Senior Education Expert – The Lutheran World Federation World Service – Ethiopia

Education

The Lutheran World Federation World Service – Ethiopia

LWF World Service

LWF World Service is the humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation. We are a widely recognized, international, faith-based organization working in over 20 countries. We seek to bring people of all backgrounds together in the common quest for justice, peace, and reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world.

 A commitment to the human rights of every individual, regardless of their status, guides our work, actions, and operations. We are particularly known for our timely, compassionate, and professional humanitarian work, and for our field presence in hard-to-reach areas. Our work is people-centered and community- based. Above all, we work with the most vulnerable, and in order to claim and uphold their rights, we engage proactively with local government and community structures.

 LWF Ethiopia’s partners include Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Eyesus (EECMY), Lutheran churches related agencies, the European Commission (ECHO), the US Government (BPRM) and UN Agencies with whom we are a key implementing partner.

 LWF World Service Ethiopia is a registered foreign charity which has been operating in Ethiopia since 1973 implementing various development and humanitarian projects in different parts of Ethiopia.

 LWF World Service Ethiopia is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants based on merit regardless of sex, color, religion, ethnicity, age, marital status or disability except for affirmative action in a combination of considering competency to bring gender equity

Company Description

LWF World Service is the humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation. We are a widely recognized, international, faith-based organization working in over 20 countries. We seek to bring people of all backgrounds together in the common quest for justice, peace, and reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world. 

 A commitment to the human rights of every individual, regardless of their status, guides our work, actions, and operations. We are particularly known for our timely, compassionate, and professional humanitarian work, and for our field presence in hard-to-reach areas. Our work is people-centered and community- based. Above all, we work with the most vulnerable, and in order to claim and uphold their rights, we engage proactively with local government and community structures. 

 Our partners in (Ethiopia) include Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), diaconal arms of Lutheran churches (Related Agencies), the European Commission (ECHO), the US Government (BPRM) and UN Agencies, Global Affairs Canada with whom we are a key implementing partner. 

LWF World Service Ethiopia is a registered foreign charity which has been operating in Ethiopia since 1973 implementing various development and humanitarian projects in different parts of Ethiopia.

LWF World Service Ethiopia is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants based on merit regardless of sex, color, religion, ethnicity, age, marital status or disability.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Senior Education Expert is in charge of directing and supporting LWF Ethiopia’s education programs, projects, and partners. This includes developing thematic strategies, designing and implementing programs, creating annual plans, monitoring and evaluating quality assurance, program development, initiating studies, and producing evidence for learning and advocacy. S/he is in charge of promoting program quality by providing technical assistance, capacity building, and mentorship session for LWF and partner program staff on education thematic areas, as well as introducing and supporting education breakthrough programs (Literacy Boost, Early Literacy, Math and Numeracy Boost) of LWF education programs on project-focused primary schools.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Project Coordinator

Staff Directly Reporting to this position: None

JOB SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Program Development

• Provide quality strategic support to education programs implemented by LWF. This includes leading the development of strategic plans, education projects, and researches to achieve the required strategic objectives and outcomes.
• Support development of annual work plan, regular internal program planning, and review meetings of education theme and incorporate input into quarterly semi-annual and annual reports.
• Provide close supervision and support to the Education team to ensure implementation of quality projects/ programs, through mainstreaming /integrating crosscutting issues in LWF programming, including Child Protection, Gender and inclusion in the projects.
• Ensure the strategic documents related to education theme are understood and internalized by those who either are contributing to the evidence based or responsible for presentation of organizational objectives at district, region or national level.
• Actively coordinate with sector heads and relevant specialists and project managers to ensure an integrated approach across themes is going well and serve as the senior thematic lead for relevant external representation requirements.

Strategic Fundraising

• Actively engage in strategic fundraising to support the implementation of education strategic plans. This includes securing funds for projects, research and advocacy to influence policy objectives.
• Analyze donor priorities and positions on issues related to Primary and Education in Emergencies.
• Lead business development opportunities in the education sector through providing technical direction on the design, proposal development, planning and budgeting.  Ensure lessons learned from other projects are incorporated into new business development opportunities.
• Develop and maintain contacts with relevant staff, partners and key technical agencies, in coordination with the education and Leaders of other Thematic Sectors.
• Build on technical knowledge, research and current/previous programming to lead the development of proposals for new program initiatives or projects in close coordination with the relevant technical and project staff.  This includes all aspects of proposal development, such as concept notes, budgeting, grant amendments, etc.
• Ensure quality of donor reports through periodic review of such reports and make recommendations on how these reports could be improved in the future and ensure achievements of different projects are incorporated in proposal development.
• Support donor meetings and visits.  This can include, but is not limited to, briefings, relevant program materials, field travel, etc.

