Inclusive Education Advisor Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) Kabul, Afghanistan
Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) is a non-governmental development organisation working to assist in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. Operations started in Afghanistan in 1982 on an emergency basis, which subsequently evolved into long-term development programmes. SCA today works in the sectors of Health, Education, Disability and Rural Development, with vulnerable groups in rural underserved areas as primary beneficiaries. With around 6 000 staff, SCA is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in the country. Through its activities, SCA aims to fight poverty, support economic and social development and strengthen democratic development and gender equality & human rights. SCA is a major Swedish NGO established in 1980 working with fundraising, information and advocacy alongside with the activities in Afghanistan. In Sweden SCA works as a membership association based on popular commitment and support, making effort to affect the public opinion by providing knowledgeable and reliable information about Afghanistan in order to increase sustainable cooperation and assistance in a spirit of solidarity.
Background:
Rehabilitation of Afghans with Disabilities (RAD) is a large Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) programme which has been working since 1991 for people with disabilities and is now currently working in more than 2000 villages and urban areas in 43 districts in 13 provinces. RAD has five components in its programme: Community Mobilisation and Advocacy, Inclusive and Special Education, Vocational Training and Employment Support, Physical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy and Prosthetic and Orthotics services) and Institutional and Capacity Development. The programme management unit is based in the main office in Kabul, and has four project offices in the capital cities of Ghazni, Nangarhar, Balkh and Takhar provinces. Special & Inclusive Education is a core component of the RAD programme. It aims at promoting inclusion in mainstream schools and equal access to education and other activities for children with disabilities (in particular children with hearing, seeing and learning difficulties). RAD is trying to achieve this through conducting preparatory and supportive training, capacity development of RAD and government staff, lobbying an advocacy for inclusion, and enhancing awareness on related issues among communities, civil society actors and authorities. The Inclusive Education Advisor will work closely together with the Special & Inclusive Education Senior Officer(s) of the RAD Programme Unit in developing a comprehensive strategy for children with special needs as well as monitoring the Special & Inclusive education activities of the programme. S/he will build the professional capacity of the special & inclusive education staff of the programme through practical training and follow up in implementation of different methodologies especially in learning difficulties, child development and inclusive education. The main task will be to build on SCA’s current work in inclusive education, where the Inclusive Education Advisor will be involved in both advocacy, policy and strategy work on a national level with other actors involved in disability and education, and in practical development and implementation of methods, approaches and materials on a project level. S/he will develop the programme further, contribute to strengthen synergies within SCA between the RAD and Education Programme, with a focus to mainstream and integrate inclusive education into the Education Programme in the forthcoming years. There will also be support to the roll out of the inclusive education programme in existing and new geographical areas and to link SCA’s inclusive education programme to ongoing research and networks within the related field.
Responsibilities:
Technical Support and Advice
- Give advice in order to develop the quality and impact of inclusive education services within RAD, SCA as a whole, and on a national level
- Support in the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the inclusive education programme
- Advice on strategy and policy related issues regarding the future and further development of the inclusive education programme
- Identify possibilities to further roll out the inclusive education programme
- Develop standard guidelines for the special & inclusive education component
- Strengthen the synergy between SCA Education & RAD programme, with a focus to explore the full integration of inclusive education into the mainstream Education Programme and schools
- Assist in developing and improving methods for assessments and development of special & inclusive education materials
- Disseminate information and updating on international developments within the special & inclusive education field
- Contribute to the standardization of the pre-school activities within the inclusive education programme Planning and Reporting
- Prepare and write donor reports, annual planning documents, reports and studies regarding the Special & Inclusive Education programme, together with the Senior Advisor, RAD Programme Manager, Senior Officer and SCA programme management
- Identify potential donors and prepare proposals for new donors
- Work with the expatriate and national members of the RAD management team and the Heads of Special & Inclusive Education in the field offices to plan programme activities and set targets
- Work with the RAD management team to enable implementation of the RAD programme according to policy, budgets, guidelines and work plan
- To enforce the implementation of SCA financial regulations and procedures Capacity Building
- Identifying needs for training and capacity building
