The Organisation
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.
We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.
Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.
We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.
We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.
ROLE PROFILE
| Title | Education Specialist for School Feeding Project | ||
| Functional Area | Programs | ||
| Reports to | Project Coordinator | ||
| Location | Bissau – Guinea-Bissau | Travel required | Extensive |
| Effective Date | September 2020 | Grade | D2 |
ROLE PURPOSE
A concise statement, capturing the primary reasons that this role exists and a clear articulation of the context of the role. How will this role contribute to creating lasting change for children?]
Working in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan aims to reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalised with high quality programs that deliver long lasting benefits by increasing its income, working in partnership with others and operating effectively.
The Education Specialist will play an integral technical role in the USDA funded School Feeding Program, MeREECE which is implemented in partnership with CRS. The Education Specialist will lead literacy efforts, working closely with the Ministry of Primary Education to improve reading outcomes for children in grades 1-4 through supplementary materials’ development, teacher training and school improvement. This position will also contribute to Plan International Guinea-Bissau’s quality and inclusive education portfolio, which adopts a gender transformative approach both in the classroom and the community.
The specialist will be responsible for leading a review of the grades 1-4 reading curriculum and facilitating workshops with the Ministry of Education to develop appropriate supplementary teaching and learning materials to improve early grade reading outcomes. The specialist will oversee the rollout of these materials in primary schools located in target areas, including a teacher training program.
The specialist will work closely with Plan Guinea-Bissau program staff, a USNO education specialist, as well as an international curriculum development and teacher training expert. S/he will also contribute to Plan Guinea-Bissau’s vision of becoming a leader and center of excellence for Quality and Inclusive Education through organizational practice, profile and programming in the country. She will ensure that gender inclusion particularly girls’ education issues are mainstreamed in all MeREECE activities.
Dimensions of the Role.
This section provides a summary of the size and authority of the post. It covers the size of the budget held, the numbers of direct reports, other key stakeholders who may depend on it, the type of communication required, the external representation involved and the reach of the role. Report to the Program Support & Strategy Manager of Plan International Guinea-Bissau; Understand program systems and processes for compliance and management information; Management and support of all literacy activities in the MeREECE program Liaise closely with Ministry counterparts to ensure MeREECE literacy activities align with current policies and practices.
Work closely with USNO and other education experts to develop quality teaching and learning materials for grades 1-4 students and teachers.
Liaise with CRS leadership and advise on all education activities
To ensure the delivery of programmes as per PII processes and standards
The holder of this position will be actively traveling to the field to provide support field-level staff and observe training and classroom activities.
Works closely with other technical advisors, projects managers, PIIA Managers to ensure timely delivery of projects.
Respect the child protection policy
Respect Plan`s gender policy
No position reports to this post
ACCOUNTABILITIES
To build and strengthen relationships and capabilities of communities and partners to implement quality literacy activities that are transformative and inclusive in target MeREECE regions.
Strategy and Programming
Contribute to the design, monitoring and evaluation of MeREECE literacy activities
Contirbute to Plan Guinea-Bissau strategies for quality and inclusive education, as well as overall policy directions on local partnership.
Provide technical support to PUs and field staff on Quality and Inclusive education
Partners capacity building and learning initiatives
Identify training needs of government partners, school administrators and teachers, develop strategic training plans and facilitate the training process using appropriate methodologies that ensures participation.
Provide technical support to target regions, consistent with early grade reading best practices.
Participate in the development of yearly work plans and budgets and provide assistance to implement them.
Contribute to the preparation and submission of quarterly work plans detailing tasks (including monitoring plans) to be undertaken and indicators of performance and prepare progress reports.
Participate in regular Technical Support Team meetings to discuss work progress and develop appropriate strategies to ensure that set project objectives and program goals are achieved.
Maintain excellent relationships with relevant Ministries to facilitate MeREECE literacy activities;
To inform, motivate and advise Plan International Guinea-Bissau CO and PU staff on education issues
To serve as a champion for gender equality, practice and effective programming among staff and volunteers in the Country.
Ensure timely and accurate briefings, reports and education related data are provided as required
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
There is high contact with the Plan Guinea-Bissau Education Advisor.
