Chief of Party - Educate A Child (EAC Project) - Region Horn of Africa

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental, humanitarian organization with 60 years of experience in helping to create a safer and more dignified life for refugees and internally displaced people. NRC advocates for the rights of displaced populations and offers assistance within the shelter, education, emergency food security, legal assistance, and water,sanitation and hygiene sectors.
The Norwegian Refugee Council has approximately 5000 committed and competent employees involved in projects across four continents. In addition, NRC runs one of the world’s largest standby rosters -NORCAP, with 650 professionals, ready to be deployed on 72 hours notice when a crisis occurs

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental, humanitarian organisation with 60 years of experience in helping to create a safer and more dignified life for refugees and internally displaced people. NRC advocates for the rights of displaced populations and offers assistance through its core competencies (CCs): Camp Management, Education, Food Security, Information Counselling and Legal Assistance, Shelter, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
In the Horn of Africa, South Sudan and Yemen (HoASSY) region, about 40% of school age children are out of school and require urgent support to access quality education. NRC in partnership with Education Above All Foundation - Educate A Child Programme (EAC) has a three-year funded project to be implemented in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen. The aim of the project is to provide out-of-school children in the selected countries with access to inclusive, quality education. NRC will use multiple approaches such as rapid response education in crisis situations; catch-up/bridging programmes to enable re-entry to formal schools; accelerated learning programmes for older out-of-school children; training teachers through pre- and in-service modalities; training of other education personnel; capacity building and technical assistance to ministries of education; and support to formal primary schools to ensure better access, retention and quality learning.

Job description

• Generic responsibilities
• Provide leadership, management, and clear strategic direction to the programme
• Accountable for well-organized planning and implementation of programme activities as well as changes in programme direction as needed
• Accountable for efficient use of resources and achievement of results
• Establish, maintain, and coordinate successful relationships with numerous stakeholders and partners.
• Responsible for the development of staff capacity and guidance to senior technical staff and programme teams.
• Engage with team members, partners, and beneficiaries at project sites to monitor progress and revise the project’s approach as needed.
• Accountable directly to the donor and ensure that the project meets desired goals and objectives and to report on progress.
• Accountable for budget projections, spending, and reporting in accordance with donor and NRC requirements.
• Accountable for the application of the programme specific M&E Framework including review of progress against bench marks
• Accountable for organizational learning from programme implementation
• Accountable for the collection, collation and dissemination of programme information and analysis of results for the purposes of programme decision making, communication and advocacy
• Specific responsibilities
• Provide technical oversight and overall support to the EAC project activities, ensuring quality standards and developing tools to facilitate project implementation in the region
• Coordinate the EAC project implementation in the five selected countries in the region, organizing technical review meetings and establishing a forum for project staff to seek advice and share experiences
• Provide technical guidance and ensure that the EAC project implementation is in compliance with the donor’s agreed requirements, government and NRC policies as well as community expectations
• Ensure capacity building of the EAC project implementation staff where necessary and conduct periodic field visits for support and problem solving
• Support the country education specialists in developing proposals for co-funding of the EAC project as well as providing input on needs and gaps.
• Identify and monitor risks, constraints, technical issues and escalate issues related with EAC education project in the region based on evaluations, field visits and periodic reports for timely leadership action.
• Standardize technical approaches and guidelines around EAC education project implementation in the region
• Contribute to the overall education CC program and strategy development in collaboration with the Regional education advisor
• Ensure integrated approach for NRC education programmes in the region and create synergies with other core competencies by closely working with the Regional CC Advisers
• Liaise and collaborate with relevant local authorities and other key stakeholders.
• Promote the rights of refugees, IDPs and returnees in line with the regional advocacy strategy.

Qualifications

• At least 8 years of technical experience implementing and managing education related interventions (formal and non-formal education/ education in emergencies, Teacher training etc), especially in refugee/ IDP/ displacement contexts
• Senior level education programme and/ or technical supervision and coordination experience (ideally in horn/ sub-Saharan Africa region)
• Experience in leading multisectoral assessment teams and providing technical guidance on education in emergencies
• Solid experience in programme monitoring and evaluation as well as ability to design M & E tools relevant to the education sector
• Ability to work closely with field based national staff and experience in various staff training
• High level of communication, interpersonal, representation and negotiation skills
• Ability to write high quality concept notes and technical sections for donor proposals
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal
• Knowledge in Arabic language will be an added advantage

Education field

• Education

Education level

• College / University, Bachelor's degree

Personal qualities

• Handling insecure environments
• Managing resources to optimize results
• Managing performance and development
• Initiating action and coping with change
• Ability to work under pressure and with limited supervision
• Able to present and represent an organisation
• Culturally sensitive and coping with a changing environment
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analysis skills (qualitative and quantitative)
• Experience working with statistical computer software packages
• Goal oriented with ability to work under pressure, independently and with limited supervision
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast paced and complex environment.
• Flexible and proactive attitude towards problem-solving

Language

• English

We offer

• Duty station: Nairobi
• Contract period is for 12 months with possibility of extension. Salary/benefits: According to NRC’s general directions. The candidate will observe NRC’s code of conduct and working hours for the NRC Office in Nairobi
• 40% Travel is expected.

Miscellaneous info

• Travel: Some travelling must be expected

HOW TO APPLY:

Please, apply through www.nrc.no, then vacancies