International Rescue Committee Project Coordinator - Childcare Economy, PlayMatters Jobs in Uganda;The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is seeking a Project Coordinator to lead Outcome 4 of the PlayMatters 3.0 initiative, funded by the LEGO Foundation and UBS Optimus Foundation. This new component focuses on strengthening the childcare economy in Ethiopia and Uganda by supporting providers with financing, technical assistance, and policy frameworks.Key ResponsibilitiesInception Phase & StartUp
International Rescue Committee Project Coordinator - Childcare Economy, PlayMatters Jobs in Uganda;
Key Responsibilities
Inception Phase & StartUp
Coordinate delivery of Outcome 4 inception workplan across Ethiopia and Uganda.
Finalise geographic selection criteria and support landscape assessment/provider mapping.
Confirm target geographies balancing childcare demand, provider density, and government partnerships.
Support recruitment and induction of Outcome 4 staff and establish operating routines.Project Planning & Budget Management
Project Planning & Budget Management
Lead project planning and scheduling from highlevel to detailed activity plans.
Track progress, troubleshoot barriers, and flag risks.
Manage Outcome 4 budget, track expenditure, and maintain accurate projections.
Ensure timely and accurate project communications and reporting.Ecosystem Coordination & Partner Management
Ecosystem Coordination & Partner Management
Act as focal point for technical partners, ensuring deliverables and spending are on track.
Map and convene childcare providers, financing partners, and government stakeholders.
Support engagement with ministries and local authorities on childcare policy and standards.Provider Support & Monitoring
Provider Support & Monitoring
Provide strategic guidance for coaching childcare providers.
Plan and undertake regular monitoring visits in Ethiopia and Uganda.
Support providers to strengthen business practices and access financing instruments.
Identify capacity gaps and coordinate training/technical support.Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Operationalise Outcome 4 indicators anchored in the Nurturing Care Framework.
Track provider sustainability indicators (cost coverage, cash flow, graduation rate).
Document evidence and learning to build investment case for childcare.
Ensure safeguarding and accountability standards are consistently applied.Donor & Stakeholder Relations
Donor & Stakeholder Relations
Coordinate with IRC Philanthropy & Partnerships team to address donor requests.
Contribute to donor reporting, ensuring timely and evidencebased submissions. (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({});
Represent Outcome 4 in donor conversations, technical groups, and external fora.Key Working Relationships
Key Working Relationships
Reports to PlayMatters 3.0 Deputy Project Director Technical (Kampala).
Indirect reporting to Technical Advisor, Early Childhood Development (Nairobi).
Works closely with IRC Ethiopia and Uganda teams, technical units, and consortium partners.Qualifications
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Education, ECD, International Development, Economics, Business Administration, or related field; Master’s preferred.
Minimum 5 years’ project management experience, ideally across multiple countries.
Experience in education/ECD programming, preferably with Nurturing Care Framework.
Familiarity with childcare economy, provider business models, financing, and policy environment.
Understanding of financing instruments for small providers (resultsbased, blended finance, granttoloan).
Professional experience in humanitarian/postconflict contexts; Ethiopia/Uganda experience an advantage.
Experience managing partners, budgets, and consortium arrangements.
Strong capacity building and coaching experience.
Experience representing programmes to donors, including private foundations.
Willingness to travel frequently (40–50% of time).
Fluency in English; Amharic or Ugandan languages an advantage.Competencies
Competencies
Strong crosscultural communication and teamwork skills.
Exceptional planning and organisational abilities.
Analytical and strategic problemsolving skills.
Comfort with ambiguity and ability to adapt to evolving priorities.
Creativity and innovative thinking in humanitarian/marketbased approaches.
Ability to navigate complex dynamics across programmes and partners.