JOB: Project Coordinator Education for Marginalized Children in Kenya (EMACK) is an initiative of the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). EMACK was initiated in 2004 to enhance access to quality education of children in Coast and North Eastern Provinces in Kenya. Following a successful conclusion of EMACK I in 2006, the second phase (EMACK II) commenced operations in January 2007. The project is now in its re-alignment phase which began on 1st October, 2012 and ends on 31st October, 2014. The program seeks to improve quality of education, access and completion rates for children historically underserved by the education system by focusing on a number of key strategies: these include increased community and parental participation in all aspects of school life; teacher development; improved coordination and dialogue among key stakeholders to inform education programs and policies; improved learning processes in the school system characterized by active, enjoyable learning. Ultimately the program aims to improve the learning outcomes of all children in terms of literacy, numeracy and life skills. The project is active in the Coast, North Eastern and Nairobi Provinces, where program activities have been tailored to reflect the current status of education in those provinces, as well as the experience of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). In all three provinces, the project focuses on improving learning outcomes in target schools with a specific emphasis on improving children’s reading competencies through a whole-school strategy that creates a school learning environment in which parents support, children enjoy, and teachers facilitate a quality education for all who attend. In the North Eastern Province, an additional objective of the project is to identify and address the unique educational needs of pastoralist communities in the province. We invite applications from suitable candidates to fill the following position: PROJECT OFFICER (1) As a member of EMACK team and reporting to the Area Program Manager Coast, the Project Officer will provide leadership to all EMACK programs in Kisauni district and other project areas in Mombasa in addition to playing a significant role in the development and refinement of EMACK plans and strategies. H/she will facilitate efforts aimed at ensuring that schools and local communities are prepared and strengthened to implement quality learning and reading programs. This involves the identification of appropriate resource people [both from MOE and the local communities], facilitating appropriate capacity building programs, coordinating training activities for teachers and school managers through the cluster strategy and the Education Communities of Practice processes and ensuring regular but effective monitoring of field activities and mentoring of teachers and other resource people. In addition, the Project Officer will develop innovative interventions aimed at providing quality education to large numbers of children, enhancing the retention, completion and transition for those children enrolled and paying particular attention to the education of girl child in the program area. To achieve this, the Project Officer will ensure the effective coordination of project interventions with respective DEO offices of Mombasa County, other relevant government departments and school communities. Essential Job Functions: • Coordinates program activities and interventions that will increase access, improve quality, retention, completion and transition rates for children in both formal and non-formal settings in the program area; • In collaboration with County and District Education Offices as well as other relevant local partners/resource people, support the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of education programs aimed at improving the quality of learning in schools and specifically, children’s reading competencies; • Designs and facilitates workshops, seminars and other forums in conjunction with County and District Education Officers to build the capacities of teachers, community members/other stakeholders on literacy and numeracy and other relevant educational topics [including the Whole School Approach, Reading to Learn, Reading for Children, School Management and Education Communities of Practice; • Conducts ongoing support, mentoring and coaching to grade 1, 2 and 3 teachers through regular school visits, classroom observation and providing constructive feedback and guidance. • Strengthens the Whole School Approach (WSA) as the overarching EMACK strategy in order to enhance community support and ownership of education programs in the program area; • Ensures timely submission of quality program quarterly technical report for the officer’s program area; • Conducts regular reviews of program work with relevant GOK departments (especially DEO offices) on progress of implementation, achievements, challenges and lessons learnt; • Maintains high standards of accountability, effectiveness and efficiency through development of quality work plans and indicators of performance; • Supports EMACK’s policy efforts in pursuance of policies that are responsive to the needs of the marginalized children and communities to bring to the attention of policy/decision-makers (at MOE and other relevant government departments); • Identifies opportunities for increasing synergies between EMACK and other education programs (implemented by MOE, USAID, other development partners, NGOs/CBOs) including sharing of ideas, lessons and resources; • Supports the development and implementation of the project performance monitoring and evaluation plan; • Ensures systematic monitoring and documentation of activities implemented under the EMACK project [to ensure that work is carried out within the agreed time frames, budgets and work plans] including documentation of best practices and experiences in program work and facilitates sharing and dissemination of lessons learned and promising practices among all project stakeholders through appropriate media; • Strengthens public – private partnerships in order to mobilize resources (both technical and financial) in support of EMACK interventions and community development initiatives; • Supports EMACK’s efforts geared at mainstreaming and scaling up best practices especially in relation to improving children’s learning outcomes and reading competencies; • Assists in the development of work plans and budgets and ensures these documents are submitted in a timely manner; • Organizes monthly/quarterly meetings to share lessons learnt and challenges faced in program implementation; • On behalf of the program office, liaises with Finance and Administration for logistics and other support in a timely fashion; requests and accounts for program funds in a timely manner; • Maintains up-to-date records of documents, events and activities within the program; • Perform other related duties as required, assigned or requested by the APM or by other EMACK management staff. EDUCATION: Summary of qualifications: Minimum of Bachelors’ Degree in Education, training in languages and mathematics preferred; Strong knowledge of education programs including early grade reading , Early Childhood Education and Primary Education; At least 2 years’ experience in designing, planning and implementing literacy programs; Knowledge of pedagogical principles, methodologies and practices in language and literacy; Excellent training and facilitation capability; Experience as a classroom teacher, designing and implementing a comprehensive reading and numeracy program. Additional Qualifications: • A minimum of 2 years’ work experience in education programs focusing on school improvement, teacher development, improving children’s learning outcomes and reading competencies; • Experience of working with the Ministry of Education; • Sound knowledge of the education sector in Kenya including the policy context; • Excellent oral and written communication skills in both English and Kiswahili; • Experience of conducting training and capacity building programs at community, school and cluster level; • Good facilitation and mentorship skills; • Creative and takes initiative; • Strong analytical/problem solving skills; • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities; • Willingness to work additional hours during critical implementation periods; • Good interpersonal skills as well as a demonstrated ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment; • Demonstrated ability to work with minimum supervision. • Computer literate- MS Office applications. Applications, along with an up-to-date CV, names of three referees and a daytime telephone contact should be sent to the address below by 22nd November 2013. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. The Human Resource Department Aga Khan Foundation – Coast Region P.O. Box 99870 - 80107, MOMBASA Email: [email protected]
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 16:18:53 +0000
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