Education Lead, USAID/Burkina Faso Resilient Education for Crisis-Affected Children Activity At Save the Children – US

Summary

Save the Children is seeking an Education Lead for an anticipated five-year Resilient Education for Crisis-Affected Children activity in Burkina Faso. The purpose of this activity is to increase primary education completion, particularly for displaced and host community learners who have been marginalized due to conflict and crisis conditions, with improved foundational skills and wellbeing, even in the face of shocks and stressors. A disproportionate number of Burkinabe primary school-aged children are unable to complete their primary school education, nor receive quality instruction, and therefore struggle to acquire foundational skills. Insecurity, displacement and climate risks further exacerbate poor education conditions for both host community and displaced learners. This activity has been designed to support the Government of Burkina Faso’s Education Sector Plan (2017-2030).

The Education Lead is responsible for overseeing the technical delivery of the program to ensure education opportunities that are accessible, relevant and of high quality. They will adopt a people-centered approach in all program activities and promote the resilience and wellbeing of children, teachers and communities affected by crisis and conflict. They will also promote the acquisition of foundational skills for all children based on the national curriculum but including international best practices. They will collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to strengthen education systems as well as support the design of service delivery strategies, track progress towards program goals, and adapt as necessary.

This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• In collaboration with other relevant technical staff, lead and oversee the development and delivery of a high quality, inclusive and gender-sensitive program which puts people at the center of the process, resulting in increased learning opportunities for children and youth, particularly young women and girls, in safe and respectful learning environments.
• Ensure the technical and methodological soundness of activities, and in collaboration with the project team and partners, support the design and rollout of education activities that take conflict and/or crisis situations into account, are flexible in scale and sequencing and achieve as a minimum standard the principle of ‘Do No Harm.’
• Contribute to program research and monitoring, and in collaboration and consultation with USAID and other stakeholders, refine and adjust technical approaches and annual work plans to achieve program goals and the promotion of wellbeing and learning for all children.
• Collaborate with the Ministry of Education, key USAID implementing partners and other donors and stakeholders to promote sustainability, efficiency, and the adoption of successful program strategies into the national education approach.
• Provide technical and program guidance and oversight in the design and day-to-day management of implementation.
• Contribute to the gathering and application of relevant research and monitoring data.
• Document and disseminate innovation and good practices.
• Prepare high-quality, accurate and timely reports for Save the Children, project partners and USAID as required.
• Represent the program as required to promote sustainability and impact.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, international development or related field.
• Minimum of five years of experience with progressively increasing responsibility for the design, management and implementation of complex education programming in developing countries involving multiple stakeholders and implementing partners.
• At least three years of experience providing technical leadership on large-scale USAID-funded projects and designing and implementing education programming, preferably in West Africa.
• Commitment to child rights, gender equality and Save the Children’s values.
• Expertise in any of the following areas: foundational skills, social emotional learning (SEL), soft skills, and building resilience capabilities and assets.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in building Ministry of Education (MOE) capacity to provide safe education opportunities in formal and non-formal school settings.
• Ability to collaborate and liaise with senior MOE officials, other USAID implementing partners, relevant education sector stakeholders, and senior members of the donor community.
• Proven track record managing a project team composed of technical experts from multicultural backgrounds and fostering team work.
• Strengths in inspiring and enabling others through training and capacity building to realize objectives.
• Ability to gain support from staff across teams and to build the capacity of others.
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and innovate and to set manageable priorities and work plans and evaluate progress.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in French.
• Personal commitment to gender equality, child rights and social inclusion.
• Ability and willingness to be very flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes dangerous working circumstances.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education, international development or related field.
• Teaching experience.
• Other experience within the Ministry of Education (e.g., school principal, teacher trainer).
• Experience in promoting girls’ and women’s equality in education and in the work environment.
• Strong experience of working within a complex national program in the context of an emergency intervention or in conflict/fragile state contexts.
• Familiarity with the political, social, and cultural context of Burkina Faso.
• Excellent level of English, written and spoken.
• Knowledge of local languages.
• Personal commitment to gender equality, child rights and social inclusion.

Qualified local candidates and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

About Save the Children

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Our work for children and their families requires that we commit—at every opportunity—to work together to identify and dismantle persistent systemic and structural racism, inequality, and any other forms of discrimination in this country and beyond. As an anti-racist organization, Save the Children will not tolerate discrimination in any form—in our employment practices, amongst our staff, in our leadership or toward the people we serve. We stand in solidarity with all people to fight for equal rights, justice, inclusion, and belonging.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.