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Pakistan Education Advisor

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has 30 years experience in Pakistan, much of it providing education to Afghan refugees, IDPs, and Pakistanis affected by natural disaster. The IRC also has strong experience working to improve public sector service delivery in education, in primary and early childhood education, with local and provincial governments. IRC’s Healing Classrooms approach to education in crisis affected areas has proved successful and is well recognized in Pakistan and elsewhere. The IRC is seeking a highly qualified education professional to advise its education program. Reporting to the Deputy Director for Program Implementation, the Education Advisor will work with and support the education program teams to improve and expand program design, conduct fundraising, ensure quality program implementation, and undertake assessments and evaluations, and incorporate learning into the program design.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Strategic Leadership • Provide technical support and guidance to all IRC Pakistan education activities currently in operation. • Facilitate and advise the development of an overall education program strategy for 2011-2013, taking into account needs, the IRC’s strategic niche in Pakistan, its capacity, and the funding outlook. • Support the development of new program proposals based on the strategy – ensuring adherence to INEE standards and incorporating disaster risk reduction where appropriate. • Work closely with the Deputy Director for Program Quality and Design (DDPDQ), DDPI, provincial Education Coordinator and provincial Program Coordinators (PCs) to ensure strategic education planning and program development.

Program Design and Quality • Support the strategic needs assessment processes, including consultation with key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, cluster partners, local service providers, parents and children. • Support the development of new program designs and proposals, in conjunction with the IRC Pakistan Programs Unit, provincial Education Coordinators and Education Technical Unit at headquarters. • Provide technical guidance to program staff in mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into education programming. • Ensure the development of detailed logframes, workplans, and monitoring tools; ensure the IRC’s education programs demonstrate adherence to international and national standards, including INEE. • Review all technical designs, feasibility reports, assessment reports, donor reports with Education Coordinator and Education Managers. • Conduct regular field visits to verify quality/ progress of education interventions, providing technical guidance and advice.

Capacity Building • Develop or make use of existing tools to train the education teams in the Healing Classrooms approach, education management, project management, and other subjects as needed. • Support the education teams to further develop their strategic planning, program design, and ability to manage an expanded education program. • Support in how to conduct training for external audiences – including cluster partners, the Ministry of Education, and teacher training institutes.

Representation • Represent the IRC’s education programs at the Education Cluster in Islamabad and any other relevant fora, as required, with the Education Coordinator(s); participate in advocacy initiatives as part of the cluster. • Support new fundraising efforts by conducting outreach to potential donors in country.

REQUIREMENTS: • Post graduate degree in education, with a focus on primary or early childhood education strongly preferred. • Minimum of 5 years proven experience working on education projects in humanitarian or development environments, including provision of technical advice to field teams. • Demonstrated understanding of project design, management and implementation. • Experience with the IRC’s Healing Classrooms approach strongly preferred. • Strong coordination, communication and capacity building skills. • Flexibility to work in a diverse multicultural team with respect for Pakistani culture and norms. • Proven ability to live and work in an unstable, stressful, and insecure environment.

Specific Security Situation/Housing: Security in Islamabad and Pakistan remains unpredictable and the Education Advisor is expected to comply with all the IRC’s security policies and procedures applicable to international staff. As of posting, field access and travel is feasible, but candidates should expect periodic limitations on movement and program interruptions to implementation. This is an unaccompanied post; shared housing of good standard is provided.