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Job Title:   Early Childhood Development (ECD) Assistant – Re-advertised (Fresher Diploma Jobs)

Organisation: International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Duty Station:  Kyegegwa, Uganda

About US:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 25 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education, and power.

Job Summary:   The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has received a $10 million grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to implement a three-year project titled ‘Kulea Watoto’ – meaning ‘nurturing children.’ Kulea Watoto is an initiative aimed at improving early childhood development and transforming livelihoods of refugees and host communities in Uganda by providing nurturing care and early childhood learning opportunities, and to build their own skills to generate income for their families. The project will use a unique two-generation approach to reach out to young children under five years of age and their caregivers in Yumbe, Kyegegwa and Kampala districts, implemented in partnership with four local partners – the AfriChild Centre, Madrasa Early Childhood Program, Kabarole Research and Resource Centre and Literacy and Adult Basic Education (LABE). To achieve this, the project will offer learning sessions for parents and caregivers on responsive caregiving and provision of early learning opportunities, improved links to children’s services in local communities, livelihoods training, and start-up funding for promising business ideas, and more.

Early Childhood Development (ECD) and caregiving is a core organizational priority at the IRC with links to Health, Education, Child Protection, and Nutrition as detailed by the Nurturing care framework. Through Kulea Watoto program, IRC and the partners seek to meaningfully implement an integrated program that will strengthen the ECD service provision in the target locations/settlements. To support these efforts, IRC’s ECD Kulea Watoto team is looking for ECD Assistant to enable ECD activity implementation at field level in Kyaka II refugee settlement and surrounding host community. The desired candidate will have strong experience in community mobilization and sensitization, implementing ECD activities in the refugee settlement setting and understands well the importance of early childhood development and responsive caregiving.

The position will report to the ECD Officer and with strong links to the Kulea Watoto project team and implementing partners, collaborate with the IRC Play Matters project team to ensure excellent integration. This role will focus on daily and weekly implementation of ECD activities involving mobilization and sensitization, training, mentorship, documentation, reporting and routine monitoring and or follow-up of activity implementation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Technical implementation of project activities:

• Support in the identification, selection, and registration of target clients and formation of ECCD groups.
• Work closely with community project structures (VHTs, Care groups, etc.) to mobilize the target clients and target groups to engage in responsive care giving and early learning opportunities.
• Lead on daily and weekly basis the implementation of set activities in line with the approved workplan and report to the ERD Officer or Manager.
• Support parents and caregivers (HH or group level) to provide responsive caregiving and early learning to children under the age of 5 years old.
• Lead the development of ECCD improvement plans with ECCD providers/caregivers [individuals] and volunteers.
• Lead the provision of essential materials to parent groups and ECCD providers.
• Deliver training to parents and or caregivers (at HH or group level) on responsive caregiving and early learning.
• Identify ECCD services within the target locations/zones and support the linkage of target clients     (parents/household’s groups) to ECCD services.
• Supervise the ECD Infrastructure improvement activities and ensure improvement in learning outcomes at the ECD Centers/childcare spaces.
• Lead the establishment of supervised care groups in collaboration with implementing partners.
• Conduct the training and support management committees of ECD schools in providing ECCD services.
• Oversee the implementation of the actions by Community ECD Groups (clustered groups).
• Support the mobilization and sensitization of ECD local committees on seed fund disbursement.
• Supervise the utilization of the ECD seed grants in line with the approved plans.
• Training of ECD Center Management Committees.
• Develop play and supervise care groups at ECD Centers.
• Deliver play and supervise care groups at ECD Centers.
• Undertake activities as delegated by the supervisor.

Coordination, representation, and partner/stakeholder relationships:

• Ensure close collaboration with the field-based team members (Play matters project staff, KRC project staff) and consistency in protocols, information, and reporting systems in line with ECD and livelihoods integration.
• Participate in coordination efforts at project location/zonal level by ensuring weekly and monthly coordination meetings between Kulea Watoto ECD team and KRC field project staff.
• Work with partner staff and collaborate with them in client identification and selection, and delivery of project activities including integration of ECD and livelihoods, refining of technical approaches and alignment to ensure achievement of desired outcomes.
• Make referrals to the appropriate actors where necessary.
• Maintain respectful and constructive relations with partner organizations, local authorities, and humanitarian actors.
• Attend zonal and sector working group coordination meetings at the settlement and sub counties of operation whenever required and provide detailed reports as required.

Monitoring, reporting and communication responsibilities.

• Monitoring ECCD performance/progress and documenting best practices, lessons learned and success stories in line with the agreed templates and formats.
• Prepare weekly and monthly program reports, and compile lessons learnt to inform continuous project implementation and submit to the ECD officer or manager.
• Collect relevant data during project implementation and provide regular reports.
• Monitor client payment processes at participating Money Transfer Agents’ locations,
• Participate in the collection of data, during assessments and post-distribution surveys as and when required including design of required tools by providing technical input.
• Participate in the verification exercise, research or MEAL whenever needed.

Other duties

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable implementation of the IRC programs,
• Raise Purchase requests as and when required.
• Participate in regular team meetings and supervision sessions.
• Ensure that all materials are ready for info sessions before the activity.
• Work constructively within the team and take the initiative on new tasks.
• Promptly report concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to perform in their positions successfully.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The applicant must hold a Diploma and or a bachelor’s degree in early childhood development, Education, social sciences, or related field. A certificate in Early Childhood Development education with 2 years’ work experience would be considered.
• Works well in refugee contexts and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multicultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
• Language Skills: Fluency in English Language both written and spoken is required. Ability to speak the local language is desired; Knowledge of other local languages (Arabic, etc.) is an added advantage.

NB: Candidates who had previously applied for this position are discouraged from reapplying.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested applicants should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 31st March 2024

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