The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 40 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery, and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

Position Overview:

IRC is seeking an Education Officer for a five – year Project, “Play Matters”, funded by the LEGO Foundation. The Education officer will be a part of the larger Play Matters initiative to increase play-based learning opportunities for nearly 1 million pre-primary and primary school aged refugee and host community children impacted by the humanitarian crises in East Africa and living in Ethiopia and Uganda. This project aims to build children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and creative skills through play in their homes, schools, and communities and will be implemented in partnership with War Child, Plan International, Ubongo, Behavioral Insights Team and Innovations for Poverty Action.

The Education officer will be responsible for ensuring that Play Matters consortium and IRC staff identify, engage, and influence key education stakeholders in Ethiopia responsible for and engaged in promoting learning outcomes for refugee and local children ages 3 to 12. This includes collaboration with government, UN and other humanitarian coordination decision makers, education implementing partners, and large-scale development initiatives to improve learning through play.

The Education officer will be co-managed by the Camp Manager and Play Matters Education Manager at the field office level, with additional technical oversight from the country level Play Matters project team; Work closely with the camp-based education officers from RRS, SCI, WEO specialists/Experts and other implementing partners to integrate Learning through Play (LtP) into existing preschool, primary school, Accelerated Learning Programs (ALP) and child friendly space activities targeting children in refugee and Surrounding host community.

Major key Responsibilities:

·         Assessment of TLM needs and capacity gaps: assist in mapping of existing teaching and learning materials being used in the refugee and host community schools/ learning institutions and identify playful activities at community level against a framework to identify areas of integration, adaptation, and development of contents relevant to the context. Conduct training/capacity building need assessment to support teachers to implement LtP strategies and practices. Assist in the development/adaptation of assessment tools and producing detailed assessment reports.

·         Training delivery: Support the delivery of trainings to preschool and primary school teachers, target parents and community leaders in collaboration with teacher education colleges and education staff, other education partners and key government counter parts using a cascade model.

·         Content development and cocreation: Support in the development of samples and templates of content for teachers, parents, and children on LtP. Update key messages and communications materials on play-based learning to reflect the Ethiopian context targeting refugees and host communities. Engage with field level coordination leads, implementing partners, teachers, parents, community leaders and children through structured co-creation processes.

·         LTP implementation: Support and oversee the implementation of LtP activities in refugee and host community schools and facilitate exchange of learning, reflections and experience sharing sessions.

·         Technical support and coaching: Provide technical support through regular mentoring and coaching of ECCD facilitators and primary school teachers, parents, and communities on the use of LtP through closely working with education officers and assistants, cluster supervisors and school directors and community key leaders. 

·         Documentation and reporting: Supervise project implementation, track progress and achievements and produce quality reports accurately and on a timely basis. Work closely with the RMEAL Officer to put in place mechanisms and processes for regular review of project data and learning.

·         Collaboration: Work with the education manager to ensure the type of engagement in design and implementation necessary to achieve joint priorities and objectives of providing play-based learning opportunities for all children.

·         Execute and carry out additional assignments as per the request by supervisors and managers.

Qualifications

Educational Requirements:  Advanced degree from an accredited university in education management and planning, curriculum development, Sociology, Social Works, or Social Science related field.

Preferred experience & skills:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience implementing education programs, teacher training and parental education.
• Proven track record of and knowledge of engaging with government, UN, and NGOs.
• Demonstrated success in developing educational/training content and delivery.
• ·Strong interpersonal skills, both oral and written.

Language Skills:  Proficiency in English is mandatory.