research for evidence on new engagements with stakeholders
- Oversee the development of learning products including Issue Papers, Policy Papers, newsletters and annual reports in close consultation with the CEO and senior management.
Programme Development Support & Fundraising
- Participate actively in the development of new programmes for Uthabiti Africa, including concept notes and proposals in consultation with the senior management for fundraising to support Uthabiti’s initiatives
- Identify new opportunities for expansion including potentially at local (with county governments and regional level).
- Represent Uthabiti in existing and potential donor meetings
- Assist in conducting training and capacity building for Early Childhood Care, Education and Development service providers
Management
- Provide performance management, professional development, and supervisory support to other
- Work closely with the CEO and Directors to coordinate the dissemination of key technical materials and the organization of essential workshops or in-service training
- Perform any other duties that may be assigned from time to time
Person Specifications:
Essential Skills
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Law or Social Sciences. A practicing lawyer is preferred
- A Post-Graduate Diploma in Law if the primary degree is not in Law.
- Experience in policy advocacy particularly focused on women’s rights or child rights.
- Experience in designing Women’s Economic Empowerment initiatives.
- At least 3-5years’ experience in Policy Advocacy
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective partnerships.
Ideal skills
- Passionate about improving the lives of children and caregivers.
- Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently.
- Cultural sensitivity and ability to navigate diverse environments.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit their resume, a 1-2 page cover letter outlining how you meet person specifications and a 2-3 page CV and contact details for three professional references to hr@uthabitiafrica.org by 8th May 2024. Please include “Policy and Partnerships Coordinator” in the subject line.
Uthabiti Africa is an equal opportunity employer and encourages female candidates, people with disability and minority groups from all backgrounds to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.