Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya (with frequent field travel)Contract Type: Full-time, fixed-term (2025–2030), subject to performance and fundingApplication Deadline: 9 January 2026 at 5:00 PM EAT About MESPT Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT) is a Kenyan development organisation established in 2002, with a mandate to enhance the productivity and incomes of smallholder farmers and agricultural Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). With over two decades of experience, MESPT has played a significant role in strengthening Kenya’s agricultural, financial services, and green growth sectors. Its core areas of work include business development, access to finance and markets, value chain development, sustainable agriculture, cooperative strengthening, and youth employment promotion. About the FIYMA Programme The Financial Inclusion for Youth and MSMEs in Agriculture (FIYMA) programme is a five-year initiative (2025–2030) implemented by MESPT in partnership with East Africa Market Development Associates (EAMDA), NCBA-CLUSA, and Women’s Empowerment Link (WEL), with support from the Mastercard Foundation. The programme aims to address systemic barriers that limit access to affordable, patient, and flexible finance for disadvantaged youth and youth-owned MSMEs operating in agriculture. FIYMA focuses on six priority value chains—dairy, livestock and poultry, fisheries and aquaculture, Irish potatoes, pulses, and fruits and vegetables—across 28 counties in Kenya. The programme leverages Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) and cooperatives as primary financial service providers and seeks to reach at least 100,000 disadvantaged youth, including young women, persons with disabilities, and refugees, while creating 250,000 dignified work opportunities. Position Overview MESPT is seeking a highly experienced Programme Director to provide strategic, technical, and operational leadership for the FIYMA programme. Reporting to the MESPT Chief Executive Officer, the Programme Director will oversee programme implementation, manage a multi-partner consortium, and ensure delivery of results in line with donor requirements and institutional priorities. The role entails supervision of the programme implementation team and close coordination with subcontractor leads at EAMDA, NCBA-CLUSA, and WEL. Key Responsibilities Programme Leadership and ManagementThe Programme Director will lead all phases of the programme cycle, including planning, implementation, quality assurance, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and accountability. The role involves providing day-to-day operational oversight, supervising and mentoring staff, strengthening internal coordination within MESPT, and representing the organisation in high-level stakeholder engagements with government, donors, and private sector actors. Consortium and Subcontractor CoordinationThe role requires strategic oversight of consortium partners to ensure alignment with programme objectives, contractual obligations, and donor requirements. Responsibilities include convening coordination meetings, overseeing joint work planning, monitoring partner performance, ensuring compliance with grant agreements, and facilitating collaborative decision-making within established governance frameworks. Access to Finance and SACCO EngagementIn collaboration with the Credit and Business Development Manager, the Programme Director will oversee the design and operationalisation of the access-to-finance component. This includes guiding SACCO selection and due diligence, overseeing institutional capacity building, ensuring sound credit appraisal and risk management systems, monitoring loan disbursement and portfolio performance, and developing sustainability strategies such as revolving fund mechanisms. Programme Financial ManagementThe Programme Director will ensure value-for-money implementation through prudent financial planning, budget oversight, expenditure tracking, and compliance with donor and organisational financial policies. The role includes approving subcontractor fund requests, facilitating audits, mitigating financial risks, and strengthening financial management systems across the consortium. Communication, Branding, and VisibilityThe role entails leading the development and execution of a comprehensive communication and branding strategy for FIYMA. This includes ensuring compliance with MESPT and Mastercard Foundation visibility guidelines, marketing the fund to SACCOs and youth groups, coordinating media and stakeholder engagements, and overseeing documentation of communication outputs and success stories. Monitoring, Reporting, and LearningThe Programme Director will provide overall leadership for monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL). Responsibilities include overseeing data collection systems, reviewing partner reports, coordinating donor reporting, leading learning and reflection sessions, documenting best practices, and ensuring adaptive programme management based on evidence and emerging insights. Required Qualifications and Experience Master’s degree in Development Studies, Agricultural Economics, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field Postgraduate qualification in Project Management; PMP certification is an added advantage Minimum of 10 years’ progressive leadership experience in large-scale donor-funded programmes (USD 25 million and above), including at least 7 years in a senior management role such as Programme Director, Chief of Party, or Team Leader Proven experience managing multi-partner consortia and complex budgets Strong expertise in financial inclusion, agribusiness development, MSMEs, cooperative development, and youth empowerment Demonstrated experience working with SACCOs, microfinance institutions, and agricultural finance ecosystems in Kenya Strong knowledge of gender equity, disability inclusion, safeguarding, and youth-focused programming Fluency in English and Kiswahili, with excellent writing, reporting, and communication skills High-level leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder management capabilities Eligibility and Conditions Applicants must be legally eligible to live and work full-time in Kenya. MESPT is an equal opportunity employer committed to gender equity and diversity. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Application Process Interested and qualified candidates should submit a single PDF document containing an application letter (indicating current or last remuneration), a detailed CV, and contact details of three professional referees (two of whom must have supervised the applicant, including the most recent supervisor). Applications should be emailed to jobs@mespt.org, quoting the reference and job title in the subject line:“PROGRAMME DIRECTOR – HR/FIYMA/001/2025.” Hard copy applications and certificates are not required at this stage. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. 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