Job Title: Programs Officer
1. Introduction
i. The African Virtual University
(AVU): The AVU is a Pan African Intergovernmental
Organization established by charter with the mandate of significantly
increasing access to quality higher education and training through the
innovative use of information communication technologies.
The AVU has its headquarters in
Nairobi, Kenya and a Regional office in Dakar Senegal with Host-Country
Agreements and Diplomatic Status with the two governments.
The AVU Business Plan 2009-2014 has
two main thrusts:
(a) Educational and support services
provided on a fee basis; and
(b) Not-for-profit development
services.
The Not-for-profit development
services aims at building the capacity of AVU Partner Institutions (PIs) with
an objective of increasing access to quality education through the following
activities:
- updating and developing content;
- Open Educational Resources (OER)
Development;
- AVU Capacity Enhancement Program (ACEP);
- set up/upgrade ODeL centers; developing
professional networks through Communities of Practices;
- Research and Development; and
- Quality Evaluation and Benchmarking.
Some of the not-for-profit
development services were delivered from 2005 to 2011 through the AVU
Multinational Project I, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and
implemented in 10 African countries with 12 participating institutions.
ii. The AfDB-funded Multinational
Support Project: The AfDB is funding a second phase of
the Multinational Project which will build on the first phase and will extend
its benefits to more countries.
The overall objective of the AVU
Multinational Project II is to strengthen the capacity of the AVU and a network
of 27 institutions to deliver and manage quality ICT integrated education and
training opportunities in 21 African countries.
The project has the following
activities:
(1) Establishment of new Open
Distance and eLearning (ODeL) Centres and/or upgrading of exiting AVU Learning
Centres as well as Internet connectivity provision at AVU Partner
Institutions;
(2) Development and/or improvement,
and delivery of four ICT integrated Programs: AVU Capacity Enhancement Program
(ACEP); Teacher Education, Computer Science, and Peace and Conflict
Resolution;
(3) Gender Mainstreaming
(4) Research and Development;
(5) Promotion and development of Open
Education Resources (OERs); and
(6) Enhancement of AVU Capacity .
The AVU Multinational Project II is
being implemented in 27 AVU Partner Institutions in the following 21 countries:
nine (9) Francophone African Countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal; four (4)
Lusophone African Countries: Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and Mozambique;
and eight (8) Anglophone African Countries: Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya,
Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, and Tanzania.
To successfully implement the activities related to the development of the education programs in the project, the AVU wishes to engage a Programs Officer to undertake the administrative tasks.
The Programs officer will work with
the Educational Technology and Learning Resources (ET&LR) unit in the
implementation of the following programs:
(i) Open Distance and eLearning
Professional Development (ODeLPD); Teacher Education (TEP); Applied Computer
Science (ACSP); and Peace Management and Conflict Resolution (PM&CR).
2. Scope of Work
The Programs’ Officer will be
responsible for the following tasks in the ET&LR Unit:
- Coordinating the engagement process of the
required consultant in the unit
- Ensuring the consultants and Subject matter
experts have been issued with contracts in a timely manner
- Processing the payments of the consultants
- Managing the communication in terms of
drafting letters and or emails in the programs
- Assisting in compiling Unit’s Reports
- Meticulously keeping all records of the
processes in the unit, that is, managing the filing (electronic and
manual) system of all processes’ records.
- Drafting letters, scheduling appointments and
providing support in development of presentations and public awareness
materials
- Making logistical arrangements for seminars,
workshops, study tours, conferences and coordinating travel arrangements
for the unit
- Liaising with procurement and finance offices
for timely acquisition of goods and services required
- Coordinating the translation of Unit’s
documents and modules in the unit by external firms(s)
- Translating short administrative documents
- Arranging and taking notes in Unit’s meeting
and file them accordingly
- Any other duties that may be assigned from
time to time.
3. Deliverables and Expected Outcomes
- Well-coordinated and documented processes in
the ET&LR unit
- Contracts and payment of consultants and SMEs
done in a timely manner
- Well-arranged and documented meetings
- Timely and relevant communication with stake
holders in the Unit’s activities
- Reports drafted and finalized as needed
- Units seminars and workshops (virtual of face
to face) meticulously planned and implemented
- Units travel logistics efficiently arranged
- Units required goods and services acquired in
a timely manner
- Well-coordinated translation process for the
Units documents and modules
- Short administrative documents translated as
requested
- Other duties requested accomplished as agreed
4. Qualifications of the Programs
Officer
- University degree in Languages and
Literature/Social Sciences/Business studies or a related subject is
required.
- At least five years relevant working
experience
- Good understanding of budgeting and financial
management procedures
- Proficiency in database applications and MS
office suit
- Experience in an NGO or international
organization environment is an added advantage
- Good interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated experience in planning,
organizing and co-ordination of meetings and workshops
- Demonstrated office Management skills and
experience gained in a busy office
- Ability to work under tight schedules and
willingness to put in extra hours
- Ability to work under minimum supervision
- Excellent oral and written bi-lingual
communication skills in English and French; or English and Portuguese.
Tri-lingual skills in English, Portuguese and French are an added
advantage.
5. Modalities of Work and Timelines: The officer will work full time dedicating 8
hours in a day for 5 days a week
6. Duration: The successful candidate will be appointed for 12
months.
7. Reporting: The Programs Officer will report to the Manager,
Educational Technology &Learning Resources or any other person that the AVU
may appoint from time to time.
8. Payment: The officer will be paid at a monthly rate
commensurate with his/her education and experience
How to Apply
Application must include an application letter and detailed curriculum vitae with: a telephone number; email and residential addresses; and names with contact addresses of three professional references.
How to Apply
Application must include an application letter and detailed curriculum vitae with: a telephone number; email and residential addresses; and names with contact addresses of three professional references.
Applications should be sent to
job@avu.org and must have Programs Officer as the email subject.
The successful candidate will be
based at the AVU Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
The organization requires to fill
this position urgently and therefore applications will be reviewed as they are
received.
The African Virtual University (AVU)
is an equal opportunity employer.
Note: ONLY shortlisted candidates will be contacted
Website: www.avu.org