Counties Coordinator

Organization: Uthabiti Africa
Location: Kisumu
Position Type: Full-time
Application Deadline: 28th April 2024
Estimated Interview dates: Rolling
Estimated start date: Immediate

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.

Job Overview: Counties Coordinator
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 Counties Coordinator supporting our County-based engagement work in Kisumu, Kakamega and the wider Lake Region Economic Bloc, while actively supporting the growth of Uthabiti’s work across our portfolio of initiatives. As a Counties Coordinator, you will play a pivotal role in implementing strategies to support caregivers, particularly Home-Based Childcare (HBCC) providers, working with others to build workers to optimize efficiency, streamline processes, and foster collaboration among different organisations working at county level, including supporting the CAC learning networks and mobilizing participation in key national and international conferences and events. You will be the primary representative of Uthabiti Africa with County Governments, developing deep relationships with key counties while staying true to Uthabiti’s principle of ‘Government in the lead, children and caregivers at the centre and non-state actors working together to accelerate quality, affordable childcare for all’.

This role will be good for someone who has 2-5 years experience who is looking for opportunities
to thrive in a dynamic environment with great personal growth potential.

1. Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary point of contact for county-related matters, establishing andmaintaining strong relationships with county officials, departments, CSOs and community leaders
• Coordinate with other organisations in each county to strengthen coordination on early childhood, care and education activities to ensure effective and efficient deployment of available resources to as many caregivers and children as possible.

2. Policy and Regulatory Reforms

• Represent Uthabiti in all policy and regulatory reform discussions in Kisumu and Kakamega Counties
• Stay informed about relevant childcare-related county regulations, policies, and procedures, ensuring compliance and adherence to legal requirements in all activities and operations.

3. Project management

• Ensure effective and efficient execution of projects and initiatives
• Identify challenges and obstacles affecting county operations, proactively address issues, and implement solutions to overcome barriers and drive progress.
• Facilitate the dissemination of information, providing updates, and reporting on key metricsand performance indicators for projects.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data related to county operations, network for women-in-childcare building, among others, constantly identifying trends, patterns, and areas for improvement to inform decision-making and strategic planning.
• Develop and implement comprehensive plans and strategies to effectively manage operations across multiple counties, ensuring alignment with organizational goals andobjectives, (with a specific focus on existing projects).

4, Caregiver Movement Building and Capacity Building

• Support the enumeration of caregivers and the development of the Network for Women in Childcare at County level, linking to the national network
• Coordinate support for childcare workers from diverse organisations in within Kisumu and Kakamega Counties ensuring effective and efficient deployment of support and resources
• Coordinate guidance, support, and training to volunteers and childcare workers, working closely with other staff
• Support the building of the Collaborative SACCO and other initiatives aimed at strengthening support systems for caregivers

4. Collaboration and Learning

• Foster a culture of collaboration and teamwork amongst county governments, CSOs and private sector actors, encouraging cross-functional cooperation and collective problem-solving.
• Organise County-based and cross-country learning, sharing and capacity building events focused on childcare.
• Develop the Collaborative Action for Childcare platform membership across Kisumu, Kakamega and the wider Lake Region Economic Bloc

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, Communication, Business Management, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Proven experience in county government, community development, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of county governance, policies, and regulations.
• Extensive community-engagement experience
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time effectively.
• Proficiency in data analysis, report writing, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexibility to travel within the region as needed.
  

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their resume, a 1-2 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 28th April 2024. Please include “Counties 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.