American Refugee Committee
POSITION TITLE: Education Specialist COUNTRY PROGRAM: Somalia
RESPONSIBLE TO: Program Director STATUS: Full Time SUPERVISORY CAPACITY: Project Managers (2)
DEPARTMENT/COUNTRY PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/MISSION The Somalia country program of the American Refugee Committee (ARC) has submitted a 5 year project proposal: ‘Somali Youth Leaders initiative’ targeting over 20,000 IDPs and urban youth in three regions of Somaliland, Puntland and Galmudug States with a forecast budget portfolio of USD 3.9 million.
ARC is not new to supporting the needy peoples of Somalia. It previously initiated humanitarian assistance programs in Somalia in March 1993 with funding from OFDA, Stichting Vluctheling and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The first location of ARC’s interventions was Bardera District in the Gedo Region and later worked in other Districts such as Hagar, Afmadou and Badhade districts through to 1997. ARC now plans to marshal resources and work with other INGOS, local NGOs, government and regional authorities with a view to consolidating existing gains by all partners. The interventions will address the pressing needs of young men and women in Somalia who are currently faced with limited alternative options for livelihood and basic functional literacy and numeracy skills. Through this ARC program; the Somali Youth will be provided with opportunities to engage in educational and skills building activities which will give voice to their concerns in a safe and enabling supportive environment.
The ARC will sign memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the respective line Ministries of the three regions and inculcate a sense of ownership and future sustainability of the project.
PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION The purpose of the position is to provide overall technical expertise on formal education, non-formal education and functional literacy and numeracy skills development component for out-of–school youth in (Somaliland, Puntland and Galmudug) Somalia.The Education specialist will also provide technical support to the Program Coordinator (Youth) on all aspects of the Education strategic programming; interfacing regularly with all members of the project team, coordinating work deliverables with staff and liaising with other key program stakeholders and partners. The Education Specialist is responsible for developing startegies in improving systems and management of secondary education and in rpromoting high-quality, evidence-based literacy and numeracy education programs that reach greater scale in the American Refugee Committee’s Somalia target regions, with a particular focus on Somaliland , Puntland and Galmudug states.
S/he helps define the country education strategy and work plans; maintains a working relationship with the youth project teams and ARC’s Somalia leadership at the country office level. S/he works to ensure quality in all aspects of the program cycle, from design, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation; to planning, implementation and reporting, documentation and advocacy. The literacy/numeracy portfolio includes capacity building on functional literacy and work with the Ministries of Education as well as with community schools and non-formal education options. It entails giving direction, setting appropriate standards, facilitation and training.
MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Management 45% • Provide support to formal secondary education as well as to non-formal education including literacy/numeracy for out-of-school youth in Somaliland, Puntland and Galmudug states. • Participate in the completion of the annual Project Management Plan (PMP) and initiate base line assessment in close partnership with all stakeholders.
• Promote high level of collaboration, communication and co-operation with government ministries and other stakeholders and actors in the community • Support the education team in developing participatory approaches for community involvement in education services • Compile an overall program work-plan and coordinate the implementation of this work-plan in coordination with the various key program stakeholders and subcontractors for all technical areas. • Work with Project Management Team to set clear objectives and achievement benchmarks for all program activities. • Support Project Coordinator (Youth) to realign program budgets as and when required. • Carry out annual performance reviews for all program staff directly reporting to the position.
Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation 40% • Ensure a robust and practical monitoring and evaluation practice that facilitates action-learning and continuous improvement and accountability for results. • Ensure timely reporting to donors and oversee the preparation and submission of narrative and financial reports. • Ensure monitoring, analysis and reporting of project concerns facing the population in designated areas of responsibility. • Monitor and ensure that all program and spending targets for program activities are being met. • Support the development of tools for the measurement of project impact and to work closely with the program partners, including the M&E unit to establish sound monitoring and evaluation systems. • Ensure the project activities follow grant compliance procedures as stipulated by ARC and its donors • Participate in baseline and follow-up assessments in coordination and partnership with local communities in which ARC works.
Operations and HR 15% • Support the recruitment of new program staff as and when required. • Ensure regular communication between the program teams and the technical support departments (HR, Finance, Logistics etc) both in the field and in Hargeisa, Garowe, Galkaayo and Bosasso.
EDUCATION, TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED • Experience in preparation of project designs, strategic planning and implementation of related activities • Master’s Degree in a relevant field, • At least 5 years’ experience working in developing countries, including in conflict-affected. • Excellent written and oral communication skills. • Ability to exercise sound judgment and diplomacy in a multi-stakeholder environment. • Experience working on EU, USAID and other donor funded programs . • Computer literate in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. • Must be a self starter who takes initiative and is able to work with minimal supervision • Somali language skills are a plus.
KEY BEHAVIORS & ABILITIES • In-depth expertise on education policy and management at the national and regional levels • Experience with education development in conflict and/or transitional environments. • Strong written and oral communication skills in English. • Strong interpersonal skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues • Demonstrated ability for leadership and independent decision making. • Highly motivated self-starter who takes direction well, but also works independently. • Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple partners, stakeholders and priorities. • Extremely flexible with the ability to cope with stressful situations.
Application Notes:
If you have a non-US or Canadian address and you do not have a State and/or Zip Code in your address, please fill in N/A (Not Applicable) for the State/Province, and 00000 for the Zip Code.
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