Launch your career in humanitarian and development work within Kenya. Support Save the Children’s long-standing commitment to children by applying for their PDQI Internship to coordinate crucial planning and learning initiatives.
ABOUT US
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.
We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
- No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday.
- All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
- Violence against children is no longer tolerated.
Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, supporting children through both development and humanitarian relief programs. These initiatives are delivered directly and in collaboration with local partners. Our current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
In 2012, as part of a global reorganization, Save the Children unified the operations of Save the Children UK, Canada, and Finland into a single entity in Kenya. In February 2014, we completed a second transition by merging with the British INGO Merlin, integrating their health and nutrition programs into our portfolio. Today, Save the Children maintains an operational presence in Nandi, Kajiado, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kakuma Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana, and Wajir, and works through partners in many other regions across the country. We employ approximately 230 staff, including members of the Global team who are hosted and hired in Kenya, but support Save the Children International (SCI) global operations. In 2025, our annual operating budget was approximately USD 20 million.
ROLE PURPOSE
TITLE: Programme Development Quality and Impact (PDQI) Intern
TEAM/PROGRAMME: PDQI
LOCATION: Nairobi with travel to the field as required
GRADE: Internship
CONTRACT LENGTH: 6 months
Reports to: Director of Programme Development Quality and Impact
Staff Reporting to this Post: N/A
Key working relationships: PDQI staff members
CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.
The PDQI intern will be part of Save the Children Kenya and Madagascar Country Office. He/ She will provide coordination support to the Programme Development Quality and Impact (PDQI) team under the guidance of the Director of Programme Development and Quality. The PDQ intern will support the day-to-day work of the PDQI team including; work planning, information management, coordination of processes and research. He/she will work closely with the ACCM team and contribute to the department’s priorities under the guidance of the Head of A&C and the Comms & Media Manager. The intern’s tasks will vary depending on the needs and ongoing work of the PDQI team.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
The intern’s tasks will vary depending on the needs and ongoing work of the PDQI team, and may include:
Programme Management and Administrative Support
- Prepare programme documents, such as work plans , reports as needed
- Provide administrative support to the programme team in the organization of events, meetings and workshops, etc.
- Maintain the PDQI team’s calendar including team meetings, travel schedules and leave plans
- Maintain and organize up-to-date hard and electronic files for easy access and retrieval.
- Assist the DPDQI in tracking action points from the PDQI’s annual priorities and work plans
- Support effective internal communication including through maintaining PDQI’s SharePoint site/page and maintaining and updating team’s databases and mailing lists
- Collaborate with the DPDQ and PDQI team members to building new and/or maintaining existing templates, tools and tracking systems for ensuring smooth operations across teams
- Conduct research and analysis (as needed) with a view to assisting with the development of programming and advocacy strategies aligned to the Country Strategic Plan.
- Participating and facilitating all relevant PDQI meetings to learn and grow professional skills
- Contribute to the organization’s ACCM efforts and gain practical experience in the field of advocacy, campaigns, communications, and media.
- Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge management and learning
- Work with IT, Technical Specialists and MEAL team to upload and update reports and other documents to SharePoint, TEAMS, the Global Resource centre; and
- Work with the Head of MEAL to facilitate collaboration with other departments by supporting to organize knowledge-sharing events/platforms such as learning webinars, program learning meetings, communities of practice as well as documenting outcomes from such platforms.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s Science in Development Studies, Project/Community Development, Bachelor of Arts in international development or related field.
- An interest in advocacy and social justice issues
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Detail-oriented and highly organized
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
- Proficiency in Adobe Suite package (added advantage)
Specific Requirements
- Proven capacity to collaborate effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Knowledge and interest in humanitarian and development work
- Strong written and verbal communications skills required
- Good knowledge of common MS computer applications
- Ability to work under pressure and multi-task
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding
We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. Employment is subject to our Child protection standards including background checks and adherence to our Child Safeguarding Policy.
Safeguarding our Staff
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.
Female Candidates are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: Monday, November 24, 2025