- Develop, organize and implement training packages, workshops and seminars for both internal staff as well as external actors regarding special & inclusive education
- Train and facilitate change in knowledge, skills and attitude regarding disability, special and inclusive education
- Provide support, advice and capacity building to the national Special & Inclusive Education Senior Officer
- Take the lead in identify opportunities for improvement, inventiveness and make constructive suggestions for change in the programme
- Promote an attitude of team spirit, cooperation and a strong focus on quality Networking and Advocacy
- Actively contribute to good relations and linkages with external stakeholders and networks
- Lobby and coordinate with especially the Ministry of Education and the national Inclusive & Child-Friendly Education Coordination Working Group on a central level, as well as Provincial Education Directorates
- Partake in defining and implementing appropriate advocacy work
- Facilitate international contacts as relevant Other
- Carry out any other task within his/her competence if requested by the Head of RAD Programme
- To act according to the policy and regulations of SCA
- To keep updated with issues related to SCA and the environment where SCA operates
- To develop good co-operation with external actors
Requirements:
Qualifications:
- Master Degree in Pedagogics for Inclusive and/or Special Education, or equivalent Experience:
- At least 5 years of experience in special and inclusive education programmes
- At least 2 years of experience in this field in developing countries
- Experience in coordination, advocacy and strategic development of inclusive education with authorities on local, provincial/regional and central levels.
- Experience in capacity development of key actors, stakeholders and staff regarding inclusive education
- Experience in training and preparation of curricula, resources and training materials
- Experience in application writing, report writing and project design
- Have a basic knowledge of recent developments regarding Community Based Rehabilitation
- Experience in a post-conflict environment and in Muslim countries is an advantage
- Experience in pre-school education, additional to extensive experience in primary education, is an advantage Others:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Good planning, analytical and troubleshooting skills
- Ability to travel frequently to project offices within Afghanistan and adjust to difficult and basic living conditions
- Proficiency in English essential
- Knowledge of Dari / Pashto an asset
Timeline & Start Date:
Contract period: 2 years with an initial 6 months probationary period Conditions: Non family posting. SCA offers competitive salary, free housing, insurances and other benefits. Duties to begin: January 2013 (or earlier) Last date for application: 23 October 2012
Application Procedure:
Last date for application: 23 October 2012 Send a 1-page letter explaining why you are interested in this position and your key competencies for it together with CV (no more than 2 pages) in English.
Apply here:
http://www.swedishcommittee.org/about-sca/vacancies/expatriates
Background:
Rehabilitation of Afghans with Disabilities (RAD) is a large Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) programme which has been working since 1991 for people with disabilities and is now currently working in more than 2000 villages and urban areas in 43 districts in 13 provinces. RAD has five components in its programme: Community Mobilisation and Advocacy, Inclusive and Special Education, Vocational Training and Employment Support, Physical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy and Prosthetic and Orthotics services) and Institutional and Capacity Development. The programme management unit is based in the main office in Kabul, and has four project offices in the capital cities of Ghazni, Nangarhar, Balkh and Takhar provinces. Special & Inclusive Education is a core component of the RAD programme. It aims at promoting inclusion in mainstream schools and equal access to education and other activities for children with disabilities (in particular children with hearing, seeing and learning difficulties). RAD is trying to achieve this through conducting preparatory and supportive training, capacity development of RAD and government staff, lobbying an advocacy for inclusion, and enhancing awareness on related issues among communities, civil society actors and authorities. The Inclusive Education Advisor will work closely together with the Special & Inclusive Education Senior Officer(s) of the RAD Programme Unit in developing a comprehensive strategy for children with special needs as well as monitoring the Special & Inclusive education activities of the programme. S/he will build the professional capacity of the special & inclusive education staff of the programme through practical training and follow up in implementation of different methodologies especially in learning difficulties, child development and inclusive education. The main task will be to build on SCA’s current work in inclusive education, where the Inclusive Education Advisor will be involved in both advocacy, policy and strategy work on a national level with other actors involved in disability and education, and in practical development and implementation of methods, approaches and materials on a project level. S/he will develop the programme further, contribute to strengthen synergies within SCA between the RAD and Education Programme, with a focus to mainstream and integrate inclusive education into the Education Programme in the forthcoming years. There will also be support to the roll out of the inclusive education programme in existing and new geographical areas and to link SCA’s inclusive education programme to ongoing research and networks within the related field.
