Senior Project Officer (SPO)– Education in Emergency At CARE

Job Title: Senior Project Officer (SPO)– Education in Emergency

Project/Department**: Emergency Program

Duty station:** Bossaso with travel to other parts of Puntland where project covers.

Supervisor Title: Programme Manager – Education in Emergency (EiE)

I. JOB SUMMARY

CARE Somalia in Partnership with Mercy Corps and DBG Somalia is implementing a two-year ECHO funded Education in Emergency Consortium project, named, Expanded Emergency Education support for Disaster Affected children in Somalia (EESDAC). The project is designed to contribute to increased access to quality and protective learning opportunities for out of school children and improve retention for those at risks of dropping out to impact of various disasters. The project covers seven regions namely, Sool, Sanaag, Mudug, Bari, Galgadud, Banadir and Nugal.

The SPO will be employed under the EESDAC project and will be based in Bossaso. He/ she is will be responsible for day to day implementation of the project activities in Puntland state under the supervision of the Program Manager -EIE sector. This will include leading field assessment, implementation of project activities; work plans, supporting MEAL activities and collection of project achievements data, liaising and supporting education stakeholders’, capacity building initiatives, preparation of project activities reports, overseeing education stakeholders’ trainings etc. He/she ensures that efficient and effective systems and processes are in place to enable CARE to implement program activities in line with donor requirements. He/she will have frequent interaction with program technical staff and government officials in his / her area of work.

Specific responsibilities will include the following

II. Responsibilities

Project Implementation

• Lead all field work to conduct baseline, midline and end line studies, school assessments, and other studies that the project might undertake in the course of the project life.

• Working with the program staff, MOE, and communities to identify support to target schools based on the assessment of need in all the districts of project operations.

• Ensure that all the beneficiary communities participate fully in all the project work particularly in the prioritizing of community needs.

• Working with the project team and MOE ensure that project intervention target marginalized children with special emphasis on the girl child.

• Train and coach CECs and head teachers in the development of School Improvement Plans in collaboration with regional and district education officers.

• Working closely with the project engineer, ensure that all construction/rehabilitation works are in line with the designs and BOQs and are of high quality and meet the child friendly school criteria.

• Ensure that project intervention give special attention to the needs of girls and for children with special needs.

• Working with CECs, school heads and Ministry of health and MOE to promote life skills, hygiene and nutrition awareness among young learners especially girls in upper classes.

• Collaborate with other CARE Education Projects for synergy in the implementation of project activities.

• Design an overall operational plan for each region in consultation with the Regional Education

• Officers, CECs and other stakeholders.

• Oversee the overall implementation of EIE project activities in accordance with CARE program quality and compliance standards and donor requirements stipulated in the project documents.

• Provide support to MoE officers responsible for supporting the EIE project implementation at schools, districts and regional level.

• Assist Program Manager in producing project cash flow on monthly basis as per

CARE minimum standards and donors’ requirements

• Ensure that education program is implemented in close coordination with MOE and other actors of education projects

• Establish good working relationship with MOE at central, regional and district levels, teachers and CECs and ensure that they take the leading role in planning, managing and monitoring of project activities.

• Ensure that project procurement is properly planned and put into the Pamodzi system.

• Work closely with the procurement officer to follow up the procurement process of the project goods and services.

• Facilitate child protection and psychosocial support trainings for teachers, CECs, child clubs and focal points.

Partnership & Capacity Building

• Train, support and coaching of education mentors, teachers and Community Education Committee

(CECs) in order to ensure quality delivery of programs.

• Ensure the implementation of EESDAC project promotes capacity building to the maximum degree possible for local communities, MOE, CBOs and government staff and agencies.

• Training and capacity building of CECs to oversee the management and administration of project supported schools.

• To manage delegated budgets as required in liaison with the Programme Manager to ensure that all project funds are spent in accordance with CARE and donor policies.

Project Monitoring and Review

• Collaborate with the regional and district officials of the MOE to oversee project implementation.

• Organize and participate in quarterly monitoring and evaluation of projects.

• Ensure that project/program monitoring and evaluation system/tools are applied and project progress (activities and outputs), results and immediate objectives (outcomes) and impacts are systematically tracked, documented and shared as appropriate on the basis of CARE and donors’ requirements.

• Travel to project sites of Education program and conduct regular monitoring of projects together

with MOE and project team.

• Ensure the participation of beneficiaries in M&E of project activities.

• Provide technical assistance to REOs, DEOs, teachers and mentors through developing standards, monitoring/supervision tools, guidelines and trainings and other mechanisms to ensure quality of primary education.

Reporting and Representation

• Ensure the timely production of quality monthly and quarterly reports by collating reports of different field locations into one report and submission programme Manager or other Key management staff.

• Document programme learning and disseminate lessons learned to key stakeholders in the field.

• Prepare reports on each field visit conducted and submit to the report to Programme Manager or other key management staff.

• Prepare case studies and success stories in the course of your work with the project.

• Represent CARE in all relevant forums, stakeholders such as local authorities, community leaders, representatives of NGOs, UN agencies and government issues related to education sector.

R.5 Others

• Undertake any other duties as assigned by your supervisor or other key management staff.

• Perform other related tasks as requested by his/her immediate supervisor.

• Account for CARE’s assets and interests and safeguard from loss arising from fraud, waste, weak administration and poor value for money

• Carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects CARE’s commitment to delivering

service to the needy beneficiaries.

• To bring to the notice of the Programme Manager any discrepancies, serious incidents or any urgent information which may need serious consideration regarding day to day program activities

• To fulfill any additional assignments as deemed necessary by the organization.

III**. Decision- Making Authority**

None

IV. Key Relationship / Contacts

CARE sub – office staff

• Staff of other CARE projects

• Line ministries staffs (MoE)

• Local partner organizations

• Local authorities

• CECs and communities

· Children and teachers

V. Direct Reports

None

VI. Working Conditions

Based in Bossaso and requires substantive travel to project sites covering all the regions of Puntland.

VII. Required Qualification

• University degree in Education, social sciences or any other related field.

• At least 3 years working experience with INGOs in Education

VIII. Person Specification

• Strong command of written and spoken English

• Good interpersonal and communication skills

• Good computer skills MS and Excel

· Good understanding of child protection, safeguarding and PSS.

• An individual with initiatives and strong teamwork skills

• Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups

• Establish courses of action for self and others to ensure work is completed efficiently and effectively