EDUCATION SPECIALIST
INTRODUCTION**
The Government of Canada’s Field Support Services Project in Kenya is contracting the services of an Education Specialist to support its programming over an initial term of three (3) years with a possibility of a further term of two (2) years. The Specialist will provide field level advice and technical support and policy on matters relating to Education to Canada’s development assistance program in Kenya.
2. CURRENT GAC PROGRAM IN KENYA
Global Affairs Canada (GAC)’s bilateral development assistance currently prioritizes the following three areas: (1) providing access to safe, quality basic education for the hardest to reach children, particularly girls, in marginalized, drought-prone regions; (2) supporting sustainable and inclusive economic development and enhanced economic opportunities for vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth; and (3) building governance capacity and increasing respect for diversity, pluralism and human rights, including the rights of women. Gender Equality, Environment Sustainability and Governance are cross-cutting theme in all GAC’s programming. GAC also funds initiatives in a variety of sectors through other channels of programming, such as Multilateral, Regional and Partnerships between Canadian and Kenyan organisations.
In education sector, GAC support programming focused on basic education, as well as technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Align with the priorities of the Government of Kenya and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, GAC-supported programs are implemented through multilateral organisation and NGOs. It also includes support to global initiatives, such as the Global Partnerships for Education (GPE), as well as regional initiative. The objective is to improve the quality and safety of the education system with women and girls empowerment, sustainable environment and governance as cross-cutting themes.
GAC’s programs are managed in the field by personnel based in the Canadian High Commission (CHC) in Nairobi. The Field Support Services Project (FSSP) in Westlands house a team of multi sectoral consultants that have the mandate to support the CHC international development team for programming in Kenya, as well as punctual support for modest programming in Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
3. SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Education Specialist will have the primary responsibility of providing field level advice and expertise on technical and policy matters relating to education, which may impact GAC’s education programming. The Education Specialist will mainly hold responsibilities relating to the bilateral program but will also be responsible for providing sectoral expertise for GAC’s other programs and Branches, including regional, multilateral and Partnership and Development Innovation Branch. The Education Specialist will be involved in all stages of GAC’s education program, including research, planning, design, monitoring and management, while at the request of the CHC engaging in dialogue with other stakeholders in education, particularly the Ministry of Education.
a. Provide Sectoral Advice and Expertise
· Engage in analysis of education sector issues and highlight implications to GAC program in Kenya;
· Provide analyses, summaries, briefs and reports to facilitate timely GAC interventions in the education sector that are consistent with Government of Kenya (GoK) and other development partners policies;
· At the request of the CHC, engage in technical level dialogue with the Government of Kenya and other Development Partners on Education Sector issues;
· At the request of the CHC, attend Education Sector Coordination and other relevant meetings and provide reporting ;
· Monitor and report on key issues in the country that could have impact on Education sector and GAC programming on Education, including the Budget and the Constitution reform process;
· Keep up-to-date on emerging education issues as noted in academic papers and the media including local newspaper articles; maintain an appropriate body of relevant information/ resources on education in Kenya; and prepare briefing papers for CHC and GAC HQ as appropriate;
· Advise other GAC projects on matters that may have linkages or implications on Education;
b. Program and Project Planning & Design
· Contribute strategically and provide technical advice for the development or review of GAC’s education program in Kenya;
· Assist GAC in identifying existing baseline data and information gaps towards the development and design of the project. This includes education indicators, socio-economic, poverty and political profiles, school-mapping, etc.;
· Provide GAC with policy and technical expertise towards the design of the project;
· Provide the required input in the Terms of Reference for consultants/researchers who will assist in the design and planning of the project;
· At CHC request, participate in field visits and in stakeholder meetings at the national, county and school levels, relating to the proposed project;
· Provide the required input in the Request for Proposals, Logic Model, Performance Measurement Framework and associated documents.