Responsibilities:
Technical Support and Advice
- Give advice in order to develop the quality and impact of inclusive education services within RAD, SCA as a whole, and on a national level
- Support in the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the inclusive education programme
- Advice on strategy and policy related issues regarding the future and further development of the inclusive education programme
- Identify possibilities to further roll out the inclusive education programme
- Develop standard guidelines for the special & inclusive education component
- Strengthen the synergy between SCA Education & RAD programme, with a focus to explore the full integration of inclusive education into the mainstream Education Programme and schools
- Assist in developing and improving methods for assessments and development of special & inclusive education materials
- Disseminate information and updating on international developments within the special & inclusive education field
- Contribute to the standardization of the pre-school activities within the inclusive education programme Planning and Reporting
- Prepare and write donor reports, annual planning documents, reports and studies regarding the Special & Inclusive Education programme, together with the Senior Advisor, RAD Programme Manager, Senior Officer and SCA programme management
- Identify potential donors and prepare proposals for new donors
- Work with the expatriate and national members of the RAD management team and the Heads of Special & Inclusive Education in the field offices to plan programme activities and set targets
- Work with the RAD management team to enable implementation of the RAD programme according to policy, budgets, guidelines and work plan
- To enforce the implementation of SCA financial regulations and procedures Capacity Building
- Identifying needs for training and capacity building
- Develop, organize and implement training packages, workshops and seminars for both internal staff as well as external actors regarding special & inclusive education
- Train and facilitate change in knowledge, skills and attitude regarding disability, special and inclusive education
- Provide support, advice and capacity building to the national Special & Inclusive Education Senior Officer
- Take the lead in identify opportunities for improvement, inventiveness and make constructive suggestions for change in the programme
- Promote an attitude of team spirit, cooperation and a strong focus on quality Networking and Advocacy
- Actively contribute to good relations and linkages with external stakeholders and networks
- Lobby and coordinate with especially the Ministry of Education and the national Inclusive & Child-Friendly Education Coordination Working Group on a central level, as well as Provincial Education Directorates
- Partake in defining and implementing appropriate advocacy work
- Facilitate international contacts as relevant Other
- Carry out any other task within his/her competence if requested by the Head of RAD Programme
- To act according to the policy and regulations of SCA
- To keep updated with issues related to SCA and the environment where SCA operates
- To develop good co-operation with external actors
Requirements:
Qualifications:
- Master Degree in Pedagogics for Inclusive and/or Special Education, or equivalent Experience:
- At least 5 years of experience in special and inclusive education programmes
- At least 2 years of experience in this field in developing countries
- Experience in coordination, advocacy and strategic development of inclusive education with authorities on local, provincial/regional and central levels.
- Experience in capacity development of key actors, stakeholders and staff regarding inclusive education
- Experience in training and preparation of curricula, resources and training materials
- Experience in application writing, report writing and project design
- Have a basic knowledge of recent developments regarding Community Based Rehabilitation
- Experience in a post-conflict environment and in Muslim countries is an advantage
- Experience in pre-school education, additional to extensive experience in primary education, is an advantage Others:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Good planning, analytical and troubleshooting skills
- Ability to travel frequently to project offices within Afghanistan and adjust to difficult and basic living conditions
- Proficiency in English essential
- Knowledge of Dari / Pashto an asset
Timeline & Start Date:
Contract period: 2 years with an initial 6 months probationary period Conditions: Non family posting. SCA offers competitive salary, free housing, insurances and other benefits. Duties to begin: January 2013 (or earlier) Last date for application: 23 October 2012
Application Procedure:
Last date for application: 23 October 2012 Send a 1-page letter explaining why you are interested in this position and your key competencies for it together with CV (no more than 2 pages) in English.
Apply here:
http://www.swedishcommittee.org/about-sca/vacancies/expatriates
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