Concern Worldwide Education Programme Coordinator

Reference: SO/EPC/MAL Country: Malawi Job Title: Education Programme Coordinator

Contract Grade: B

Contract Length: 2 years

Date Needed By: ASAP

New Post or Replacement: New

Accompanied / Unaccompanied: Unaccompanied

Exact Job Location: Nsanje, Malawi with regular travel to Lilongwe

Reports To: ACD – Programme

Responsible For: All Education Programme staff including Project managers

Liaises With: Education Programme Partner Organisations, National and District government offices, Donors, UNICEF, Other UN agencies, NGOs, Member of the community, Internal Programme and System staff

Job Purpose: The Education Programme Coordinator will be responsible for the overall coordination, planning, and management of the Ending School Related Gender Based Violence (SRGBV) “Time to learn” education programme to improve access to quality education for extremely poor children within a stable, safe and equitable learning environment in Nsanje, Malawi. The Coordinator is responsible to implement the Educational programme goal of improving access to quality education for extremely poor children in Nsanje, within a stable, safe and equitable learning environment. The programme specifically focuses on the right of girls to access quality education, free from all forms of violence and discrimination and it is actively promoted by schools, communities and the State in Nsanje district.

The Coordinator will be required to establish mechanisms to monitor and respond to poor time-on-task, by directly monitoring, introducing tools for data collection within MoE and supporting communities in monitoring time-on-task on visual boards outside the school. The Education Coordinator will oversee the establishment of a complaints-response mechanism from community level to the district MoE, so that communities can report teachers for poor attendance and MoE demonstrate appropriate management responses.

To improve the quality of education, focusing on literacy instruction, the Education Coordinator will coordinate the development develop and delivery of a two-year course in literacy instruction in Chichewa and English. This course will be provided to teachers in standards 1-3 through a rural cluster-based teacher training program, with regular in-classroom coaching and support visits so that teachers demonstrate improvements in literacy instruction on a daily basis. The literacy course will incorporate phonics, through the USAID-funded Early Grade Reading course, along with specific skills in language instruction and effective use of textbooks and children’s books from Malawi Reads to promote fluency, writing skills and comprehension. Teachers, parents and MoE will need to be trained in the interpretation of assessment results, to improve accountability and facilitate informed planning on how they can improve school management for better learning.

He/ She works closely and maintaining professional relationships with the Ministry of Education (MOE), Malawi Institute of Education (MIE), district schools, teacher and the programme partners to create a safe and non-violent learning environment in schools for students especially for girls. The Coordinator lead the programme to strengthen multi-stakeholder coordination and behaviour change at community level for an effective response to and prevention of (Gender Based Violence) GBV in schools and communities. He/ She also responsible to support the implementation of national commitments to address SRGBV which will ultimately provide evidence and model approaches that influence national policies and plans.

The Coordinator is responsible for preparing or ensuring quality of donor and other external reports. S/he will lead the development of new projects to expand the Education portfolio and lead Concern Worldwide education sector strategy development. The position holder is also responsible for representing Concern Worldwide in the education sector and with the MOE, UNICEF, UNFPA/EU and other key stakeholders in the sector. S/he is in charge of staff, consultants, as well as technical and budgetary management.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Job Responsibility #1- Programme Coordination for Program Quality (30% of time) • Apply development theory and best practices to the activities contributing to Programme objectives. • Coordinate the elaboration of work-plans, the implementation of field activities and monitor progress towards programme objectives as per agreed timeframes. • Integrate Concern Worldwide program quality concepts: Programming Principles, Program Shift, DME, report writing and communications, as well as Gender Equity & Diversity, , HIV, Governance, etc. • Integrate relvant sectoral/technical best practices and technical assistance are integrated into programme activities. • Ensures that the Education programme under his/her supervision include an appropriate log-frame and baseline design; • Organizes a monitoring system to collect baseline and periodic data for tracking programme performance and decision making; • Plans and conducts quarterly and annual programme review meeting to assess progress, adjust plans, and draw/disseminate lessons learned; • Write monthly/quarterly/annual comprehensive and high quality programme progress reports • Provide input into the development of new Education programme proposals and initiatives. Job Responsibility #2- Human Resources Management (20% of time) • Supervises, leads, guides, orients, trains, coaches and supports programme staff and his/her direct reports. • Provide team leadership and motivational support to the Programme Team through daily supervision, regular team meetings, and learning and reflection events • Leads hiring and orientation of new programme staff in coordination with HR, including finalizing JDs, recruiting, participating in interviews, reference checks. • Recommends or initiates personnel actions such as, promotions, transfers, terminations, and disciplinary actions including performance improvement plans; • Ensure that all programme staff have appropriate individual operational plans linked to programme priorities; • Completes all performance management activities including: performance planning, monitoring, ongoing feedback and annual performance appraisals; • Identify and pursue opportunities for the human resource development of programme staff and implementing partners and promote cross visits to improve familiarisation with new technical strategies and attendance at management-related training workshops. • Builds the technical and managerial capacity of the field staff and partners in planning and implementing projects effectively and efficiently through field visits and general meetings and discussions • Ensure that Project Managers and Partners are aware of and are implementing effectively Concern Policies and Procedures, and particularly the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the HR Policies and Procedures. • Ensures that all staff have updated monthly and quarterly implementation plans;

