Aga Khan Foundation
(East Africa)
Employment
Opportunities
Strengthening
Education Systems Project in East Africa (SESEA)
AKF(EA) works in five
sectors including Health, Education, Early Childhood Development, Rural
Development and Civil Society enhancement.
Over the last several years, AKF (EA)’s programmes have evolved and expanded in response to government policies, beneficiary demand and assessment of needs.
In order to optimise
AKF (EA)’s efficiency and effectiveness as a development actor in the region,
it seeks to support and improve innovations that create viable solutions to
community problems that impede development.
AKF (EA) is seeking
experienced personnel for the implementation of a complex, multi-partner,
regional education project.
The Strengthening
Education Systems in East Africa (SESEA) is a five year project co-funded by
CIDA and AKF that aims to sustainably improve learning outcomes, with a
particular focus on literacy and numeracy, for pre-primary and primary students
in selected areas of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The project components
include
a) professional
development of educators,
b) strengthening
institutions and education support systems and
c) enhancement of
evidence based knowledge for policy dialogue.
AKF is inviting
applications for the following exciting positions based at its Regional Office
in Nairobi with frequent travel in the region to work with implementing
partners.
1. Monitoring, Evaluation
and Reporting (MER) Coordinator
The position will
report to the Programme Director.
The MER Coordinator
will oversee the design and implementation of the project’s Monitoring,
Evaluation and Reporting systems in partnership with AKDN implementing
agencies. Specifically, the MER Coordinator will;
- Develop
the Project Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Framework and set up
project monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Coordinate
the implementation of project baseline, mid-line and end-line for each
assessment by a reputable organisation.
- Assist
the Programme Director and the Programme Grant Coordinator in the
implementation of the project research and learning agenda.
- Carry
out quality assurance of the project activities including regular field
monitoring and supervision.
- Provide
remote and on-site technical support to project implementing partners.
- Prepare
regional M&E progress reports for the project.
- Coordinate
project M&E and reporting activities among all relevant agencies.
- Assist
in the identification and recruitment of relevant MER technical experts.
- Liaise
with other relevant AKF/AKDN personnel on MER related issues as necessary.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Graduate
degree in a relevant discipline, such as education, international
development, or the social sciences.
- Minimum
of 4 years of relevant practical experience designing and implementing
M&E systems in a development context, preferably in the education
sector.
- Knowledge
and experience of results-based monitoring and evaluation with particular
attention to assessing gender equality results
- Planning
implementation of M&E systems
- Experience
in M&E development, implementation, Information analysis and reporting
- Proven
experience with results-based management and associated tools, donor
requirements and reporting processes
- Proven
experience working with NGOs and government agencies, and with
donor-funded projects
- Ability
to meet strict reporting deadlines
- Excellent
written and oral communications skills in English and excellent
analytical, organisational, interpersonal and problem-solving skills
2. Programme Grant Coordinator
The Position will
report to the Programme Director. The Programme Grant Coordinator will be
responsible for ensuring the project meets AKF and donor requirements and will
also lead the preparation of accurate, high quality and timely reporting.
The incumbent will
work closely with various agencies.
Specifically, the
Programme Grant Coordinator will:
- Coordinate
the development of project annual planning and reporting processes.
- Provide
analysis, synthesize and articulate the lessons, challenges, and risks
emerging from the project, and feed these back into project planning and
implementation.
- Develop
and coordinate the implementation of a Communication Strategy for the
project with partners.
- Work
with field implementing partners, to draft, consolidate and edit project
reports, annual work plans, briefs, communications pieces and other
relevant documents.
- Assist
in the creation and support of the project learning agenda to inform and
improve policy and practices in education, both nationally and within the
region.
- Work
with the Finance Officer to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Graduate
degree in a relevant discipline, such as international development,
economics, education, or the social sciences
- Minimum
2 years of relevant experience in results-based management, grant
management, financial management, donor requirements and reporting processes
- Relevant
practical experience in a development context, preferably in the education
sector
- Familiarity/experience
with development issues in East Africa and the education sector
- Excellent
organizational and planning skills and an ability to work under pressure
with multiple tasks, demands and deadlines
- Proven
ability to meet strict reporting deadlines and to produce results
- Excellent
written and oral communications skills in English and superb analytical,
organizational, interpersonal, negotiation and problem-solving skills
3. Gender Specialist
The Gender Specialist
will report to the Programme Director and will serve as a technical advisor for
the project, providing targeted expertise to ensure that gender as a
cross-cutting theme is considered and addressed throughout the project
implementation.
The incumbent will
ensure that AKDN implementing partners are empowered to effectively engage in
policy dialogue relevant to gender equality in the education sector and will
assist partners to develop and implement detailed, country-specific gender
action plans.
The Incumbent will
also strengthen the capacity of AKDN implementing agencies, identifying
specific opportunities for improving and mainstreaming gender equality through
project activities.
In collaboration with
AKF and partners, the Gender Specialist will support the project’s integration
of gender into its activities, including monitoring and evaluation tools.
The main tasks will
include:
- Provide
analysis on gender equality issues, synthesize and articulate the lessons,
challenges, and risks related to gender, and apply these to on-going
project planning and implementation.
- Analyse
current policies and practices within the education systems to identify
existing barriers that inhibit equal access to education and provide
practical recommendations to address these barriers within the project
scope.
- Work
with the team to review and integrate gender equality issues within all
project planning, MER systems, project implementation and reporting.
- Assist
to identify specific activities to integrate gender, and provide support
for their implementation, including identification and supervision of
gender consultants.
- Provide
training, supplementary learning materials, and technical assistance to
staff and partners to build their understanding of gender and education
systems.
- Provide
support to strengthen the capacity of implementing agencies to ensure that
pedagogical practices, teaching/learning materials, classroom
environments, education management, teacher training programs and
community/parent committees are gender sensitive.
- Work
with project team and implementing partners to ensure that the Research
and Learning Agenda integrates gender equality issues.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
The Gender Specialist
should meet the following criteria in terms of qualifications, technical
competencies, and experience:
- Graduate
degree in a relevant discipline, such as gender, education, or the social
sciences
- Minimum
of 7 years relevant, practical experience in a developing country context,
with at least three years of experience applying gender analysis to
implementation of education development projects
- Experience
working with NGOs and government agencies, and with donor-funded projects
- Experience
in conducting gender analyses and implementing gender equality activities
in international development projects, particularly in the education
sector
- Knowledge
and experience of results-based monitoring and evaluation with particular
attention to assessing gender equality results
- Proven
ability to meet strict reporting deadlines and produce results
- Excellent
written and oral communications skills in English and superb analytical,
organizational, interpersonal, negotiation and problem-solving skills
Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, CV and the
names and contact information of three professional referees by 22nd February,
2013 to the Regional Human Resource Manager, Aga Khan Foundation, East Africa,
via e-mail to. recruitment-akfea@akdn.org.
Only shortlisted
candidates will be contacted.
The Aga Khan
Foundation is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org).
