Save the Children an independent humanitarian organization focusing on children in need, with programs in over 120 countries, including the United States. We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

POSITION : Education Officer - NENTAD EiE  

DESCRIPTION

The Education Officer will take responsibility for planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of North East Nigeria Transition to Development (NENTAD) programme to improve children's learning outcomes (literacy, Numeracy and life skills) and development through the use of evidence- based approaches.

A combination of adaptable components from SCI Literacy Boost and the QLE Framework are to be used within the already existing approved system and structures including government approved curriculum, medium of instruction among others.

There will be close collaboration with all stakeholders (government, development partners, cross sector networking, members of the sector working group, UN-OCHA, SEMA and the community structures) to ensure that programme goals are achieved and sustained.

In line with SCI ambition, SDGs and NENTAD goal, inclusion of all children including the girl child and children with disabilities is key in project implementation and monitoring.

The EiE Officer will actively participate in education-related activities and meetings, and will also seek active collaboration with other players working in the education sector.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning:

• Take active role in unpacking and roll out of new projects with staff, partners and eventually community or project areas. 
• Build capacity and provide direct backup technical supportive supervision to head teachers, government desk officers, teachers, quality assurance officers and other community resource persons engaged in the project, in collaboration with the designated LGEA technical staff.
• Ensure 100% monthly budget utilization and reporting of key results based on project work plans and budgets.
• Lead planning efforts at state, LGEA and community levels so as to ensure effective and efficient resource allocation and utilization in line with approved project work plans and budgets and within the complete project cycle.
• Participate in efforts to ensure availability of updated budgets, log frames targets, work plans, and reports are timely and accurate.

Implementation:

• Ensure that key lessons from the project are shared or disseminated to wider audience in project states as appropriate
• Identify critical project gaps and vulnerabilities, and clarify roles, responsibilities and accountabilities to effectively address those gaps exploring local solutions
• Ensure quality in the field level implementation by partners, direct implementers, staff and teachers through trainings, mentoring and supportive supervision etc.
• Provide guidance to field-based implementation by ensuring that inclusion, gender and disability are mainstreamed to address SC Commitments for Children in Emergencies, and reflect good practice in emergency education responses leaving no one behind.
• Ensure 100% implementation of Education project activities in the area of operation and in accordance with the project proposal, Save the children policies and as per operational guidelines.
• Provide strategic and technical support to partners and facilitators.
• Prepare and submit activity rationale and budgets for review and approval prior to activity implementation
• Provide technical support to the stakeholders to ensure effective implementation
• Provide monthly, quarterly and annual report based on project targets and results

Roll-out of the Project Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning:

• Conduct periodic /regular meetings with stakeholders including community leaders and stakeholders
• Involvement of beneficiaries throughout all stages of programme cycle - assessment, design, implementation and maintenance.
• Ensure an effective exit strategy discussions is planned in discussions with government stakeholders for sustainability is in place by the end of project.
• Ensure regular monitoring of project activities in the respective schools and follow up in implementation of planned tasks, activities and agreed actions in the work plans.
• Monitor and follow up the Project Partner’s activities and ensure their timely delivery of the Planned activities and reports
• Provide direct backup technical support supervision to all partner staff in the field
• In collaboration with MEAL Officer, support proper documentation of the project activities conducted –case studies, best practices and unique experiences for sharing and learning to Line Manager.
• Regularly monitor project activities with the frequency and tools as reflected in the M&E plans
• Submit monthly reports (progress against planned activities, expense against estimated budget) of project activities to the line manager as per agreed schedule.
• Participate in the preparation of semi-annual and annual work plans and  reports on project interventions
• Ensure appropriate filing and availability of documentation required for internal and external communications, accountability, audits, evaluation purposes and reporting
• Support the implementation of the accountability and learning framework for the project
• Participate in the filling of the monthly activity target tracker and quarterly Indicator Performance Tracking Table Tracker
• Identify areas for capacity building and follow-up on implementation of action plans
• Document best practices and most significant change stories
• Participate in weekly up-date meetings and as directed by the Field Manager and Technical Adviser

Technical Support and back-stopping:

• Coordinate planning and implementation of the program locations
• Participate and contribute to the NENTAD project reviews on the program as required.
• Provide technical back stopping to teachers, headteachers and partners on the QLE Framework: collaborate with LGEA education managers
• Contribute to intervention design, including building linkages within the education, health, nutrition and livelihood sectors.
• Review and provide input to reports, briefs and other documents.
• Facilitate community engagement in school PTA/SBMC/traditional/religious structures meetings for improved learning outcomes and school level decision making processes

Budget Monitoring responsibility:

• Monitor daily expenditure so as to ensure project budgets are spent within acceptable limits and timelines as per set and approved monthly, quarterly and annual budget forecasts.
• Track budgets to avoid over and under expenditure and most importantly follow donor requirements.
• Take due diligence in ensuring correct coding and verification of expenditure as per financial reports. Officer will review financial reports with support from project Manager and Area Manager to ensure accuracy of reporting.

Coordination and Collaborations:

• Provide coordination of all Education Programmes at State and LGEA levels in the areas of intervention.
• Work closely with the relevant state agencies and parastatals, LGEA, other NGOs and Agencies in the Education sector, Schools, SBMCs, PTAs among others so as to identify areas of collaboration and leverage against state resources so as to maximize impact.
• Advocate for, and support, the development of sustainable, child-friendly   and hazard-resistant standards and designs for learning centres, the integration of life skills into both formal and non-formal education, with a particular focus on Disaster Risk Reduction( DRR).

Reporting and documentation:

• Generate timely, consistent and accurate monthly and quarterly Progress reports.
• Actively participate in generation of semi annual reports donor reports demonstrating clear contributing towards overall goals and intended outcomes.
• Participate in and share progress during weekly meetings
• Document key success stories and areas of innovation for sharing on quarterly basis

Resource Acquisition:

• In collaboration with the EiE Coordinator, Education Technical Advisor, partners and LGEA officials, conduct needs assessment to identify gaps in education sector
• Where called upon, contribute in concept and proposal writing efforts
• Continuously, in the course of implementation, indentify gaps and document areas of innovation so as to develop creative and innovative programmes

Partnership:

• Continuously identifying and map potential implementing partners in their operational area and recommend potential partners for assessment where and when required.
• Jointly implement strategic/ key activities with partners
• Monitor and follow up the project partner’s on the activities implemented to ensure that they are in line with the project design and planned project activities.
• Taking partners through the NENTAD goal and objectives, child safeguarding policy and gender tracker to ensure that their plans are contributing to our strategic objectives and key results.
• Support and monitor day to day partner implementation, identify capacity gaps and recommend for capacity building where possible.
• Documenting best practices and unique experiences for sharing and learning and field visits.
• Follow up with partner reports and accountabilities.
• Identify partner’s capacity gaps in different areas and share the information with the Line Manager. 

Empowerment and Project Impact:

• Build the capacity of children, their parents and the community to collectively engage local leaders on identified issues especially child protection.
• Liaise and follow-up on commitments made by leaders on improvement of the child wellbeing especially the three breakthrough of survive, educate and protect.
• Innovatively support children to participate, own and benefit from the project interventions
• Mobilize and facilitate active participation of parents and their communities to participate in planning, monitoring and implementation of community development initiatives and supporting child education

Qualifications

• A Degree in Education, Social Work, Social Administration, Psychology, Social Sciences, Development Studies.
• A Post graduate Diploma in Project Planning, Management and Evaluation would be an added advantage
• 3 years experience of working with an International NGO with budget management and monitoring responsibilities.
• 2 years experience with good understanding of Community Education and training skills (Training of Trainers) particularly Non-Formal Education
• Establish and maintain conducive collegial relations and perform effectively as a member of a team.
• Travel and work in hard-to-reach areas, occasionally under strenuous conditions.
• Computer literacy and excellent documentation skills are a must.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Intervene with crisis management or troubleshooting as necessary.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Experience of working with local partners and State and Local Government in Education and Child Protection program delivery.
• Report writing skills and experience in generating Donor compliant reports of high quality.
• Ability to speak local language and directly interact with target group will be an added advantage
• Analytical skills and strategic planning abilities.
• Time management and planning capacity

Availability and willingness to work extra hours during times of humanitarian responses.