Early Childhood Education (ECE) Officer

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 50 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Background/IRC Summary
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world's leading crisis response agencies, providing life-saving assistance and supporting recovery and reconstruction for people affected by war and natural disasters. The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting refugees, vulnerable host communities and various institutions in the country notably the government, community-based organizations, civil society, and the private sector.

Currently, the IRC in Uganda has presence across six sub-regions and six refugee settlements, implementing programming in the sectors of health, protection and rule of law (PRoL), women’s protection and empowerment (WPE), economic recovery and development (ERD), and education. IRC Uganda also implements cross-cutting programming focused on systems strengthening and accountability to affected persons.

As part of IRC Uganda’s strategic ambitions, the IRC works closely with local actors to strengthen their capacity and with intentions of transferring more resources for locally led implementation and support to our clients. The IRC’s education response is grounded on a home, community, and ECE centre-based approach that centers on strengthening community structures and processes to reach the most vulnerable children from refugee settlements, host and other vulnerable communities to ensure access to learning and nurturing opportunities. The IRC also works closely with and through communities and caregivers (parents and teachers) and strengthens their capacity through training and coaching/mentoring, direct service delivery by providing scholastic materials, and promoting gender equality through equal representation and participation. Children with disabilities are given priority throughout the program.

Job Overview
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is currently preparing for the implementation of the anticipated 5-year USAID-funded Targeting the Learning Crisis (TLC) Activity under a Consortium led by World Education (WE). IRC, as a consortium member, will implement Early Childhood Education (ECE) interventions in 8 districts of Kitgum, Kitgum Town Council, Agago, Terego, Madi Okollo, Oyam, Apac and Apac Municipal Council.

Through the USAID TLC Activity, the WE-led consortium will support the GoU to: 1) apply, streamline, and scale evidence-based pedagogical approaches for ECE, P1-2 and P3-5; 2) align the education ecosystem and catalyze sustainable change toward visible learning gains; and, 3) strengthen school and community enabling environment to facilitate Targeted Instruction (TI) success and increase cost-efficiency. The TLC team will align its key strategic approaches with existing GoU initiatives, policies and frameworks (e.g., ECCE Policy), current and past USAID investments, including the incorporation of interventions to promote USG’s Thrive strategy that aims to build strong beginnings for children, help families thrive, and prevent violence against children. As a result, USAID TLC will drive substantial and large-scale improvements in reading and math outcomes for primary students in Uganda.

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Officer will be based in will be based in one of IRC’s field offices (Terego, Lamwo or Kiryandongo) and will support field level project implementation, working collaboratively with the Senior ECE Manager and other project staff in providing technical support to the implementation of the TLC Activity.

This position is contingent on approved donor funding.

Specific Job Responsibilities
Technical implementation of project activities:

• Lead on daily and weekly basis, the implementation of set activities in line with the approved workplan.
• Lead the development of training materials in line with approved ECE curriculum (Learning Framework).
• Support parents and caregivers (HH or group level) in providing caregiving and early learning to their children between 3-8 years.
• Support the development of ECE improvement plans with ECE providers/caregivers [individuals] and volunteers.
• Support the provision of essential materials to the ECE centers and parent groups and ECE providers accordingly.
• Lead the training of ECE Facilitators (teachers) and parents/guardians at centre level on caregiving, safeguarding and early learning.
• Support the linkage of target clients (parents/guardians and caregivers) to ECE services.
• Support actions leading to the maintenance of the ECE Infrastructure so as to support a conducive learning environment for the children for better learning outcomes.
• Support the establishment of Centre based volunteers for safeguarding and other groups to support smooth implementation of the project.
• Lead the trainings and support ECE Center Management Committees (CMC) to ensure they are functional and support the project implementation.
• Support actions and relevant activities of the Community ECE Groups.
• Organise and deliver trainings for the ECE Center Management Committees and other groups as indicated in the project document.
• Ensure that the ECE centres receive appropriate support with learning and teaching materials and ensure these are appropriately utilized for the intended purposes.
• Organize and facilitate Peer-Peer Learning Circles (Community of Practice) and other learning opportunities for the ECE Facilitators (teachers) and headteachers accordingly.
  
  

Coordination, Representation, And Partner/stakeholder Relationships

• Ensure close collaboration with the field-based team members and consistency in protocols, information, and reporting systems in line with the TLC Consortium requirements
• Lead coordination efforts at each project location/zonal level by ensuring weekly and monthly coordination meetings.
• Work in collaboration with settlement and community leadership in (and partners) in identification and selection of clients and delivery of project activities
• Make referrals to the appropriate actors where necessary.
• Maintain respectful and constructive relations with partner organisations, local authorities, and humanitarian actors.
• Attend Sub-County, zonal and sector working group coordination meetings at the settlement and sub counties of operation whenever required and providing detailed reports as required.
  
  

Monitoring, Reporting And Communication Responsibilities

• Monitoring ECE 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.
• Collect relevant data (in collaboration with the MEAL Officer) during project implementation and provide regular reports.
• Monitor client payment processes at participating Money Transfer Agents’ locations accordingly.
• 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 safeguard 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
  
  

Minimum Qualifications:

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood development, Education, social sciences, development studies or any related field.
• Post graduate Diploma in Project planning and Management is desirable.
  
  

Work Experience

• 3 years of experience implementing ECE and Education projects in Uganda or East Africa.
• Experience working in development and or humanitarian settings required.
• Experience in community based ECE programming, and/or child nutrition programming, coordination, and stakeholder analysis.
• Experience in working closely with community level partners and government counterparts.
• Proven abilities in coordination within teams and with other stakeholders.
• Prior experience in developing project implementation work-plans and project reporting
• Experience in field work management and reporting.
  
  

Personal Qualities

• Works well in refugee and development contexts and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
• Demonstratable ability to engage and build excellent working relationships with local partner organizations, create synergies while implementing the project is vital.
  
  

Language Skills

• Fluency in English Language both written and spoken is required.
• Ability to speak the local language of the area is desired; Knowledge of other local languages (Arabic, etc.) is an added advantage.
  
  

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity
We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity in our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request reasonable accommodation.

Professional Standards
IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

NB: This advert will close on 17th September 2024. This position is only for Ugandan nationals to apply; IRC strives to attract, motivate, and retain qualified national staff in our programs

Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.