Global Business Costing and Planning Specialist

IN-COUNTRY

Host Agency: Aga Khan Foundation East Africa

Placement: Nairobi, Kenya

Duration: 8 months

About AKF Canada

Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) is a leading global development organization and registered charity working to tackle the root causes of poverty. Since 1980, we have helped create strong community institutions that support sustainable, locally-driven initiatives to improve the lives of millions of people in Africa and Asia. By combining local knowledge with global best practices, we strive to bring about transformative and long-lasting improvements to quality of life. In Canada, AKFC mobilizes funding and expertise and promotes awareness of global issues. In all of our work, advancing gender equality, inclusion, and pluralism are key objectives and approaches.

Working alongside the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network and through partnerships with local communities, civil society, and business as well as governments and international aid agencies, we are building a future where we all thrive together.

About AKF East Africa and MECP

AKF seeks sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and ill health, with special emphasis on the needs of rural communities in mountainous, coastal, and other resource-poor areas. In East Africa, AKF works in collaboration with partners to develop and promote innovative solutions that contribute to improving the quality of life of communities in East Africa. AKF responds to local and regional priorities by developing and implementing effective programming, measuring, and documenting results, and sharing its lessons with governments, donors, and development actors, contributing to the improvement of policy and practice. To promote and sustain growth, AKF EA aims at diversifying funding streams and strengthen relationships with both bilateral and private funding bodies. Across this crucial moment for the organization, AKF will need to find sustainable routes for generating financial contributions and build a strong portfolio of relationship-strengthening modalities, such as donor-facing engagement and internal capacity building.

The Madrasa Early Childhood Programme (MECP) is an affiliate of the Aga Khan Foundation. Established first in Kenya in the 1980s, MECP today operates as a regional organization in three East African countries, including Uganda and Zanzibar. Originally founded to support underprivileged communities to establish and manage high-quality preschools, the MECPs have evolved over time to offer professional development and training courses to new and practicing preschool teachers and provide technical support to preschools, civil society, government, and private organizations.

The MECPs have four government-registered and recognized Teacher Training Institutes (TTIs), and a government-accredited two-year teacher preparation program. However, due to evolving policy contexts and changes around teacher education in all three countries, the MECPs need to adapt the TTIs and course offerings based on the emerging challenges and new opportunities in the ECD space.

Summary of Position

The specific objective of the position is to:

• Understand the true cost of doing business
• Develop costed structure for different course offerings
• Determine demand for courses in consultation with AKF and MECP, teachers, government, etc.
• Develop TTI business proposal given the different course offerings highlighting those that aren’t profit making, courses able to derive a surplus, risks, etc.

Responsibilities

The Global Business Costing and Planning Specialist will work with AKF and MECP teams to develop a costing structure for all ECD courses offered by MECPs through the teacher training institutes. This will include but not limited to:

• Develop clear course costings based on market realities.
• Develop a clear understanding and model of the true cost of doing business for the TTI
• Identify possible risks and opportunities in the ECD marketplace for the TT
• Develop clear costed plans for the diverse course offerings MECP TTI can offer
• Develop a Business Plan for the MECP TTI in each country.

The following are the duties of the Business Costing and Planning Specialist

• Collaborate with diverse teams (technical, finance, etc.) across AKF and MECP to achieve high quality deliverables
• Develop clear course costings based on market realities
• Ensure relevant staff understand and can use the course costing in their roles (e.g. budget development, etc.)
• Technical support: (40%)
• Finance: (40%)
• Training: (20%)

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Postgraduate degree in Business Administration/Finance/Costing, or related field
• At least 5 years of experience in similar work
• Experience working in developing countries

Language

English proficiency required, Kiswahili will be an added advantage

Please note that due to the nature of funding for this position, the placement is only open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

AKFC is committed to advancing gender equality and inclusion through our programming and operations in Canada and overseas. AKFC requires all employees and consultants to review and abide by the AKFC Gender Equality Policy. 

AKFC recognizes the importance of safeguarding and is committed to ensuring it manages a wide range of risks such that beneficiaries, staff, other associates, and the organization are kept safe from harm. All employees and consultants must respect the AKF Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy. 

AKFC welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

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How to Apply:

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by clicking the link below.

Deadline to apply: August 31, 2023 by 11:59pm EDT

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