Job Responsibility #3 - Activities Management: Planning & Implementation (15% of time) • With the programme team analyzes past experiences to systematize and incorporate lessons learned into the planning process; • Based on past accomplishments and achievements adjusts programme targets, strategies, resources and delegation of responsibilities to ensure appropriate progress toward programme objectives; • Shares draft plans with programme management team, staff and partners involved in the implementation and incorporate their input into the plan; • Submits annual plans as per established schedules to all programme stakeholders. • Organizes the implementation process of all set targets planned for each project with respective supervisors, experts and other concerned staff working within program departments; • Maintains ongoing communication with Programme stakeholder regarding programme progress and challenges; • Continuously assesses programme’s context, assumptions and changes in the working environment to ensure that the programme focus, strategies and activities remain relevant and to proposed adjustments when needed

Job Responsibility #4 - Financial & Administrative Management and Security (10% of time) • Ensures compliance with applicable donor rules & regulations, including familiarizing all relevant programme staff and partners to these • With the Project Managers and with the support of the Finance team, monitor programme expenditure, ensuring this is within budget, and that the programme is being delivered in a cost-effective manner. • Coordinates contract start up and close out processes and procedures with other relevant units, HR, Finance, Systems, etc. • Recommends or initiates contract changes including realignment of activities, budgets, contract extensions, etc. • Coordinates any sub grant activities and agreements and ensures compliance with applicable policies and procedures. • Undertake budget revisions for the programme, considering programme needs and changes as well as programme proposals and donor commitments. Involve the Project Managers in this process and submit draft revisions to Senior Management Team • Manages budgets including monthly reviews of expense reports. • Prepares procurement plans and monitors procurement processes. • Ensures security and appropriate use of project and Concern Worldwide assets. • Implement audit recommendations applicable to the programme. • Ensure through management support / monitoring and in collaboration with the relevant support staff, that all Concern policies and procedures are followed, including logistics, transport and finance. • Working with the ACD – Systems and SMT, ensure that Programme requirements and supplies are planned for and ordered in a timely and coordinated manner • Ensure all staff and visitors in areas of management uphold and abide by the Procedures and Policies, Code of Conduct and Security Management Plan (SOPs) • Ensure the identity of all persons communicating sensitive information is protected • Ensure that the safety and security of the team is maintained • Assess and report any incidents in line with Concern’s SMP

Job Responsibility #5 - Manages External Relations & Collaboration (10% of time) • Establish and positive working relationships with MoE, MIE, district government authorities, NGO, local and international organizations, academic institutions and private sector actors with activities relevant to the programme to identify areas of potential collaboration. • Implement communication plan for each of key stakeholders to encourage continuous collaboration and updates • Ensure communication of key milestones to necessary stakeholders. • Collate/compile field-generated information and complete periodic progress reports in a timely manner in compliance with donor requirements for onward incorporation in the programme report. • Identify appropriate technical coordination meetings relevant to the area of work and attend these as requested by his/her supervisor. • Identify and incorporate into activities as appropriate, relevant National and sector guidelines and policies

Job Responsibility #6 Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation (10% of time) • With the ACD-P, plan timeframes for reports for the programme in agreed donor formats, providing support to Project Managers to elaborate these • Consolidate Project Managers’ donor reports into a single document as per agreed timeframe and submit to ACD - P • Elaborate timely monthly reports that are comprehensive, concise and analytical as per agreed format and submit to ACD - P • Prepare data and information as and when required by Concern, donors or partners • Under the direction of the ACD-P, coordinate the planning and implementation of monitoring and evaluation initiatives, providing training and support to programme staff as necessary • In addition to the production of analytical reports, ensure that Lessons Learned are documented thoroughly and disseminated, at least on an annual basis • Proactively identify ways in which to improve monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment activities • Ensure the transparency and efficiency of Concern interventions, through the appropriate use of all resources and inputs according to policies and selection criteria • Support the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Education programme in collaboration with the M&E staff and make relevant changes to implementation plans as agreed with SMT

