Program Lead (Ethiopia)

Who We Are

Girl Effect is an international non-profit organization dedicated to addressing challenges faced by adolescent girls and youth in Ethiopia. Operating in the country since 2013, the organization leverages Social and Behavior Change (SBC) strategies, combining media and on-the-ground interventions to tackle various societal issues and empower young people. Girl Effect Ethiopia created the youth brand Yegna in 2014, since reaching over 10 million people through multiple products, outreach programs, girl networks, and research pieces done all for the betterment of adolescent lives.

We create safe spaces for girls, sharing facts and answering questions about health, nutrition, education, relationships, etc. And we use innovative technology so we can reach girls at scale. We arm girls with the skills to negotiate and redefine what they are told is possible, so every girl can choose to be in control of her body, her health, her learning and livelihood.

When a girl unlocks her power to make different choices that change her life, it inspires others to do so too. She starts a ripple effect that impacts her family, community, and country. 

That’s the Girl Effect.

Background

Girl Effect employs a branded media approach to deliver behavioural change messaging. We reach girls across the world, whether online or offline, to support them at the critical moments in life when choices around their health, education, and economic future need to be made. 

We use our expertise in behavior change science to motivate and equip girls with information and support to help them see a different future for themselves, act on those choices, and drive greater demand for the opportunities and services available to them. 

Chhaa Jaa in India, Tujibebe in Tanzania, Yegna in Ethiopia - are some of our youth brands. They exist across multiple channels - digital ( Meta, Google and other SM platforms), TV, radio, print and offline. Together, these brands form Girl Effect.

The Brand

Yegna, Girl Effect’s branded multi-media platform, focuses on empowering adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) through fun, factual and fictional content using role-modelling and storytelling to inspire them to think and behave differently.  Meaning “Ours” in Amharic, Yegna brings young people together to overcome life’s challenges and realise their ambitions. Our platform comprises a national TV drama, radio talk shows, music, digital and social media channels, and club activities. 

All our content is research-driven and co-designed with our audience. Testing, tracking and learning are critical to our design process. We aim for our content to be authentic, relevant, relatable to our audiences, and as engaging as possible. Yegna, the story of all of us, is the first ever adolescent-focused TV drama in Ethiopia and has had a successful six-season run.

 Role Purpose

The Program Lead will play a critical role in strengthening the quality, efficiency, and accountability of program delivery across all projects. Working closely with the Country Director and Senior Project Managers, the role will ensure that implementation is on track, high quality, and aligned with program objectives, donor requirements, and organizational standards.

The position will serve as a central coordination and performance oversight function, ensuring that program activities are delivered effectively across regions, challenges are identified early, and corrective actions are implemented in a timely manner.

Key Responsibilities

Program Implementation Oversight

• Work closely with Senior Project Managers to monitor day-to-day implementation of all projects across regions.
• Ensure activities are delivered according to approved plans, timelines, and budgets.
• Conduct regular implementation reviews to assess progress, quality, and adherence to standards.
• Support teams in identifying bottlenecks and operational challenges, and propose practical solutions.

Performance Tracking & Reporting

• Reporting Coordination and preparation : Lead and coordinate the timely preparation of program and project reports, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment with internal and donor requirements. Conduct thorough reviews of all reports prior to submission to the Senior Management Team, ensuring quality and consistency of information.
• Budget Monitoring & Utilization: Work closely with Senior Program Managers to monitor budget utilization across projects, track burn rates against plans, and ensure efficient use of resources. Identify and flag any significant variances, risks, or concerns in a timely manner to the Country Director, with clear analysis and recommended actions.
• Develop and manage a centralized performance tracking system (dashboards, trackers, tools) across all projects.
• Track progress against targets, milestones, and KPIs, ensuring timely delivery.
• Consolidate program data and provide weekly, monthly, and quarterly updates to the Country Director.
• Flag risks, delays, and underperformance with clear recommendations for action.