Maintains high contact with regional program staff;
Maintains high contact with the Ministry of Education, UN agencies and others CBOs
Maintains high contact with MeREECE Program Coordinator
Maintains medium contact with MeREECE CRS leadership
Maintains high contact with MeREECE short-term education advisor consultants (international)
Maintains medium contact with USNO Senior Education Advisor.
INDICATORS OF SUCCESS
Improve the quality of MeREECE by providing ‘state of the art’ technical knowledge
Provide support to program unit staff in implementation of program of activities for the year
Develop and maintain good relations with the government bodies and national and international organizations/institutions associated with MeREECE so as to facilitate the development of quality teaching and learning materials early grade reading and a corresponding teacher training program;
In collaboration with program units staff prepares education sections of annual operational plan for all country sites;
Project and program monitoring and evaluation;
Teacher capacity strengthening in quality and inclusive early grade reading outcomes;
The effective and efficient implementation of MeREECE literacy activities;
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Dealing with Problems:
Ability to solve problems and thinking strategically;
Introducing innovations for programs design and implementation;
High degree of complexity in resolving a wide range of challenges;
Providing leadership and advice;
Key challenges include dealing with different/conflicting demands from a diversity of stakeholders and responding to tight deadlines;
Engage with key Ministry stakeholders and represent the organization in a professional manner which reflects positively on Plan as an organization;
Capability to understand and assimilate the complexity of Plan’s program development and systems and procedures and organisational structures decision-making processes;
Capable of building positive working relationships with others;
Skills to manage external relations in dynamic and sometimes unpredictable operating environment
Adherence to policies and procedures, and promoting a culture for delivery of results, both short and long term.
The post holder will demonstrate the ability to solve the challenges through innovative and strategic thinking. The incumbent should be able to demonstrate high degree of prioritization;
KNOWLEDGE
Bachelor’s Degree/ Master in education, social sciences, sociology; anthropology or related field.
Experience in curriculum development and design of teaching and learning materials
Experience working in primary education, particularly early grade reading; experience in teacher training
Good level of French or English, both oral and written is an advantage
Public relations and representation skills at an advanced level.
High Proficiency in computer software particularly Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Access, Word and accounting software packages.
Demonstrated track record of writing project reports
SKILLS
Conceptual and analytical skills.
Coaching, training and facilitation skills.
Ability to work with minimal supervision
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to maintain effective and satisfactory working relationships with people from diverse cultures across all levels of the organization.
Capacity to work under pressure, prioritize multiple tasks, and meet inflexible deadlines.
Proficiency in computer software particularly Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Access, Word and accounting software packages.
Positive attitude, desire to be a part of a diverse team,
Well-developed written and oral communication skills.
Understanding how to effectively represent the organization;
Behaviours
Capacity to work under pressure
Excellent written and oral communication, representation and influencing skills
Excellent inter-personal skills and good team player
Flexible to change
Communicates constructively and humbly in a way that builds credibility to other Plan offices and Plan’s external stakeholders
Develops, motivates, coaches and promotes high performance in Quality and Inclusive Education
Works in a participative community approach
PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES IN PRACTICE
We are open and accountable
Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
Aaccountable for ensuring we are a safe organization for all children, girls & young people
We strive for lasting impact
Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
Focuses resources to drive change and maximize long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.
We work well together
Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.
We are inclusive and empowering
We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.
Responsabilidades em relação a política de proteção da criança e igualdade de género
Respeitar a política de Proteção de crianças da Plan (CPP) e o Código de Conduta da Plan em todas as atividades relacionadas com a sua função,
Respeitar a política de igualdade e equidade de género em todas as atividades e programas da Plan:
Disseminar a politica de proteção da criança no departamento ou na comunidade a que esta afeto,
Disseminar a política de igualdade de género
Denunciar todos casos ou suspeitas de abuso na criança de que tomar conhecimento
Physical Environment
Based in Plan International GNB Country Office (Bissau), the post holder will make frequent field visits whenever necessary
Level of contact with children
Medium contact: medium frequency of interaction with children.
More Information
- Job City Bissau
