Program Manager (Governance, Accountability,& Gender)

Overall purpose of the job 

Baraza Media Lab is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven Program Manager to lead and grow our Gender, Governance & Accountability portfolio. This is a high-impact role at the intersection of media, democracy, and public accountability — and the right candidate will thrive in a fast-moving, collaborative environment where creativity meets civic purpose.

The Program Manager will be responsible for engaging the media community in professional development and capacity building through media development projects (3–12 months), while also driving initiatives that improve information integrity in public narratives by disrupting the flow of mis- and disinformation. A key pillar of this work sits within the Fumbua collective, a groundbreaking multi-organization initiative committed to countering mis/disinformation through collaboration, debunking, training, and advocacy.

This is not a desk job. You will be a builder, a connector, a strategist, and a storyteller — someone who sees the gaps in Kenya’s media ecosystem and knows how to create the programming, partnerships, and pipelines to fill them.

Key Responsibilities:

Programme Strategy & Development

• Develop and execute programme strategy in alignment with Baraza Media Lab’s mission and strategic goals.

• Design new programmes end-to-end, from ideation and design through to delivery and reporting.

• Develop programme policy guidelines and frameworks for institutional use.

• Identify opportunities to expand or deepen the Gender, Governance & Accountability portfolio based on ecosystem gaps and emerging needs.

Programme Implementation & Management

• Oversee the implementation of existing media capacity-building projects within the portfolio.

• Manage and co-create programmatic work with stakeholders across the media and civic ecosystem.

• Manage Programme Associates and consultants on a needs basis, ensuring quality delivery and team coordination.

• Maintain programme schedules, deliverable trackers, and accountability frameworks.

Information Integrity & Governance Work

• Lead and coordinate Baraza’s work within the Fumbua collective, including collaboration with partner organisations on debunking, training, amplification, and advocacy.

• Design and deliver capacity-building interventions for media practitioners on responsible journalism, fact-checking, and combating mis/disinformation.

• Contribute to the Fumbua Misinformation Toolkit, editorial guidelines, and other public-facing resources.

• Monitor trends in mis/disinformation in Kenya and the broader East African context, and adapt programming accordingly.

Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

• Foster and manage collaborations with external partners, media organizations, civil society, and government stakeholders to scale existing projects and deepen ecosystem impact.

• Represent Baraza Media Lab at relevant convenings, events, and sector forums.

• Identify, develop, and steward strategic partnerships that advance the Governance, Gender & Accountability agenda.

• Conduct training/facilitation/moderation of Baraza-led/affiliated events that fall within the Governance, Gender and Accountability Portfolio.

Fundraising, Budgeting & Reporting

• Lead fundraising efforts for the portfolio, including prospecting, concept note development, and proposal writing in collaboration with leadership.

• Develop and manage programme budgets, ensuring accountability and efficient use of resources.

• Prepare high-quality progress reports, both status updates and comprehensive reports, for internal and donor audiences.

• Contribute to organizational learning by documenting lessons, case studies, and impact narratives.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of Operations & Programmes/Curator.

Requirements

Ideal Qualifications:

Professional Background

• At least 7 years of professional experience in programme management, media development, journalism, governance, or a related field.

• Demonstrated experience managing multi-stakeholder programmes or coalitions, ideally within the media, civil society, or development sector.

• Prior experience working on information integrity, fact-checking, media literacy, or mis/disinformation-related programmes is a strong advantage.

• Experience working with or within journalism organisations, newsrooms, or media support bodies.

• Track record of successful fundraising, including proposal writing and donor relationship management.

• Familiarity with the Kenyan and East African media landscape is essential; broader African context is an added advantage.

Educational Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Media Studies, Communications, International Development, Law, Political Science, Gender Studies, or a related field (required).

• A postgraduate degree or professional certification in a relevant discipline is desirable.

• Equivalent professional experience and demonstrable expertise will be considered in lieu of formal academic qualifications.

Core Skills & Competencies

• Programme design and management: proven ability to develop, implement, and evaluate complex programmes from concept to close-out.

• Strategic thinking: capacity to see the big picture, identify leverage points, and translate vision into operational plans.

• Stakeholder engagement: skilled at building and maintaining relationships across diverse actors — media organisations, donors, civil society, government, and community.

• Writing and communication: excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; ability to produce compelling reports, proposals, and public-facing content.

• Fundraising and resource mobilisation: familiarity with donor landscapes (including foundations, bilateral agencies, and media development funds) and experience developing winning proposals.

• Budget management: comfort with developing, tracking, and reporting on programme budgets.

• Research and analysis: ability to synthesise complex information and translate it into accessible insights and programme decisions.

• Digital literacy: comfortable using project management tools, data dashboards, and digital communication platforms; familiarity with fact-checking tools or media monitoring platforms is a plus.

• Kiswahili proficiency is a strong advantage given the nature of our community work.

Personal Attributes

• Deeply committed to media freedom, information integrity, gender equity, and democratic accountability.

• A natural connector who thrives in a community-centred environment and genuinely enjoys building relationships.

• Entrepreneurial and self-driven: able to take initiative, work independently, and move projects forward without constant direction.

• Collaborative and humble: equally comfortable leading a room and learning from others; believes that the best work is done together.

• Adaptable and resilient: able to navigate ambiguity, shifting priorities, and the inevitable surprises of ecosystem work with grace.

• Detail-oriented without losing sight of the big picture — equally strong in strategic thinking and operational execution.

• A communicator who tells stories with clarity and conviction, whether in a boardroom, a training room, or a newsletter.

• Genuinely curious about the evolving media landscape and passionate about building solutions that matter.

How to Apply:
If you’re excited about leading and growing research in and about the African creatives ecosystem, we’d love to hear from you. Submit your CV and written responses to the following questions by 25th May, 2026.

1. Describe a non-paid passion project you’ve pursued purely for enjoyment. What drives your commitment to this work?

2. Recount a significant challenge you faced in program management. Detail your approach and the outcome.

3. Baraza Media Lab has received a small seed grant of KES 2,000,000 to design and pilot a 6-month media capacity-building programme targeting community journalists and content creators in peri-urban and rural Kenya. The funder’s priority areas include: countering mis/disinformation, amplifying governance and accountability reporting, and centering gender equity in storytelling. You have been asked to develop the programme concept and a brief (300 words) implementation plan that includes:

• A name and tagline for the programme

• The specific problem it is solving and target beneficiaries

• Core programme activities (at least 3, with brief descriptions)

• Your theory of change: if we do X, then Y will happen, leading to Z

• Key partners or stakeholders you would engage

Benefits

Why Join Us?

• Impact: Build a robust community that contributes to the evolution and growth of Kenya’s media and creative ecosystem.

• Community: Work with a diverse and vibrant network of professionals, creatives, and thought leaders.

• Growth: Gain hands-on professional development and exposure to the African ecosystem of creatives, media practitioners, and stakeholders. Mentorship opportunities with leaders in the field.

• Paid Time Off: Recharge and rejuvenate with generous time off.

• Comprehensive Health Cover: Prioritize your and dependents’ well-being with top-tier health coverage.

• Emergency Assistance Program: Access support in unexpected situations.