Specialist – Program Governance, YEFFA Program

Job Description

Job Summary

The Specialist – Program Governance is responsible for ensuring the effective coordination, documentation, and implementation of YEFFA’s technical governance structure. This includes the Program Steering Group (PSG), Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), and Coordination & Collaboration Committee (CCC). The role provides essential oversight and logistical management of governance processes that ensure alignment between strategic decisions, operational delivery, and institutional accountability across AGRA’s 10 YEFFA countries.

The ideal candidate will serve as the governance backbone of the YEFFA Portfolio Management Hub (PMH), ensuring that decision-making processes are well-documented, action points are tracked, and feedback loops between oversight and delivery are efficient. S/he will maintain governance calendars, coordinate high-level meetings, prepare briefs, and track the implementation of resolutions. The role is critical for strengthening AGRA’s credibility and coherence with the Mastercard Foundation and other strategic partners by ensuring that all governance engagements are timely, transparent, and results-oriented.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Governance Coordination and Documentation

• Coordinate the planning, scheduling, and logistics for all YEFFA governance bodies, including the PSG, SAG, and CCC.
• Prepare and circulate agendas, background materials, and decision briefs to governance members in advance of meetings.
• Record, synthesize, and disseminate meeting minutes, action points, and follow-up trackers to ensure accountability.
• Ensure that governance engagements are structured, well-documented, and contribute to timely program oversight and decision-making.
• Support the Director – GYI and YEFFA leadership in preparing governance presentations and policy briefs for AGRA’s Executive Team and donors

Decision Tracking and Alignment

• Maintain a governance decision log and follow up with responsible parties to ensure action items are completed within deadlines.
• Track progress of resolutions and recommendations from governance forums to ensure strategic coherence and delivery alignment.
• Provide monthly governance performance summaries and updates to the Director – GYI and Head – YEFFA Program Delivery.
• Ensure all governance records and decisions are archived systematically in AGRA’s shared knowledge repository.

Stakeholder Relations and Coordination

• Liaise with PSG, SAG, and CCC members to ensure effective participation and communication before and after meetings.
• Serve as the focal point between AGRA leadership, the Mastercard Foundation, and external partners on all YEFFA governance issues.
• Coordinate cross-departmental inputs to governance forums, ensuring inclusivity and alignment with AGRA’s institutional priorities.
• Support the organization of YEFFA-related learning events, high-level reviews, and partner roundtables to promote transparency and shared learning.
• Ensure that governance communications uphold AGRA’s brand integrity and compliance standards.

Governance Systems and Reporting

• Develop and maintain governance calendars, reporting templates, and dashboards to visualize decision progress and accountability metrics.
• Produce periodic reports summarizing governance engagement outcomes and alignment with program milestones.
• Support the institutionalization of governance best practices by refining templates, checklists, and documentation standards.
• Ensure timely preparation of governance-related reports and briefing notes for AGRA’s management and the Mastercard Foundation.
• Assist in the coordination of external governance events, including the Annual YEFFA Learning Summit and mid-year portfolio reviews.

Educational Qualifications, Experience, & Skills Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, International Development, Project Management, Political Science, or a related field.
• Certification in Project Management (PMP) or Governance and Compliance is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in program governance, coordination, or administration within international development organizations or donor-funded programs.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multi-stakeholder governance platforms, program steering committees, or advisory boards.
• Proven ability to track decisions, prepare accurate documentation, and maintain governance compliance in complex environments.
• Experience working with donor-funded institutions such as the Mastercard Foundation, World Bank, or bilateral agencies.
• Strong coordination, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and digital collaboration platforms (Teams, SharePoint).
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of governance structures, decision-making processes, and policy tracking.
• Skilled in planning, scheduling, and managing cross-functional engagements.
• Must demonstrate excellent writing, synthesis, and communication skills for high-level reports and briefs.
• Ability to design systems for tracking progress and maintaining institutional memory.
• Familiarity with governance frameworks within African agricultural and youth employment programs.

Learn more