Project Officer – (Lamu & Isiolo) at Aga Khan University (AKU)

Job Summary

This role is critical in supporting effective delivery of training and support on early childhood development in collaboration with community-based organizations, healthcare facilities and community health promoters, collection and management of quantitative and qualitative data for monitoring and evaluating project outcomes. In addition, the incumbents will play a key role in coordinating and implementing project activities to ensure effective delivery of interventions.   

We are looking for highly motivated and experienced professionals with a background in early childhood development or related fields to join our team as Project Officers in Lamu and Isiolo Counties.

Responsibilities

Technical Support

• Assist in training and providing ongoing mentoring and support to research assistants, Community Health Workers (CHW) and community members to support ECD.  
• Monitor, review and update project workplans for effective and timely delivery of project milestones

Research

• Participate in workshops to plan research activities and familiarize with data collection tools, consent procedures, and project protocols.
• Assist in reviewing and piloting research tools, and support logistics for participant recruitment, mobilization, consenting, and data collection.
• Conduct quantitative data collection using ODK software.
• Conduct key informant interviews and focus group discussions, take detailed field notes, and prepare interview summaries.
• Support data transcription, cleaning, and organization for analysis.
• Support the preparation of scientific manuscripts for publication.
• Maintain and manage data, files, and project documentation.

Quality Assurance and Reporting

• Liaise with stakeholders, including community partners, local authorities, and beneficiaries, to ensure effective communication and collaboration.
• Coordinate project update meetings, documentation and sharing of the minutes.
• Liaise with stakeholders, including community partners, local authorities, and beneficiaries, to ensure effective communication and collaboration.
• Coordinate project update meetings, documentation and sharing of the minutes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in ECD, nursing, developmental psychology, public health, clinical medicine or a related field.

Relevant Experience

• Strong background in delivering or supporting ECD interventions in community or health facility settings. Experience in mobilizing and working with caregivers and community stakeholders to promote child health and development. 
• Experience in conducting training sessions for community-based organizations, supporting in developing training materials and adapting them for local contexts. 
• Demonstrated experience in supporting research projects and collecting qualitative and/or quantitative data.
• Proficiency in using smartphones or tablets for data collection (e.g. ODK or similar platforms).
• Fluency in English and Swahili languages is required. Proficiency in other local languages spoken in Isiolo and Lamu is an added advantage.  
• Solid analytical and report writing skills.

Personal Characteristics 

• Knowledge of cultural contexts in Isiolo and/or Lamu.
• Ability to work independently and meet tight deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Maintains integrity, respects confidentiality, and adheres to research or organizational ethics.
• Committed to learning and innovation and adaptive approaches.