Primary Location: Hargeisa, Somaliland (40%) with frequent travel to project field offices (60%).
Position Status: Full time
Please note that this position is contingent on receipt of new program funding.
Program/Department Summary:
The Education Advisor (EA) will lead the secondary education components of a proposed five-year $18-25 million program to support formal and non-formal secondary education, vocational training, and economic opportunity for out-of-school youth in Somaliland, Puntland, and Central Somalia.General Position Summary:
The Education Advisor is responsible for promoting high-quality, evidence-based secondary education programs that reach greater scale in Mercy Corps’s Somalia target regions, with a particular focus on central and south Somalia.
Acting as the hub for the Somalia Secondary Education (SSE) technical assistance in Somalia, the Advisor helps define the country secondary education strategy and work plans; maintains a working relationship with SSE teams and MC Somalia leadership at the country office level.
S/he works to ensure quality in all aspects of the program cycle, from design, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation; to planning, implementation and reporting, documentation and advocacy.
S/he provides technical leadership and support to business development activities at the country office. The secondary education portfolio includes teacher training, education reform, education systems, education in emergencies, and work with the Ministries of Education as well as with community schools and non-formal education options.
The Advisor’s role is, primarily, to support the SSE program and the country programs. It entails giving direction, setting appropriate standards, facilitation and training. It is not one of management or hands-on work in the field unless in a training context or when deployed to assist in establishing a response.
Essential Job Functions:
- Provide key technical leadership and support to Mercy Corps Somalia SSE program, including provision of technical assistance and strategic guidance in the development, implementation and monitoring of activities designed to meet designated objectives of the SSE program.
- Provide technical support to Mercy Corps Somalia SSE program in areas such as developing standards, tools, guidelines, policies, procedures that will contribute to positive program outcomes for secondary education in Somalia
- Promote high level of collaboration, communication and co-operation with government ministries and other stakeholders and actors in the community.
- Work with the SSE team, build their knowledge through mentoring and technical supervision and through sharing experiences.
- Ensure a robust and practical monitoring and evaluation practice that facilitates action-learning and continuous improvement and accountability for results.
- With the CoP, ensure that the Ministry of Education is linked to and informed of Mercy Corps SSE program and that Ministry strategy is fully incorporated in the programming;
- Support the education team in developing participatory approaches for community involvement in education services.
- Assist with, prepare, and/or submit reports, work plans, and various project documents and deliverables in conjunction with Mercy Corps and donor standards.
- Help to represent Mercy Corps at the relevant in-country education sector fora and supporting donor coordination efforts in the education sector, both internal and external. This will include attending Education Sector Cluster meetings, representation and participation on relevant Ministry-led working groups.
- Proactively work with the Mercy Corps SSE consortium members to ensure open and clear communications and involvement of SSE counterparts during the life of the program.
- Bring coherence and synergy between the program and other education programs in Somalia, analyzing results, compiling evidence and documenting best practices.
- Support resource development by providing technical input through review of concept notes, assistance with proposal development, and support to multi-lateral, bi-lateral or country office specific grants.
Organizational Learning
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Accountability:
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Reports Directly To: SSE Chief of Party
Works Directly With: Other program technical leads (Youth, Infrastructure, M&E Specialist, and Program Managers)
Knowledge and Experience:
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Accountability:
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Reports Directly To: SSE Chief of Party
Works Directly With: Other program technical leads (Youth, Infrastructure, M&E Specialist, and Program Managers)
Knowledge and Experience:
- MA/S or equivalent in education, international development or other relevant field.
- 7-10 years of overseas education experience including three years in a senior management or sector advising position.
- In-depth expertise on education policy and management at the national and regional levels.
- Experience with education development in conflict and/or transitional environments.
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
- Previous experience in Somalia preferable.
The successful EA will possess in-depth expertise in education policy and practice, and experience in developing the capacity of transitional governments in education service provision.
S/he will have strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate tactfully with high-level officials regarding their capacity needs. S/he will have demonstrated skills working in challenging environments.
The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
Living Conditions/Environmental Conditions:
The Education Advisor will be based in Hargeisa, and support managers in planning, implementation, and monitoring of SSE activities throughout the country. This is an unaccompanied post in a highly insecure environment.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting.
Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Apply at: www.mercycorps.org/jobs