Project Coordinator - Alternative Basic Education – Kenya

Team / Programme:Programme Development and Quality    

Location:  Dadaab
 

Grade:  TBC     

Post Type: National
 

Child Safeguarding: Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

ABE: In 2011, an estimated 3.8 million people in Kenya were affected by drought, many living in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS) and about 144,000 drought -affected Somalis (of which 60,000 were children) fled to Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camps. 

This influx challenged the already constrained education services in the camps with just 40% enrolment rates, an increasing drop-out rate especially amongst girls, and the decreasing transition rate from primary to secondary schools. 

CIDA agreed to fund a three year project to assists the host communities in Lagdera and Fifo and refugees in all Dadaab camps in order to contribute to the improved learning outcomes for girls and boys in these marginalized and drought-affected areas of Kenya.
 

Role Purpose: 
 

The Alternative Basic Education (ABE) Project Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring high-quality execution of the CIDA funded project activities in both the host community and refugee camps.  

The ABE Project Coordinator’s main responsibilities will be, with support from the overall Education Programme Manager: 

1) coordinate all project components to achieve results on time according to approved annual detailed implementation plans ensuring delivery of project activities in a smooth, coordinated manner; 

2) manage project costs following approved budgets and in compliance with all relevant agreements and policies; 

3) work closely with all stakeholders, including but not limited to GoK, UNICEF, UNHCR, District Education Offices and ensure alignment with relevant national education policies; 

4) monitor and evaluate project activities and 

5) collect and disseminate learning’s from this initiative by appropriate methods. This position will be line managed by the Education Programme Manager but receive technical support from both the in country Education Technical Advisor and guidance from regional and head office Education Advisors

Scope of Role: 

Reports to:  Education Programme Manager
 

With technical oversight from Education Advisor

Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since 1984, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. 

Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. 

Save the Children has an operational presence in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Eldoret, Habaswein, Mandera, Meru and Wajir and has a logistics hub in Garissa. 

Currently, we have a staff complement of approximately 370 staff and expenditure of approximately US$30 million this year.

Staff directly reporting to this post:  TBC

Key Areas of Accountability:

• Travel frequently to all implementation sites to liaise with staff, community leaders, local governments and beneficiaries to ensure continued participation and support for the project.
• Provide strategic guidance and technical support, supervision and leadership to implementation staff and partners;
• Work as part of a team to ensure quality programming
• Design programme learning and build staff capacity and confidence to provide quality programming for children and youth for early childhood development, basic primary education, and alternative youth education.
• Support and guide interventions to ensure quality, timely programme delivery
• Manage financial aspects of the program including budgets, expenditures and ensuring effective use of financial and human resources.   
• Coordinate with the Finance Director and field grants officer to review financial performance analysis, ensure timely resolution of financial discrepancies and support preparation of financial projections as needed.  
• Ensure compliance with donor agreements and relevant country legislature requirements
• Support in developing preparation of annual detailed implementation plans; monitor performance against work plan deadlines, ensure accurate data collection on performance indicators and support in the preparation of reports on achievements and results according to agreed timelines
• Collaborate and coordinate with other education stakeholders to ensure alignment with the Dadaab Education Strategy and effectiveness of programming, consult with relevant stakeholders including UNHCR and UNICEF
• Collaborate with national level relationships with MoE and the Ministry for Northern Kenya to develop strong commitments to the project success. 
• Establish working relations with Northern Kenya Education Trust and the Nomadic Education Commission. 
• Provide support in the identification and capacity support to MoE officials at the local level.

Skills and Behaviours (Our Values in Practice)
 

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in education with specialization in nomadic education, alternative basic education, education in  refugee contexts or education in emergencies
• Ideal candidates will have at least three years’ work experience in development projects in post-emergency settings
• Minimum seven years senior project management field experience with proven donor reporting, compliance and grant management experience, and superior human resource management skills leading diverse teams in harsh environment.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders, and ability to understand and bridge diverging communication styles and agendas in order to reach common goals

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviors:

• Self-starter; able to act on initiative and work well as part of a team, builds strong collaboration with partners and other project staff
• Comfort interfacing with diverse stakeholders including Ministry of Education District level officials and project beneficiaries
• Resourcefulness, flexibility, and the ability to get results under pressure; willingness to live and work in a remote and difficult environment
• Political and cultural sensitivity, awareness of gender issues, with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy. Motivates others while identifying with mission of Save the Children
• Strong writing skills, including reports, proposal development, resource materials
• Superior financial management of large education program budgets
• Strong communication, and interpersonal skills in English, with substantial experience in managing multicultural teams

Desirable:

• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mind sets
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in.
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written, required.  Swahili preferred.
• Commitment to Save the Children values and willingness to abide by Child Safeguarding Policy.

Date of issue: 20th December 2012

The application period is now open and will close on Monday 31st December 2012 at 4.30 p.m.

To apply for a position, please send a short cover letter and CV to Kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org  indicating the position applied for in the subject line.