Under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Programs at Head Office – Mali, the Project coordinator will be responsible for the overall technical quality, timely implementation and monitoring of project deliverables ensuring alignment with project outcomes, strategy and design. He/she will coordinate the various project technical experts in order to deliver on the project’s outcomes to improve the quality, access and governance of basic education in the regions of Gao, Menaka and Mopti. The Project coordinator will be based in Bamako with frequent visits to the field sites. The project is part of a consortium composed of IRC (lead) and NRC and financed by the European Union, over a period of 39 months.
In accordance with project focus on integrated programming, the Project coordinator will work closely with in-country Coordinators covering other sectors such as Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), WASH, Gender and especially Education, as it is the main project objective. He/she will be responsible for capacity building of national staff and partners engaged in the implementation of the project and have the support from Technical Advisors (TAs) based at IRC HQ to ensure effective, high quality delivery of all education and governance components. The Project coordinator will directly supervise 4 staff in charge of the governance, communication/advocacy, monitoring and evaluation and ERD components. Additionally, he/she will have functional links with key personnel at IRC and NRC, including the IRC project manager based in Menaka 100% on this project and 2 NRC staff in Gao and Mopti (1 Construction Program Coordinator and 1 Education Program Coordinator) partially dedicated to the project.
Responsibilities:
Technical Monitoring and Program Quality
- Provide subject matter expertise and technical assistance to the program, technical staff of the consortium;
- Provide analytical and evaluative techniques to identify, consider, and resolve issues or problems;
- Lead and/or review and monitor programmatic functions, i.e. development of work plans, budgets and quarterly/annual reports.
- Monitor and review closely budget expenditures, forecasts vis a vis project implementation;
- Prepare and coordinate Grant Opening/Review/Closing meetings;
- Participate in and/or prepare necessary project-related reports and presentations;
- Organize and support, as needed, project trainings, conferences, workshops, and meetings;
- Supervise senior technical staff and provide guidance to mid- and junior level staff members;
- Ensure that education, WASH, construction, economic recovery and development and governance components utilize standardized protocols, policies and guidelines, as recommended by the Ministries of Education, Civil/social protection, etc.;
- Ensure that relevant entities of the Education Ministry, the Ministry of Energy and Water through its National Direction of Hydraulic are involved in quality control of the construction of water points in school;
- Ensure that all education, WASH, economic recovery and development and governance activities are consistent with established international and national best practices, in close collaboration with the Education, ERD, WASH and governance TAs;
- Lead all evaluation and learning activities in relation to Education, ERD and governance;
- Ensure appropriate follow-up and decision-making on data relevant to the consortium’s Education, WASH, ERD and Governance components;
- Ensure all stakeholders are provided with updates on the project on education and governance in Mali, HQ and the regional WASACH team, including Head of Office – Mali, Technical Unit, donors, etc.;
- Ensure regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives; provide technical support and guidance;
- Supervise the development of relevant M&E systems and ensure regular follow-up on monitoring data relevant to IRC and the partners’ education and governance components to feed into on-going review of project cycle and decision-making for programming;
- Provide overall supervision to ensure that the implementation of the project aligns with the project proposal and donor’s requirements;
Strategic Planning
- Monitor evolving needs of the target communities and adjust the programmatic priorities as necessary;
- In collaboration with HQ-based Technical Coordinators and Senior Management Team – Mali, lead the overall development of an overall strategies of the project in line with IRC Mali Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and IRC’s Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF);
- Work in collaboration with the gender sector/focal point to ensure that design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation take into account existing gender disparities
- With the gender focal point ensure that relevant action are taken to address gender disparities, inequalities throughout the implementation of the program;
Coordination, Communications and Advocacy
- Design and lead technical assessments as a basis for education and governance program development;
- Work with relevant national and regional entities to ensure that gender specific policies are being enforced through the implementation of the program;
- Together with regional and HQ teams, identify communication opportunities for internal and external audiences highlighting humanitarian needs related to education and governance programing;
- Together with the Country Director, Deputy Director of Programs, sectorial technical coordinators and relevant coordination mechanisms, identify opportunities for advocacy on issues related to governance and education.
- Liaise with the local, regional and national authorities to advocate for policy enforcement in accordance of the overall strategy of the government in education and governance;
Coordination and Representation
- Collaborate with other in-country technical coordinators, especially the Education/Protection coordinator, to ensure an integrated strategy to achieve education and safety outcomes outlined in IRC Mali’s SAP;
- In coordination with the supervisor, represent the consortium to UN, international and national NGOs, Ministries of Education, and donors for education and governance;
- As Education, wash and governance focal point at project level, participate actively in external Education, wash and governance and Cluster forums in coordination with the education/protection and wash coordinators;
- Participate in internal coordination and management meetings to promote effective and efficient information sharing, problem-solving and decision making;
- Ensure all stakeholders and partners are provided with updated information on education and governance programs in Mali, including Head of Office – Mali, Technical Unit, donors etc.;
- With support from the programs team, ensure conflict sensitivity, accountability to beneficiaries, gender sensitivity and inclusion are adequately addressed in IRC’s Education and Governance programs.
Staff development
- Develop and implement continuous staff capacity building plan to ensure quality education, WASH, ERD and governance programming;
- Ensure respect for IRC HR policies during the recruitment process;
- Provide timely and quality performance evaluations;
- Promote the IRC Way with all supervisees.
Qualifications
- Masters level qualification in Social Sciences, International Development, Education, or related subject
- A minimum of 4-7 years professional experience in leading/managing Education projects in humanitarian contexts, ideally with a focus on Education governance. Experience in managing multi-sector and/or consortium projects would be an asset
- Proven experience in managing and/or technically supporting education, WASH in school, and governance activities
- Education experience in designing and implementing teacher training and continued professional development, knowledge of formal and non-formal education system in West Africa or specific to Mali (Franco-Arabic schools, alternative learning programs etc.), and knowledge of EGRA/EGMA assessments preferred.
- Excellent professional approach, strong building skills and proven ability to build staff capacity
- Prior experience and excellent understanding of working in emergency settings or insecure environments
- Strong leadership, management, project planning, monitoring and evaluation, analytical interpersonal and communication skills
- Strong budget management and reporting, skills;
- An initiator of initiatives, able to plan, prioritize and manage multiple tasks under pressure and deliver tangible benefits to a team
- Proven problem solving and results oriented
- Strong written and oral communication skills, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment and effective in representation and liaison
- Flexible work attitude – the ability to work productively in a team environment and independently
- Able to respond rapidly to changing environments and work under pressure
- Fluency in French and English required
- Experience of working in West Africa required
- Contextual understanding of the nature of the conflict and perception of education in northern Mali a plus
- Excellent Computer skills: MS Word, Excel
More Information
- Job City Mabako
