Program Support Associate (SPARK Internship) at East Africa Market Development Associates (EAMDA)

The Opportunity

EAMDA is seeking a highly organized, proactive, and motivated Program Support Associate to support the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of programmes and projects across the organization.

The SPARK Associate will work closely with programme teams to strengthen project coordination systems, support implementation activities, track progress against work plans, and contribute to efficient programme delivery. This role provides an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience in programme management within agricultural development and market systems programming. The SPARK internship is designed to expose emerging professionals to the full programme cycle, including planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, stakeholder coordination, and learning.

Key Responsibilities

Program Planning & Coordination

• Support programme teams in coordinating day-to-day project activities and implementation schedules.
• Assist in maintaining programme work plans, activity trackers, and implementation calendars.
• Support the preparation and organization of programme meetings, workshops, field visits, and stakeholder engagements.
• Assist in coordinating logistics for programme activities and events.

Project Management Support

• Support the tracking of project deliverables, milestones, and timelines.
• Assist in maintaining programme management tools, templates, and reporting systems.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of programme management processes and workflows.
• Support programme teams in identifying implementation risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.

Monitoring, Reporting & Documentation

• Assist in compiling program updates, progress reports, and activity summaries.
• Support documentation of lessons learned, success stories, and project achievements.
• Maintain organized project records, files, and documentation systems.
• Assist in preparing presentations, briefing materials, and meeting reports.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Support communication and coordination with project stakeholders, partners, consultants, and service providers.
• Assist in organizing stakeholder consultations, learning events, and partnership meetings.
• Support follow-up actions arising from meetings and programme reviews.

Learning & Knowledge Management

• Contribute to capturing and sharing programme knowledge, lessons learned, and best practices.
• Support the development of knowledge products and internal learning resources.
• Assist in maintaining programme information repositories and databases.

Cross-Functional Support

• Collaborate with communications, research, data, and business development teams where programme support is required.
• Participate in field visits and programme implementation activities as needed.
• Perform other programme-related assignments as required by the supervisor.

Learning Opportunities

The SPARK Associate will gain practical exposure to:

• Programme and project management
• Agricultural market systems development programming
• Work planning and implementation tracking
• Stakeholder engagement and coordination
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes
• Donor-funded programme operations
• Knowledge management and organizational learning
• Professional project administration practices

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in:

• Project Management
• Social Sciences (Sociology, International Relations, Public Administration, Economics, Community Development or related fields)
• Development Studies
• Or a related field

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Organizational and administrative skills.
• Ability to coordinate multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
• Basic skills in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic understanding of project management principles and tools.
• Experience supporting projects, events, student leadership activities, or volunteer initiatives is an added advantage.
• Interest in agriculture, agribusiness, development programmes, or market systems development.

Critical Competencies

• Ability to prioritize tasks, manage timelines, and maintain attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to identify challenges and support practical solutions.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with diverse teams.
• Curious, adaptable, and eager to learn new skills and approaches.
• Demonstrates ownership, reliability, and follow-through on assigned tasks.
• Maintains integrity, confidentiality, and professional conduct in all interactions.

Eligibility

Applicants should:

• Be recent graduates (within the last three years).
• Have legal authorization to work in Kenya.
• Be available for the full three-month internship period.

Organizational Information

• This is a three-month internship position based in Nairobi.
• Hybrid working arrangements may apply depending on programme requirements.
• Occasional travel within Kenya may be required to support field activities and stakeholder engagements.
• SPARK Associates will receive structured mentorship and professional development support.
• A monthly internship stipend will be provided.