The position

About the Madrasa Early Childhood Development Program
Madrasa Early Childhood Development Program, Uganda (MECPU) is an initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation that delivers community-driven, multi-sectoral ECCE programming in Uganda with a proven model for holistic child development (0-8 years). Through its community-based programmes: a) Parents and caregivers’ knowledge, skills and practices are enhanced on responsive caregiving, holistic child development and Learning. b) ECD frontline workers’ capacities are strengthened to ensure that they provide safe, secure and quality pre-primary learning spaces. c) Capacities of national, sub-National and local government officials and policy makers are enhanced to influence ECCE policies and contribute to national, regional and global ECCE agenda ​and discourse.
Since 1986, MECPU has supported communities in Kenya, Uganda, and Zanzibar to establish and sustain ECE centres now serving 18,000 children every year. From 1993, when MECP expanded to Uganda, it has enabled over 54,000 children from marginalized communities to successfully complete their pre-primary education, transition into primary school at the right age, and succeed in later schooling. MECP-U has trained and supported over 8,500 ECE teachers and 6,000 community members and currently works with 207 communities across 10 districts of Uganda (seven in central region and three in West Nile region).

About the Project
MECPU is partnering with Noor Cultural Center to implement The Early Steps Initiative (TESI) project.  It is a 3 year project aimed at Improving developmental outcomes for children in the targeted ECCE centers in Kampala, Wakiso and Butambala districts.
MECPU will specifically:

• Enhance teacher competences through targeted training and mentorship and continuous professional development.
• Strengthen the capacity and functionality of CMCs to ensure sustainable ECCE centre management

Under this project, MECPU seeks to promote long-lasting change by training teachers and CMCs in the targeted ECCE centres to ensure the provision of a safe, supportive, inclusive environment for all children and compliance of the basic requirements and minimum standards of the MoES.

As a Programme Officer you will perform your duties under the close supervision of the Programme and Impacts Manager. Your responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Organise and conduct TNAs , train and provide mentorship to teachers and CMC members under the project.
• Provide technical input in designing, producing and dissemination of training materials, policy advocacy materials and visibility materials for project implementation.
• Training local government officials and other relevant structures on their role of delivering quality integrated ECCE services in the targeted districts.
• Participate in Sub National and National level events that are geared towards supporting ECCE implementation and programming.
• Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure that the project is implemented as per plan and budget.
• Organise stakeholder engagements including inception and ongoing review meetings to track the progress of the project and receive feedback from them most especially community and local government leadership.
• Flag issues of concern on the project progress and implementation to the supervisor.
• Identify capacity gaps and arrange for appropriate training of ECCE caregivers to adequately equip them with necessary skills and knowledge required to accomplish their responsibilities at the day-to-day operational level.
• Ensure activity reports and financial accountabilities are submitted and contribute to project reporting where needed.
• Work with other staff members to develop materials and plans for training ECCE caregivers and CMC members.
• Perform other relevant duties as and when assigned by the supevisor.

The requirements

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in education, ECD/ECCE, Social Work and Social Administration, development studies, Social Science.

• At least 2-3 years’ experience of working as an ECD programme Officer and working with communities to promote ECD will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrable experience with adult learning facilitation
• Experience in stake holder engagement at national and subnational levels, e.g. schools, communities, local government etc and mobilization skills.
• An excellent command of spoken and written English, including report writing and computer skills, especially MS Word and Excel.

• Ability to ride a motorcycle will be an added advantage.

Programme Values
All MECP staff are expected to embody the following values in their work:

• Child-centered practice is oriented toward the well-being, development, and dignity of young children.
• Community ownership: communities are not recipients but active partners who shape and sustain the programme.
• Integrity: honesty, transparency, and accountability in all professional conduct.
• Continuous learning: Commitment to improving through evidence, reflection, and professional development.
• Pluralism: The active choice to engage with differences constructively turning diversity into a source of collective strength and shared prosperity

How to Apply
Interested candidates are requested to submit their applications by 24^th July 2026.
Equal Opportunities
The Madrasa Early Childhood Programme is committed to equal opportunity and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals regardless of gender, disability, or background. We are particularly committed to the professional development of women in leadership roles within our programme.
AKF/MECPU 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.”
 All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks which include criminal record checks. AKF also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. You can find out more on this scheme on this link: https://misconduct-disclosure-scheme.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.