Programmes and Strategy Lead

ABOUT ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL KENYA

ActionAid International Kenya (AAIK) is a member of the ActionAid Federation. ActionAid works in more than 52 countries all over the world, in the places where it can make the biggest impact. ActionAid tackles poverty and denial of human rights at the local level, and challenges the causes behind them locally, nationally and globally. In Kenya, AAI works in solidarity with women and people living in poverty and exclusion; connecting their voices, sharing ideas, spreading inspiration, campaigning, advocating and influencing public policy to eradicate poverty and ensure social justice. ActionAid International Kenya has a presence in 25 counties in Kenya.

Our commitment to Safeguarding

ActionAid is committed to recruiting candidates who promote ActionAid’s SHEA and Safeguarding policies and values.

ActionAid will only recruit candidates who are committed to SHEA and Safeguarding and ActionAid’s values, thereby helping to create safer working cultures. As a deterrence measure ActionAid is also committed to deterring candidates who are intending to cause harm from joining ActionAid.

Contract duration: 3 years renewable

The Role: The Program and Strategy Lead provide strategic leadership for programme design, implementation, and influencing, ensuring women’s rights, accountability, and a human right–based approach are central to ActionAid Kenya’s work. The role leads national policy research, advocacy, and campaigning in alignment with the ActionAid Federation’s campaign priorities and works closely with the Executive Director to deliver ActionAid Kenya’s strategic role within the Federation. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team (Uamuzi), the position contributes to shaping organisational vision and goals, oversees programme strategy and planning, manages a multidisciplinary team, fosters an inclusive and high-performing team culture, and leads talent development. The role also has significant responsibility for programme resources, overseeing up to 60% of the organisation’s budget to ensure effective and accountable programme delivery.

Please see further information in the job description–https://actionaid-kenya.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Job-Description-AAIK-Programmes-and-Strategy-Lead.pdf

Who we’re looking for: Are you a strategic and values-driven programme leader passionate about women’s rights, social justice, and human rights–based approaches to development? This could be the role for you. ActionAid Kenya is seeking a dynamic and experienced Program and Strategy Lead to provide strategic leadership for programme design, influencing, advocacy, and campaigning in line with ActionAid Federation priorities.

This role requires a bold and reflective leader with a strong track record in programme strategy, policy research, and advocacy, capable of integrating feminist and accountability principles into impactful programming. You will lead the development of platforms for national-level influencing, ensure coherence between programmes and campaigns, and work closely with the Executive Director to advance ActionAid Kenya’s strategic positioning within the Federation.

As a senior leader and member of Uamuzi, ActionAid Kenya’s Senior Leadership Team, you will work collaboratively with peers to shape organisational vision and goals, provide oversight of programme planning and design, and manage and develop a diverse team. You will foster a culture of inclusion, learning, and continuous improvement while ensuring high-quality programme delivery and effective management of significant programme resources.

As a committed feminist and people-centred leader, you will champion innovation, accountability, and partnership with communities living in poverty and exclusion, ensuring ActionAid Kenya’s programmes deliver sustainable, transformative change and contribute meaningfully to social and economic justice.

You should also have strong commitment to ActionAid’s values and ethos, including ActionAid’s feminist leadership principles.

What we offer:

ActionAid is committed to providing a welcoming, supportive workplace where we recognise a job well done, encourage close collaboration and sharing power, and where safeguarding standards and feminist leadership are exemplified everywhere. At ActionAid, you can look forward to a fair compensation package and a flexible working environment, including a workplace that embraces intersectional feminist principles and a generous maternity, paternity and adoption cover.

How to apply:

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements should submit their application (indicating current and expected salary) and CV with 3 professional referees through: hresources.kenya@actionaid.org  to reach us not later than January 23, 2026, at 11:59PM EAT.

Please check your application and make sure you meet all the essential criteria listed in the person specification. In addition, your application will be stronger if you meet at least some of the desirable criteria. If you do not meet at least all the essential criteria, please do not apply as we only consider candidates if they meet the essential criteria listed on the job description.