Program Officer, Imarisha Msichana Scholarship Program

Role Overview

The Program Officer serves as the on-the-ground link between a scholarship programme and the students it supports, spending significant time in Mastercard Foundation-funded schools to monitor scholars' progress and mentor them through the challenges that threaten their education. Beyond individual student support, the role mobilises the surrounding community — parents, school leaders, duty bearers and local institutions — to confront teenage pregnancy and child marriage as barriers to girls completing school. It matters because keeping a girl in the classroom requires both personal encouragement and a wider environment that respects her rights, and this position works on both fronts at once.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct regular visits to partner schools to monitor the attendance, academic performance and overall well-being of students supported under the scholarship programme.
• Provide individual and group mentoring to scholars, guiding them on life skills, personal development and strategies for remaining in school.
• Maintain accurate records on scholar progress and retention, identifying early warning signs such as absenteeism, drop-out risk or unmet needs and escalating them for follow-up.
• Design and deliver awareness-raising activities for parents, teachers, community leaders and local institutions on the causes and consequences of teenage pregnancy and child marriage.
• Strengthen social accountability among duty bearers — schools, county officials and service providers — so that commitments made on girls' education and sexual and reproductive health are actually fulfilled.
• Build the confidence and agency of young people, equipping them with the knowledge to understand and speak up for their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Coordinate with county governments, civil society organisations, implementing partners and community groups to align activities and share lessons learned.
• Prepare periodic progress reports documenting mentoring outcomes, stakeholder engagement and programme results for internal and funder review.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences or a related humanities discipline is preferred.
• At least two years of experience in girls' education, including prior involvement in implementing or managing a scholarship programme.
• A valid Certificate of Good Conduct issued within the last six months.
• Experience in programme implementation and management within education programming is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to engage constructively with individuals of diverse backgrounds and beliefs, including a willingness to understand and tolerate differing opinions and views.
• A broad grasp of the socio-cultural and economic factors that drive teenage pregnancy.
• Experience working alongside county governments, civil society, partners and local communities.
• Detailed understanding of gender and diversity issues, with a personal commitment to addressing inequality across every area of responsibility.
• Ability and willingness to travel by road to field locations.

Applications should be submitted as a single PDF document containing a resume, cover letter, academic and professional certificates, and three professional references, sent to [email protected] no later than 15 October 2026 at 5:00 pm.