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Job Title:   Program Officer – ToFI (Fresher Jobs)

Organisation: Save the Children International

Duty Station: Gulu, Uganda

About US:

Save the Children International is an international relief organization that was established in the United Kingdom in 1919 to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic opportunities, as well as providing emergency aid in natural disasters, war, and other conflicts.

Job Summary:   Under the overall guidance and supervision of the ToFI Project Coordinator, the post holder will mainly be responsible for undertaking the project activities towards improving the participation of vulnerable children with specific needs, in particular children with disabilities, to formal education through tailored support to them and support to their teachers and all school stakeholders to enhance inclusive education. The key duties and responsibilities include participation in the partner led implementation of the baseline assessment amongst school teachers; designing, developing and rolling-out the overall in-service teacher training program based on customized modules from Enabling Education Network — EENET (i.e., the module development, the training coordination and the follow up for mainstreaming and sustainability); initiating collaborations with specialists and relevant stakeholders on identifying and diagnosing the special educational needs of target children; improving the learning assessment tools/methods for children and the teachers’ professional assessment tools/methods; serving as a liaison person between participating schools district education office and the center coordinating tutors; etc.

In addition, the post holder will be assigned the primary responsibility of liaising with the partner organizations (e.g., the DPOs in the district; the municipal/District Education authorities; Teacher training college; etc.); and will be responsible for ensuring that all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to child safeguarding, safety and security, code of conduct equal opportunities and other relevant policies are adhered to during program implementation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Planning and Implementation;

• Support in the preparation and submission of the Activity concepts, budgets and activity implementation reports for review and approval prior to activity implementation; inline with approved monthly, quarterly and annual world plans,
• Support in ensuring 100% implementation of project activities in the area of operation and in accordance with the project design, donor requirements, Save the Children International policies and operational guidelines.
• Support in submitting monthly and quarterly work plans in relation to approved DIP, project budget and outcome to the Sub Area Manager.
• Link Save the Children and communities and give feedback for effective planning and improvement in interventions.
• Mobilize project stakeholders for identification of project beneficiaries.
• Support in the timely implementation of project activities at community level: ensure that 98% of the activities are implemented as in the Detail Implementation Plan (DIP)
• Facilitate planning efforts at community levels to ensure effective and efficient resource tracking and use in line with approved project plans and budgets and within the complete project cycle.
• Participate in efforts to ensure availability of updated budgets, log frames, work plans, and proposal documents.
• Take active role in unpacking and roll out of new projects with staff, partners and eventually community or project areas.
• Develops/improves children’s learning assessment tools and practices, and teachers’ professional performance assessment tools and practices.
• Liaisons with other stakeholders in target district/communities for the joint activities with regular schoolteachers, staff members and students.
• Stays abreast of the latest developments in the inclusive education sector, and proactively identify trends and keg issues/topics to share with relevant staff members and partner organizations.

Technical Support

• Training of school management committees, DPOs and other stakeholders in disability inclusion.
• Supporting community awareness sessions for out of school children with disabilities.
• Participate in developing inclusive communication materials for IEC Materials.
• Ensure SCI participation of children with disabilities in International Day of Persons with disabilities.
• Supporting school administration to maintain a database/register on children with disabilities and supporting the collection of inclusive data using the Washington Group of Questions.
• Undertake community-based referral of children with disabilities who need specialized services.
• Undertake service mapping for other existing services for children with disabilities within the areas of implementation.

Budget monitoring responsibility:

• Assist in monitoring 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.

Operationalizing Monitoring Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL):

• Conduct on-site follow up visits to monitor the outcome of training programs in target primary schools; uses the M&E findings and lessons learned to improve the capacity building and training programs.
• Support with the implementation of the recommendations in the MEAL Action Trackers and advise the Senior Officer on recommendations that cannot be implemented Support in ensuring regular monitoring of Project activities in the respective communities and followup implementation of planned tasks and activities in the sub county/district.
• Actively participates in project team meetings, and provides concise get comprehensive updates on the project progress that are relevant to his/her delegated tasks.
• Participate in the monthly monitoring of project beneficiaries and follow-up.
• Facilitate the implementation of the Accountability and Response Mechanism (ARM).

Reporting:

• Contribute to the timely, consistent, and accurate submission of monthly and quarterly Progress reports (progress against planned activities, expense against estimated budget} of project activities to the Project Manager as per agreed schedule.
• Participate in the preparation of semi-annual, annual and other special project reports on project interventions.
• Generate timely, consistent, and accurate information for the submission of the monthly and quarterly Progress reports.
• Actively participate in generation of semi-annual, annual and other donor reports demonstrating clear contributing towards overall goals and intended outcomes.
• Participate in and share progress during weekly regional meetings.
• Document keg success stories and areas of innovation for sharing on quarterly basis.

Documentation:

• Support proper documentation of project activities conducted to the Senior Officer
• Ensure appropriate filing and availability of documentation required for internal and external communications, accountability, audits, evaluation purposes and reporting.
• Monthly take pictures of project implementation and share with the PM.
• Assists the Project Manager and relevant partners in planning for and executing a public awareness raising campaign in project target areas.
• Assists the Project manager in designing and administering project evaluation to produce on evaluation report (incl. analysis of collected data) and donor reports as required.

Advocacy, Networking and Representation:

• Advocate for community participation and involvement of CwDs in activities that improve their access to learning opportunities.
• Network with other SCI education Projects in Gulu program area to improve synergy and holistic approach to child support.
• Advocate for beneficiary participation and involvement.
• Establish and maintain linkages with the project beneficiaries, communities with the private sector and other stakeholders for complementary of programmes and synergy.

Community Empowerment and Project Impact:

• Innovatively support project beneficiaries to participate, own and benefit from the project interventions
• Mobilize and facilitate active participation of the project beneficiaries and their communities to participate in planning, monitoring, and implementation of community development initiatives.
• Build the capacity of project beneficiaries, their families, and the community to collectively engage and advocate to local leaders on identified issues.
• Liaise and follow-up on commitments made by leaders on improvement of the youth wellbeing. Harness sustainability and functionality of the project interventions throughout the project lifespan.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:  To be a strong supporter and advocate for children in this role you will need to have:

• Have at least three years of relevant technical and professional experience in the education sector with a good understanding of inclusive education.
• Holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Based rehabilitation, Education (Preferably primary education) bachelor’s degree in social sciences, Bachelor of Arts/Sciences/Education, Development Studies, Psychology, Child Development, Child Psychology, Community Psychology experience working with Children with Special Needs and Disability is preferred.
• Has a good understanding of education thematic subjects and demonstrated experience in working with the government and education authorities at all levels.
• At least 2 years’ experience in programme development and implementation with an NGO. Relevant experience implementing, supervising, monitoring, and evaluating community-based child protection projects with NGOs particularly those addressing children’s rights.
• Ability to interact with communities; children and adults as well as other stakeholders at sub-county and district levels and mobilizing them to participate in community development activities.
• Strong analytical skills and strategic planning abilities.
• Ability to establish and maintain conducive collegial relations and perform effectively as a member of a team.
• Willingness to 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.

NB: Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best qualified talent, persons with disabilities and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply:

All candidates who wish to join Save the Children should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 13^th March 2024

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