Job Responsibility #7 Perform other duties as assigned by the Supervisor. (5% of time)

WORK TARGETS SET FOR THIS POST OVER THE CONTRACT PERIOD: • To implement the Ending School Related Gender Based Violence (SRGBV) and the “Time to Learn” education programme in 17 schools in Nsanje district to meet the deliverables outlined in the programme prosposal • To work with other develop actors in Nsanje to ensure coordination and synergy in programme activities • To ensure that cross-cutting themes are mainstreamed across the programme • To ensure that interventions follow the project cycle as defined by Concern • To support the development and implementation of Results Frameworks and Monitoring plans • To track programme expenditure to ensure that finances are managed in line with agreed programme objectives and within budgets • To oversee compliance with donor policies, procedures and procurement requirements • To build a team spirit to ensure a productive, accountable and dynamic the programme • To represent Concern at inter-agency and coordination meetings relative to the Education programme.

PERSON SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:
• Minimum 3 yrs experience working overseas in education related development programmes • At least three years teaching experience in the classroom, preferably at primary school level • Experience of promoting child protection and positive discipline within the primary education system and the wider community • Experience working in partnership with local government institutions; • Experience in mainstreaming gender and equality issues within programme design and management • A proven record of effective project management, including project planning and managing a budget • Proven skills in partnership building, influencing and negotiation with a range of humanitarian actors, including governments, UN agencies, academic institutions, networks, national/local NGOs and community groups • Proven skills in monitoring and evaluation, including collecting and using routine data to systematically assess and re-plan programme activities

DESIRABLE Education, Qualifications & Experience Required: • Strong understanding of Sexual and Gender-based Violence, particularly as it relates to education processes and programs • Previous successful experience in the management of multi-agency, multi-stakeholder collaborative projects. • Sound understanding of the concepts behind and practical application of humanitarian codes and standards such as SPHERE, the People In Aid Code, HAP etc. • Experience in the effective dissemination of research findings and the design, organization and management of large-scale learning events. • Experience of using digital data gathering devices in M&E.

Special Skills, Aptitude or Personality Requirements: Technical: • Strong understanding of literacy instruction in the early grades of children’s education • An understanding of school related gender based violence issues and methodologies to combat SRGBV. • Strong people management skills: the ability to effectively lead and supervise staff; • Solid organizational skills: the ability to be flexible and work well under pressure in a fast-paced and detail-oriented team environment; • Strong facilitation skills, including the design and management of effective trainings, workshops and meetings with diverse participants. • Strong skills in written communication, including effective report writing • Strong skills in inter-personal communications, able to work effectively with multiple stakeholders in a complex, multi-actor environment. • Sensitivity to cultural differences and the ability to work effectively across a wide variety of cultural contexts. • Strong team player, able to develop and maintain effective working relationships within a distributed and dynamic team. • Flexible, creative and solution-oriented approach in an innovative environment • Competence with MS Office applications, including Word, Excel and Outlook.

Competencies:

• Managing yourself – Holds an awareness of own abilities and areas for development; adapts and uses abilities to work well with others and to help achieve Concern’s objectives.

• Leadership – Acts to inspire others by clearly articulating and demonstrating the values and principles that underpin Concern’s work. Holds a sense of pride in Concern and loyalty to the organisation. Supports others to achieve excellent results.

• Communicating and working with others – Uses the most appropriate channel to share information with others both inside and outside Concern; adapts the message to meet the communication needs of the audience.

• Delivering results – Systematically develops plans towards achieving Concern’s objectives and delivers on commitments; uses appropriate techniques to help achieve agreed objectives

• Planning and decision-making – Systematically develops plans towards achieving Concern’s objectives and delivers on commitments; makes clear, informed and timely decisions appropriate to role, in the interests of Concern and those we work with

• Creativity and innovation – Seeks out, develops and successfully implements new ideas that further the needs of Concern and those we work with; builds on proven approaches and learns from ongoing work to improve it

• Influence, advocacy and networking – Engages with others inside and outside the organisation to promote the interests of Concern and those we work with; gathers and shares a wider knowledge of issues relevant to Concern’s work

• Change – Responds positively and constructively to change; manages or takes part in change processes in a way that is appropriate to role in the organisation

How to apply:

All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net by closing date 9th December 2012 CV’s should be no more than 4 pages in length.

Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer posts before the closing date.