Inclusive education technical officer H/M – Ecuador – Volunteer At Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion

Handicap International/Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an independent and impartial international solidarity organization that intervenes in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflicts and disasters. It works alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, acts and speaks out to meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. More information: www.hi.org

At Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion we firmly believe in the importance of inclusion and diversity within our organization. Therefore, we are committed to a disability policy to promote the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities.

Indicate if you need any special accommodations, even at the first interview.

WORK CONTEXT :

HI has been supporting vulnerable people in the Latin American region since the 1990s, with special attention to improving the living conditions of people with disabilities. In the region, HI seeks to achieve three changes:

1. Improve access to quality health services
2. Create protective environments and local resilience
3. Promote inclusive education and inclusive and sustainable livelihoods

Today HI is present in Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Bolivia; in Honduras and Guatemala HI provides technical assistance in disability inclusion. HI has not started operating in Ecuador. An inclusive education project in the process of being presented to the European Union with a possible start in early 2024.

Following the risk of attempts by criminal gangs to destabilize the country’s institutions, President Noboa declared a 60-day state of emergency on January 8, 2024, and on January 9 formally recognized the existence of an internal armed conflict. The terms of the curfew, initially implemented throughout the country, were relaxed by a new presidential decree establishing a zoning system. In Quito, the curfew applies from midnight to 5am. The presence of in Ecuador France Volontaires enables exchanges with other volunteers based in the country.

YOUR MISSION:

Assigned to the Regional Program Unit Manager, your main responsibilities will be:

1. General technical direction of the Inclusive Education project during the first year of implementation

Objective: Guarantee timely strategies, interventions and technical contributions in the project activities during the first year, to maintain quality criteria during the three years.

• Strategies and technical interventions developed
• Conducting and recording coordination meetings with government, consortium partners and other key stakeholders.
• Preparation and dissemination of training material on inclusive education
• Development of tools and methodologies
• Preparation and implementation of a capacity development plan for inclusive education

Activities:

1. Develop technical strategies, tools and methodologies of the PAIS project
2. Support the project team in planning project activities and executing activities according to the detailed execution plan.
3. Train civil society partners and actors (OPD, etc.) on inclusive education within the framework of the capacity building component of the project.
4. Support partners in carrying out surveys to identify children with disabilities and specific educational needs, the problems they face, as well as developing links with service providers.
5. Support partners in the development of a school inclusion guide tool with a comprehensive approach (therapeutic and pedagogical), its socialization and training of authorities and teachers on its application.
6. Planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting

Objective: Ensure the correct execution of project activities and meet supervision requirements.

• Monitoring and evaluation tools and guidelines are prepared.
• All monitoring and evaluation activities are coordinated with the monitoring and evaluation focal point. – Monitoring of the main milestones and registration of tests.
• Timely submission of progress report

Activities:

1. Participate in project coordination meetings and support overall project planning, implementation and monitoring activities in coordination with the project manager, partners and the MEAL focal point
2. Conduct regular supervisory visits to partners to ensure quality, track activities, make adjustments and ensure project sustainability.
3. Provide support to maintain an accurate project database, updated monthly and collect other information, evidence as required, with the support of the MEAL focal point
4. Provide technical information in monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual and end-of-first year reports.
5. Participate in monthly review meetings with partners and inform the respective team of any technical issues that need to be addressed
6. Communication, advocacy and networking:

Objective: Ensure effective coordination and networking with government, delivery partners, resource partners and other working agencies.

• Coordination and networking mechanism at the central and federal level with high visibility of the work carried out in the field of IH.