Program Quality and Effectiveness

• Ensure all projects and researches are technically managed to a high standard.  This involves working closely with the technical leads in Program Implementation, supervise and provide support to projects throughout the project cycle.
• Ensure that lessons learned are properly documented, effectively disseminated and, where appropriate, incorporated into wider advocacy initiatives.
• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team to ensure the education work is contributing to all objectives across these priority quality areas. Contribute to the development of an M&E framework for the overall education program, monitor the impact of projects and progress towards strategic operational and advocacy objectives.
• Support education breakthrough innovative programs and contribute to the improvement of learning outcome in schools supported by education projects/programs. This includes leading the piloting and scaling up of Numeracy Boost, the scaling up of Literacy Boost and Early Literacy and Math achievements to non-project based schools districts, and regions by working in collaboration with partner Government offices and other NGOs.
• Ensure incorporation of appropriate and innovative ideas in newly developed programs and projects that contribute to addressing challenges identified in the education sector.
• Policy analysis, Policy Engagement and Advocacy for policy Influence
• Provide evidence to education advocacy work to positively influence duty-bearers to change the lives of children.  Direct advocacy efforts (objectives, messages, targets, approaches), towards the management and the achievement of each specific objective. Explore key advocacy opportunities, methods and events to support advocacy objectives.
• Support the development of policy briefs and position papers related to the education program, ensuring the inclusion of technical input from the relevant technical and project managers.
• Ensure that the voices of children guide advocacy and policy change objectives and related activities.
• In collaboration with education team and program coordinators, gather documents and communicate lessons learnt, good practices, case studies to shape program approaches and overall program implementation, and to support education advocacy objectives in specific sub-thematic areas of assignment 

Monitoring Evaluation and Quality Assurance

• Actively facilitate QLF data collection from sample schools and train LWF program staffs assigned at field office level to effectively and efficiently engage in QLF data collection and make sure that the collected QLF data reached to MEAL team to get analyzed and use the findings in program development.
• Design supervision and support approaches, supervise sample schools in collaboration with government supervisors and provide professional support to partner government offices and LWF field offices.
• Closely work with the key education partner’s level to share SLWF experiences on quality learning Framework standard and support government inspection directorate to achieve results in the improvement of learning environment for children.
• Support education programs and projects in the preparation of TOR for situation analysis, baseline data collection, mid-term and terminal evaluation, review reports produced by consultants and those produced by LWF internal staffs in mentioned areas and take actively work with projects in validation workshops.

Humanitarian Response Management

• Be familiar with the procedures and processes detailed in the Rules and Principles for humanitarian response to take active part in emergency responses
• Support activities to improve organizational readiness to respond to emergencies in line with global LWF humanitarian goals and benchmarks
• Introduce education breakthrough programs to IDPs education programs and other education programs delivered in emergency situations in collaboration with other program specialists

COMPETENCIES:  

• Leading and Inspiring Others: Demonstrate leadership in all our work, role models our values and articulates a compiling vision to inspire to achieve our goals for children
• Delivering result: Takes personal responsibility and holds others to account to deliver our ambitious goals for children, continually improving own performance or that of the team/ organization.
• Developing Self and Others: Invest time and energy to actively develop self and others to help realize their full potential and to build the organization capability for the further.
• Problem solving and decision making: Takes effective, considered and timely decisions by gathering and evaluating relevant information from within or outside the organization and making appropriate judgements.
• Applying technical and professional expertise: Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards; promotes and shares best practice within and outside the organization.
• Working effectively with others Works collaboratively to achieve shared goals and thrives on diversity of people and perspectives; knows when to lead and when to follow and how to ensure effective cross-boundary working.
• Communicating with Impact: Communicates clearly and confidently with others to engage and influence; promotes dialogue and ensures timely and appropriate messages, building confidence and trust with others.

Job Requirement

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES

• Minimum of BA /MA degree in an area of education or equivalent in development studies

EXPERIENCE

• 5 years’ relevant progressive experience (with 4 years education project management) for BA and 3 years’ relevant progressive experience (with 2 years education project management)  for MA in a corporate or NGO environment, preferably with education related experience
• Significant experience in providing expert advice for effective implementation of projects.
• Significant Experience in proposal development.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITY

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the Ethiopian education policy and strategies, as well as the education sector development program and the challenges
• Experience of working with the Ministry of Education at national and regional levels
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Experience of working successfully with senior managers in LWF, other organization or partner organizations to deliver major change
• Experience of successfully implementing changes to processes to improve and monitor quality standards and impact achieved
• Good knowledge and experience in Project Cycle Management
• Very good skill in report writing, proposal development and facilitate
• Experience of managing and shaping program to deliver greater efficiency and effectiveness, and of strengthening implementation of financial control processes
• Solid budgeting skills and knowledge of key donor regulations
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in.
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner
• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies.
• Fluency in Amharic language required; knowledge of additional local language is a plus.
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written, required.
• Commitment to LWF  values

As per the Organization’s salary scale

Lien