Aga Khan University (AKU), chartered in 1983, is an autonomous international institution dedicated to academic excellence and social impact. With 13 teaching sites across six countries on three continents, the University provides higher education in multiple health and social science disciplines. It also operates research programs, hospitals, and outreach clinics that meet international standards. The institution is part of the Aga Khan Development Network and is deeply committed to enhancing the quality of life in low- and middle-income countries through education, healthcare, and knowledge generation.
The Institute for Human Development (IHD), a key division of the University, focuses on advancing knowledge with direct relevance to policies, programs, and practices that improve human development outcomes. Particular emphasis is placed on early childhood development, ensuring that children everywhere are given a strong foundation for lifelong well-being.
AKU is currently seeking to recruit Project Officers for Lamu and Isiolo Counties. These positions will support initiatives in early childhood development (ECD) by working closely with community-based organizations, healthcare facilities, and local stakeholders. The roles are essential in delivering training, supporting interventions, coordinating project activities, and collecting and managing data that informs project outcomes.
Job Summary
The Project Officer positions in Lamu and Isiolo are responsible for providing technical and operational support in early childhood development initiatives. The officers will assist with training, mentoring, and supervising community health workers and research assistants, facilitate community mobilization efforts, manage project logistics, and ensure proper collection and handling of both qualitative and quantitative data.
Additionally, the officers will play an important role in liaising with local stakeholders, maintaining accurate records, supporting research processes, and ensuring timely reporting of project activities. The overall objective is to ensure effective and efficient delivery of early childhood interventions that contribute to the University’s mission of improving human development.
Responsibilities
Technical Support
- Assist in the training and mentoring of research assistants, Community Health Workers (CHWs), and community members in the delivery of early childhood development programs.
- Provide ongoing technical support to local partners to enhance the implementation of interventions.
- Monitor, review, and update project workplans to ensure timely achievement of set milestones.
- Offer logistical and administrative support in the planning and execution of project activities at the community level.
Research
- Participate in workshops aimed at planning research activities and gaining familiarity with data collection tools, consent procedures, and project protocols.
- Assist in the review and piloting of research tools to ensure they are contextually appropriate.
- Support participant recruitment, mobilization, and consent processes in line with ethical standards.
- Conduct quantitative data collection using ODK software and ensure accuracy in recording responses.
- Carry out qualitative research, including key informant interviews and focus group discussions.
- Take comprehensive field notes, prepare summaries of interviews, and transcribe research data.
- Assist in the cleaning, organization, and management of data to facilitate analysis.
- Contribute to the preparation of scientific manuscripts for publication.
Quality Assurance and Reporting
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, including local authorities, community partners, and beneficiaries, to enhance collaboration and communication.
- Coordinate and document project update meetings, including preparation and dissemination of meeting minutes.
- Ensure proper project documentation and management of relevant files.
- Support the timely preparation of reports for internal use as well as external stakeholders.
- Monitor project implementation to ensure compliance with protocols, ethical standards, and institutional guidelines.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development, Nursing, Developmental Psychology, Public Health, Clinical Medicine, or a related field.
Relevant Experience
- Proven experience in delivering or supporting early childhood development interventions in community or healthcare settings.
- Demonstrated ability to mobilize and work with caregivers, local leaders, and other community stakeholders to promote child health and development.
- Practical experience in conducting training sessions, including the adaptation of training materials to suit local contexts.
- Background in supporting research projects, including both qualitative and quantitative data collection.
- Familiarity with using digital tools for data collection, such as ODK or similar platforms.
- Strong skills in report writing, data management, and analysis.
- Fluency in English and Swahili, with proficiency in local languages spoken in Isiolo and Lamu considered an added advantage.
Personal Characteristics
- Knowledge and understanding of cultural contexts in Lamu and Isiolo.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while meeting tight deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively in team environments.
- Strong ethical standards, including respect for confidentiality and adherence to research or organizational ethics.
- Commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and the application of adaptive approaches in project delivery.
Application Process
Applications, including a detailed Curriculum Vitae, names of three referees, telephone contacts, email address, and copies of certificates and testimonials, should be submitted to the Manager, Recruitment, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. Applications can be sent either by post or email.
Postal Address:
Manager, Recruitment
Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi
P. O. Box 30270-00100, NAIROBI
Email: [email protected]
Applicants are requested to indicate the title of the position on their application.
The deadline for submission of applications is September 11, 2025.