Activities:

1. Support the development and implementation of an evidence-based advocacy strategy – including an information and dissemination campaign – for the promotion and access to education and social inclusion of children and adolescents with disabilities or SEN in Ecuador, with the support of the the project manager and the Regional Advocacy Officer.
2. Initiate/facilitate exchanges and links between the different initiatives taking place at both the national, Quito municipal and regional levels in terms of Inclusive Education to ensure common themes to strengthen and add value throughout the Inclusive Education sector.
3. Be in contact with other NGOs, the GTRM Education working group, and with the municipal and national authorities of the Inclusion and education sector to explore various possibilities of developing/introducing changes at the political level to make the project inclusive and increase its impact .
4. Lead the project team to initiate and/or reinforce the networking system within existing structures to promote Inclusive Education and disability inclusion.
5. Increase the visibility of HI in relevant networks, NGOs and line ministries. Within the framework of the Free Press consultancy, support the exploration of the potential interest of the media to cover HI activities and bring it to the attention of the Country Representative / Country Manager and Project Manager.
6. Capacity development and technical sustainability strategy for years 2 and 3 of the project

Objective: Provide the necessary support to the project team and local partners to develop capacity in inclusive education and to ensure the sustainability of technical quality in years 2 and 3 of the project.

Points of reference:

• The project team is trained for the project activities.
• Capacity building activities are carried out for the project team, implementing partner and local/federal government.

Activities:

1. Support the completion of a participatory organizational diagnosis and implement a capacity-building process for consortium members on inclusive education issues during the first year.
2. Provide support to the project team and consortium partners for the design and development of the capacity development plan and framework.
3. Implement a plan to strengthen the technical capacities of the partners and the Project Manager to ensure the sustainability of technical quality in years 2 and 3.
4. Facilitate the formulation of a partner capacity assessment plan at the end of the first year.
5. Support the project team in the development of training packages (training, workshops, orientation, etc.) according to the needs of the project.
6. Knowledge management on inclusive education

Objective: Ensure that key project messages are communicated to all stakeholders through the use of different knowledge management tools and methodologies.

• Good practices and lessons learned documents, communication tools used, IEC materials, appropriate project documentation

Activities:

1. Provide support in the development and dissemination of methodology, tools and ensure project capitalization and production of project-level documents with team members and consortium partners.
2. Facilitate the documentation of success stories and participate in the preparation of articles about the project for social networks or other media
3. Contribute project-related articles to the internal regional newsletter, etc.
4. Review produced project documents and materials to provide constructive critical analysis and suggestions for improvement where necessary, or the creation of new tools.
5. Provide technical contributions to the project team in the design, development, production and distribution of effective communication, awareness and advocacy tools and materials related to sector activities.

6. Emergency response

1. In the event of a major emergency, reorganize planning and activities according to humanitarian priority, in order to ensure a rapid and efficient response by HI.

POSITION CHARACTERISTICS:

Given the risk of attempts to destabilize the country’s institutions by criminal gangs, on January 8, 2024, President Noboa declared a state of emergency for 60 days and on January 9, he formally recognized the existence of an internal armed conflict. The terms of the curfew, initially implemented throughout the country, were made more flexible by a new presidential decree that established a zoning system. In Quito, the curfew applies from midnight to 5 in the morning. The presence of Volunteers from France in Ecuador allows exchanges with other volunteers established in the country.

YOUR PROFILE:

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in Education, or a Master’s degree in another relevant field
• Experience in the development and implementation of formal or non-formal inclusive education programs and in the development of capacities of educational authorities
• Knowledge about inclusive education, disability and universal accessibility
• Master Spanish. English and/or French desirable.

CONDITIONS:

At HI, the conditions offered depend on your commitment and are adapted to the context of your mission. https://hi.org/en/join-the-team

• 12-month ISV (International Solidarity Volunteering) contract starting April 1, 2024
• Expatriation compensation: 1000 euros net per month
• Perdiem: €522.37 net/month – paid on the spot
• Paid leave: 25 days a year;
• R&R: 1 day per month
• Position:
• unaccompanied: Payment of travel expenses (air ticket and visa) and transportation of personal effects (after 12 months of mission)
• open to couples

Housing: Individual in charge of HI