Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), a grassroots organisation dedicated to advancing inclusive development and social justice, is seeking a Governance Officer to support its governance, advocacy, and youth leadership initiatives in Kenya. This role is based in Kenya and sits within the SUN Department, reporting directly to the Governance Lead. SHOFCO works to strengthen community-led solutions that improve access to essential services, promote accountability, and amplify citizen voices—particularly those of young people and marginalized communities. The Governance Officer will play a key role in deepening civic participation and ensuring meaningful youth inclusion in governance and decision-making processes. Role Purpose The Governance Officer is responsible for supporting the planning, coordination, and implementation of governance and civic engagement activities across SHOFCO’s programmes. A central focus of the role is the effective coordination and implementation of the SHOFCO Youth Advisory Council (YAC), ensuring that youth voices are systematically integrated into organisational programming, advocacy, and leadership spaces. Through strong coordination, facilitation, and documentation, the role contributes to strengthening accountability, youth leadership, and participatory governance at community and institutional levels. Key Responsibilities Governance and Program Support Support the planning, organisation, and implementation of governance and civic engagement initiatives Coordinate public participation forums, community dialogues, trainings, and stakeholder meetings Track governance-related activities and ensure timely follow-up on agreed action points Support community mobilisation around governance, accountability, and leadership initiatives Promote awareness of civic rights, responsibilities, and inclusive participation SHOFCO Youth Advisory Council (YAC) Implementation Coordinate and oversee the day-to-day implementation of YAC activities Support the recruitment, onboarding, and capacity building of YAC members Facilitate YAC meetings, forums, and engagements with SHOFCO leadership and external stakeholders Ensure youth perspectives and recommendations are documented, communicated, and integrated into SHOFCO programmes and advocacy work Monitor YAC action plans and provide support to youth-led initiatives aligned with SHOFCO’s mission Monitoring, Documentation, and Learning Maintain accurate records of governance and YAC meetings, including attendance lists and reports Support data collection, analysis, and reporting for governance and youth programmes Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities related to governance and youth engagement Capture success stories, youth impact narratives, and lessons learned to inform programme improvement and advocacy Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Support engagement with community members, youth groups, local leaders, civil society organisations, and government officials Assist in disseminating governance- and youth-related information to communities and partners Strengthen coordination between SHOFCO programmes and external stakeholders to enhance impact and alignment Qualifications and Experience Required Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Governance, Political Science, Public Administration, Development Studies, Youth Studies, or a related field Minimum of two years’ experience in governance, youth leadership, or community development programmes Demonstrated understanding of youth participation, governance structures, and Kenya’s devolved governance system Preferred Over three years’ experience in relevant governance or youth-focused roles Experience working directly with youth groups, advisory councils, or participatory governance platforms Skills and Competencies The ideal candidate demonstrates a strong commitment to youth empowerment, accountability, and inclusive governance, alongside the following competencies: Strong coordination, facilitation, and organisational skills Excellent communication, facilitation, and report-writing abilities Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while managing multiple priorities Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse youth groups and stakeholders High standards of integrity, accountability, confidentiality, and professionalism Reporting and Working Relationships The Governance Officer reports to the Governance Lead and works closely with internal programme teams, youth leaders, community members, and external stakeholders. The role requires regular interaction with youth representatives and partners at community and institutional levels. Application Process Interested candidates are required to submit: A detailed CV A clear indication of the position being applied for in the email subject line Applications should be sent to recruitment@shininghopeforcommunities.org and must be received no later than 6 February 2026. Applications that do not clearly indicate the position applied for will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Organisational Commitment SHOFCO is committed to integrity, accountability, and inclusive development. The organisation actively promotes youth participation, community leadership, and ethical engagement across all programmes. Staff members are expected to uphold these values while contributing to sustainable, community-driven change. 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 seeking organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.