Programme Director- MECPZ at Aga Khan Foundation Tanzania

MECP-Z National Board/The Aga Khan Foundation Tanzania (AKF T), is seeking to recruit a visionary and dynamic Programme Director with a proven track record in programme management, strategic leadership, resource mobilisation, and partnership development.

As the most senior leader of MECP-Z, the Programme Director will provide strategic direction, organisational leadership, and oversight to ensure the organisation delivers sustainable, high-quality impact for children and communities in Zanzibar. The successful candidate must demonstrate strong people management skills, robust financial stewardship, and the ability to engage and influence policy, while upholding MECP’s mission, values, and commitment to pluralism and safeguarding.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership in line with MECP-Z’s mandate and AKF’s broader goals.
• Oversee programme design, delivery, and quality assurance, ensuring evidence-based and community-responsive approaches.
• Lead, mentor, and support a diverse team, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and inclusion.
• Drive resource mobilisation efforts and ensure sound financial management, compliance, and risk oversight.
• Strengthen institutional capacity, manage staff performance, and promote organisational growth.
• Build and sustain partnerships with government, donors, civil society, and community stakeholders.
• Represent MECP-Z nationally, regionally, and internationally to influence policy and practice.
• Ensure effective internal and external communications in collaboration with AKF.
• Uphold MECP’s values of pluralism, inclusion, and safeguarding across all operations.

The requirements

Qualifications and experience

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in education, Development, International Relations, Public Management, Public Policy, Business Administration, Social Work
• Proven ability to lead organisations or large teams, with strong skills in leadership, strategic planning, staff development, and financial oversight.
• Experience in building effective partnerships with government, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to represent the organisation in high-level forums.
• Experience of working across geographical, organisation boundaries, cultures & diverse stakeholders.
• Understanding of the Zanzibar or Tanzanian education landscape is an asset.

Core competencies

• Strategic Vision and Organisational Leadership
• Team Leadership and Talent Development
• Programme Quality and Accountability
• Partnership Development and Policy Engagement
• Equity, Inclusion, and Safeguarding

How to Apply
Interested candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV including contacts of three references 
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

“AKF/MECP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is Committed to Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children and Vulnerable Adults and Expects all Staff and Partners to Share this Commitment”
The Aga Khan Foundation/MECP is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org).

Sector

Social Development

About the Agency

The Madrasa Early Childhood Programme (MECP), an affiliate of the Aga Khan Foundation, was established in East Africa in the 1980s to improve access and quality of Early Childhood care and services in marginalized communities on the Coast of Kenya, Zanzibar and Uganda. As a locally rooted entity with an entirely local staff, MECP has been a driving force in championing affordable, high-quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs for the past four decades.

MECP works with key stakeholders to deliver (ECD) interventions for children ages 0-8. MECPs have been working closely with governments to enhance delivery of quality ECD interventions focusing on supporting front-line education and health workers and influencing ECD policy and practice, including quality teacher training. To date, MECP has trained over 8,000 teachers and reached over 1 million children. MECP's technical proficiency spans across various domains, including teacher capacity development, curriculum design, community engagement, and program evaluation. Graduates of MECP have successfully and consistently transitioned to higher levels of education, and over 10,000 have gained employment as ECD teachers, head teachers, caregivers, and community development workers.