POSITION DESCRIPTION
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Position Name:
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National Collective Weaver
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Position Location:
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New Delhi, India
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Reporting To:
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Programme Officer – Early Childhood Development
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Position Tenure:
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2 year employment contract, renewable as per programme funding and need
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About the Organisation
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)is a leading global development organization working to tackle the root causes of poverty. For almost 50 years, AKF has helped create strong community institutions that support sustainable, locally driven initiatives to improve the lives of millions of people. AKF's programs aim to ensure that infants have the best possible start in life, families are healthy and well-nourished, children and young people can access quality learning opportunities and grow to fulfil their potential, and adults can develop future-facing skills so they can gain employment or start their own businesses. We believe that women and young girls should not be limited in their choices or opportunities and are dedicated to fostering inclusive communities in which all voices are heard and valued. As our climate changes, we are working with the communities we serve, and especially farmers, to adapt to its challenges and opportunities and contribute to a healthy planet. But the issues we face are evolving rapidly. To meet them, we use innovation to empower communities to develop new solutions that can be quickly tested and refined, ensuring they are relevant, feasible and sustainable. Through partnerships with local communities, government agencies and programs, we are building a future where we all thrive together.
AKF primarily works across seven thematic areas - agriculture, building community resilience to climate change, work and enterprise, education, early childhood development, WASH,health and nutrition, and strengthening community institutions to sustain and lead development interventions.
AKF started its operations in India in 1978 and implements programs in both rural and urban areas across four states (Bihar, Delhi, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh). AKF's current interventions are under implementation across 1635 villages and 93 urban wards, benefiting 3.9 million people, 2/3rd of whom are women.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) is a key thematic focus area of the Aga Khan Foundation. To facilitate cross-learning and sharing of best practices and implementation approaches on ECD, AKF is collaborating with like-minded organisations to strengthen the ECD ecosystem through a collective initiative – Partnerships for Nurturing Kids Holistically (PANKH).
Position Overview
AKF is seeking to recruit a dedicated and entrepreneurial individual for the role of National Collective Weaver to advance ECD best practices and knowledge, and to collaborate with member organisations in strengthening and supporting PANKH.
The National Collective Weaver will work closely with various members of PANKH (which includes the Shared Leadership Council – SLC drawn from organizations in the collective, thematic working groups, member organizations, and the convenors and co-convenors of the collective) in growing and sustaining the collective to achieve its larger vision of strengthening practice and understanding of early childhood development.
The ideal candidate will contribute and provide inputs towards the focus areas and priorities of the collective, develop a framework for regular identification and documentation of best practices for AKF programs and those of the member organizations. The National Collective Weaver shall be responsible for guiding the secretariat team. The selected individual will work closely with other organizations in the collective, and the organization that hosts the secretariat.
The National Weaver is a two-year position, which will report to the AKF ECD team lead for all administrative purposes.
Key Roles and Responsibilities:
- Strategic Inputs & Visioning: Provide strategic inputs to the Collective in alignment with its mission to strengthen the Early Childhood Development (ECD) ecosystem. Lead development and implementation of long-term plans, annual goals, and strategies for the PANKH collective, supported by ECD team leader
- Support and work closely with the Lead – Knowledge Management, Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation (KMLME), Associate – Programming & Collectivization, and Associate – Knowledge Management, to ensure synergy and facilitate cross-learning. Facilitate regular check-ins, feedback and reflection sessions, fostering collaboration.
- Strengthen Partnerships: Facilitate dialogue and collaboration betweenmember organizations, government institutions, donors, and other stakeholders in the ECD ecosystem. Represent AKF and members of the collective in high-level forums, networks, and strategic dialogues, ensuring visibility and thought leadership.
- Resource Mobilisation & Fund Management: Lead resource mobilization efforts for the collective, by identifying potential donors, building relationships, and coordinating proposal development.
- Reporting and Grant Management: Co-create reporting systems, processes and templates and guide member organisations of the collective to ensure consistent reporting.
- Capacity Building: Consult with the different Working Groups, as well as the SLC to identify relevant capacity building needs for member organisations, such that it contributes to the growth of the collective.
- Any other emerging responsibilities as assigned to support the collective as it evolves.
Required Qualifications:
- Education: A master’s degree in social work, Public Administration, Management, or any other related field.
- Experience: 10+ years of experience in strategic leadership, program management, collective building, or a related role, preferably within the non-profit or education sector. Must demonstrate a strong understanding of ECD policies and programs.
Required Skills:
- Strong leadership with a collaborative, inclusive, and empowering management style.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to balance vision with execution.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
- Deep understanding of the development sector, particularly in Early Childhood Development.
- Demonstrated experience in managing multi-stakeholder initiatives.
Personal Attributes:
- Attention to Detail: Ensures accuracy in documentation and project execution.
- Proactive: Takes initiative in identifying and solving problems.
- Adaptable: Comfortable working in a dynamic environment with evolving priorities.
- Passionate: Demonstrates a commitment to improving early childhood development outcomes in
- India.
- Enthusiastic: To work and learn in a collective space and build relationships with members of the collective
How To apply
Please submit your updated CV, accompanied by a cover letter stating the reasons for your interest in the position by 21st June 2026 using the link below –
The Aga Khan Development Network is an international group of private, non-denominational development agencies and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities. Visit us atwww.akdn.org.
The Aga Khan Foundation is committed to the principles of equal opportunity and will strive to ensure that all job applicants, staff and volunteers, do not suffer negative discrimination on the basis of their religion, race, caste, color, nationality, social class, sex, place of birth, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, HIV status, age etc. or any combination of these.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. AKF also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. You can find out more on this scheme on this link: https://misconduct-disclosure-scheme.org