Quality Assurance & Field Monitoring

• Establish and implement quality assurance frameworks for program delivery.
• Conduct regular field visits to assess implementation quality and fidelity to design.
• Ensure that program delivery aligns with SBC approaches, safeguarding standards, and donor expectations.
• Support teams to strengthen documentation, evidence generation, and learning capture.

Coordination with Senior Project Managers

• Act as a link between the Country Director and project teams, ensuring alignment and accountability.
• Facilitate regular review meetings with project managers to track progress and address challenges.
• Support Senior Project Managers in planning, prioritization, and execution.
• Ensure cross-project learning and integration of best practices.

Risk Management & Problem Solving

• Identify implementation risks and gaps early and escalate appropriately.
• Work with teams to develop and implement mitigation plans.
• Ensure proactive management of delays, budget utilization issues, and operational challenges.

Data, Insights & Decision Support

• Work closely with M&E teams to ensure data is accurate, timely, and actionable.
• Translate data into clear insights to support decision-making.
• Strengthen use of data for adaptive management and continuous improvement.

Donor & Stakeholder Alignment

• Ensure program implementation aligns with donor commitments, targets, and reporting requirements.
• Support preparation of high-quality donor reports, presentations, and updates.
• Contribute to internal and external reviews, evaluations, and audits.

Systems Strengthening & Capacity Building

• Support development and rollout of implementation tools, SOPs, and trackers.
• Build capacity of project teams on planning, tracking, and quality assurance.
• Promote a culture of accountability, performance, and continuous improvement.

Organization Accountabilities 

• Lead by example as a role model for Girl Effect’s values and professional standards.
• Support the delivery of organizational and team goals. 
• Seek continuous improvement within your own areas of responsibility.
• Maintain full awareness of and active compliance with Girl Effect’s policies and procedures relevant to your own responsibilities and to broader policies including (but not limited to) equality, health and safety, confidentiality, and data protection. 

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Development Studies, Project Management, or related field
• Minimum 6–8 years of experience in program management, implementation oversight, or performance management
• Proven experience managing multi-sectoral, donor-funded programs (e.g., UNICEF, Mastercard Foundation, Gavi)
• Strong understanding of program delivery in complex, multi-region contexts

Required Skills

• Proven strong program management and coordination skills
• Excellent analytical and data interpretation skills
• Experience in performance tracking systems and dashboards
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• High level of organization, attention to detail, and accountability
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously

Preferred Experience

• Experience in Social and Behavior Change (SBC) programs
• Experience working with government partners and multi-stakeholder environments
• Experience in youth-focused programs, health, or livelihoods interventions
• Familiarity with digital tools for monitoring and reporting (e.g., dashboards, Asana, Excel)

What Else You Should Know

As we continue to scale and grow - we are hugely ambitious for our future, and we are looking for people who are driven to change the world for girls. 

Our teams are a diverse mix across sectors (non-profit and commercial) and specialisms (from Brand and Creative through to Gender and Insight). You’ll learn and grow in an environment that will challenge you to think and work with a fresh perspective. In turn, you can expect to work somewhere where you will be stretched and developed in your role, a place where you can build your career and work with talented, engaged people committed to our cause. 

Safeguarding

You may be required to undertake safeguarding checks. Shortlisted candidates will be assessed on our organizational values at the interview stage. The successful candidate will be expected to adhere to our safeguarding policy. We encourage you to read and understand our safeguarding policy, the executive summary of which can be found here. We have zero-tolerance for all forms of violence against children, beneficiaries and staff. 

Equal Opportunities 

Girl Effect Services is committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. 

We are committed to building an organization that is increasingly representative of and works extensively with the communities that we serve. To this end, due regard will be paid to procuring consultancy service organizations and individuals with diverse professional, academic and cultural backgrounds. 

This role is being recruited on a 12-month fixed term contract basis.

This role is subject to a standard background check.

Application closing date –19th March 2026