Education Project Officer( 2 National Positions) 61 views3 applications

Job Summary:

The Education Project Officer (EPO) supports all Concern Education sector activities in the respective geographic location of responsibility, working as part of the broader team. The EPO engages in activity planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project activities to ensure timely and quality achievement in line with project plans. The EPO builds and maintains effective working relationships with stakeholders at field level, including school teachers, head-teachers, Community Education Committees (CECs), community leaders and wider community, and local government representatives.

Job Location: Base in Mogadishu or Gedo-Doolow (specify in application)

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Reports to: Senior Project Officer

Direct Reports: N/A

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Contract Details: 1 year with high possibility of extension

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Programme implementation

• Ensure that all targeted school communities participate fully in the project work, particularly in the identification and prioritization of needs and through ensuring inclusion of most vulnerable children and households in project activities.
• Proactively engage communities and local stakeholders to support the projects; conduct regular awareness raising of the project/s, activities and intended outcomes.
• Work with Community Education Committees (CECs), school head-teachers and Ministry of Education representatives (DEOs, REOs) for effective implementations of project/s in assigned field locations of responsibility.
• Attend Community meetings; document and share timely key discussions and feedback with line manager and wider team.
• Timely and appropriately engage in problem-solving for any issues arising from the communities/beneficiaries/authorities before escalating; promptly share information with line manager.
• Produce timely quality field project activities reports, clearly highlighting progress and any issues or challenges for attention to line manager.
• Train, support and mentor teachers, CECs and school clubs in order to ensure quality delivery of project interventions.
• Support line manager and collaborate with wider team to develop and roll out clear school and community level monitoring plans; undertake regular monitoring visits per workplan agreed with manager.
• Support schools in the preparation of school improvement plans (SIP), follow up on school grants disbursements and monitor usage against their agreed SIP.
• Monitor community participation, learning and teaching process/quality, safe school environment, attendance of teachers and children, teacher pupil ratio.
• Undertake periodic beneficiary discussions and interviews to keep up to date with community perceptions of the project, changing needs and opinions.
• Keep line manager up to date and informed with the situation on the ground and any contextual developments which may affect activities and require a timely action or change of plan.
• Maintain transparent two-way information flow with targeted communities and key project stakeholders.

Monitoring and Reporting

• In collaboration with M&E focal point, lead field work to conduct baseline, midline and end-line data collection, school assessments, and other data collection that the project might undertake.
• Monitor progress towards programme indicators and milestones, ensuring timely collection and review of required data and information.
• Proactively support and encourage programme participant use of the Complaints Response Mechanism (CRM).
• Compile and submit monthly narrative reports to manager in the required formats and per the agreed deadline.
• Undertake regular visits to the project implementation sites and report back with findings/recommendations.
• Identify, document and share beneficiary case studies, photos and success stories.

Coordination and representation

• Represent Concern in relevant stakeholder forums such as meetings with local authorities and community leaders, keeping line manager informed of discussion points, issues arising and agreements made.
• Participate in other external, partner or consortia level meetings at request of line manager or Education Programme Manager.
• Participate in internal Education and wider team meetings, actively contributing from field level experience and expertise.

Adherence to Concern policies and guidelines:

• Adhere to, support and promote the standards of conduct outlined in the Concern Code of Conduct & its Associated Policies and other key organizational policies and guidelines.
• At all times comply with Concern’s Security Management Standard Operating Procedures.
• Contribute to the establishment and implementation of preventive measures to reduce the potential for abuse or harm in Concern’s programming.

Other:

• Any other tasks as may be reasonably assigned by line manager.
• Participate as relevant in any Emergency response if called upon by Education PM, Emergency Programme Coordinator or Programme Director.

Job Specification:

Qualification and Experience:

Essential:

• Degree or diploma in Education (particularly primary).
• At least 2 years’ experience working in Primary Education sector projects for an NGO.
• Practical experience in implementing and monitoring education programmes in complex humanitarian/development contexts.
• Solid experience with early grade reading, literacy and/or phonics teaching and support.
• Ability to design and deliver training courses for staff and teachers.
• Experience in classroom observation and providing helpful feedback on classroom teaching sessions.
• Good understanding of safeguarding and child protection issues as they apply to school children, teachers and communities.
• Excellent teamwork skills and the ability to build good relations both internally and externally.
• Experience working collaboratively with community and local government representatives.
• Familiarity with key tools for output and outcome level data collection in Education sector, including Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA).
• Ability to produce quality written reports in the English language.
• Willing and able to conduct regular site visits in Concern project locations.

Desirable:

• Past experience as a classroom teacher, especially at primary level.
• Understanding of Education in Emergencies programming; working familiarity with the INEE minimum standards is an added advantage.
• Familiarity with project logframes and outcome indicators in the Education sector.
• Proven influencing and negotiating skills with internal and external audiences.
• Ability to develop skills of others including designing and facilitating training sessions for colleagues and school staff.
• Experience designing and delivering adult literacy courses.
• Specific expertise in gender equality, child protection, or disability inclusion would be very welcome.
• Familiarity with child-sensitive complaints response mechanisms (CRM).

Special Skills, Aptitude or Personality Requirements:

• Ability to organize and prioritize workload, using initiative when appropriate.
• Good team player, flexible and capable of working effectively in a team with people from different backgrounds.
• Ability to cope with stress; work under pressure often to strict deadlines.
• Flexibility, adaptability, sense of humour, and patience.
• Ability to motivate and develop skills of others.
• Facilitation and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical and problem solving skills
• Commitment to Concern’s ethos and values, and to the highest levels of Accountability.