· Review proposals received by GAC;
c. Program & Project Monitoring & Reporting
· Track results and report regularly on GAC’s investments in education;
· In coordination with the CHC officers, liaise regularly with Implementing Agency (ies) to monitor project progress and report to GAC;
· When requested by GAC, carry-out field visits to project to monitor and report on progress towards expected results;
d. Support to other GAC Programs at the Field and HQ Level
· Contribute to the development and/or review of GAC macro-level strategies, sector strategies, action plans, policies, evaluations, performance measurement and monitoring frameworks, etc with a view to promoting synergy across GAC’s programming areas of focus;
· Collaborate with other GAC FSS education Specialists in Africa on issues in education in order to share experience, discuss best practices and create synergies across the GAC program in Africa;
· Provide advice from a field perspective for other programs at GAC, including Multilateral, Partnerships for Development Innovation and regional Branches. This can include revision of proposals and inputs on corporate strategies.
· Provide punctual advice for programming in Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda.
· Participate in GAC corporate events when requested;
· Perform other related duties as may arise.
4. REPORTING
The Education Specialist will report directly to the Manager of the Field Support Services Project based in Nairobi, Kenya which has responsibility for the administration of the contract. The specialist will be physically working at the Field Support Services Project offices.
Day to day management of deliverables and performance will be coordinated by the Head of Cooperation or her/his delegate, based at the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi, including approval of work plans, service requisitions and deliverables, authorization of travel, evaluation of the quality of services and deliverables against work plans and performance indicators, etc.
5. WORK PLAN AND DELIVERABLES
The Education Specialist will produce quarterly work plans, which will detail the deliverables expected for that period. The work plan will be based on needs identified by Global Affairs Canada and the Consultant’s recommended priorities which will require approval by Global Affairs Canada. The work plan must be submitted to Head of Cooperation or her/his delegate for approval. The work plan will be reviewed and updated monthly, taking into account changing priorities in the Global Affairs Canada Program and/or the countries’ context.
The Education Specialist will produce Quarterly reports (max 2 pages) that will:
Highlight tasks and results achieved; problems encountered and how they were dealt with;
Identify key issues for Global Affairs Canada’s attention, and make recommendations for follow-up;
Provide a summary of work plan tasks completed, results achieved, and progress towards achieving results;
Highlight relevant information of use to the Program and projects, such as: outstanding issues and constraints, innovative initiatives, best practices, and lessons learned; and
6. ESTIMATED LEVEL OF EFFORT AND DURATION
This assignment is a full-time position and qualified candidates will go through a three-months probation period. The Education Specialist will be based at the Field Support Services Project office in Nairobi.
7. MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS
· Masters or doctorate-level degree in education;
· Minimum of 10 years senior-level education advisory experience;
· Strong expertise in basic education, quality of education, technical vocational education and training (TVET), education in vulnerable populations and marginalized areas and/or monitoring and evaluation;
· Experience and knowledge in planning, design, monitoring and evaluation of education projects and programs, as well as integrating cross cutting issues such as gender equality and environmental impact assessments;
· Experience liaising with a network of stakeholders in education in Kenya;
· Experience in writing analysis of the education sector in Kenya;
· Diversified educational experience with government or semi-autonomous government agencies; donor agencies; NGOs; and/or private sector consulting.
· Fluency in English and Kiswahili with superior English communication and writing skills;
· Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel & Power Point;
· Ability to legally work in Kenya.
8. ASSETS QUALIFICATION
Knowledge of Canada’s Development Assistance programs in Kenya.
Proficiency in French;
9. ADDITIONAL DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
· Ability to synthesize and develop high quality knowledge products from diverse programmatic materials and tools
· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to develop strong working and organizational boundaries with internal and external stakeholders;
· Works well independently with little supervision, as well as within a dynamic team;
· Is collaborative – builds and maintains effective relationships with their teams, colleagues, external partners and supporters.
10. APPLICATION PROCESS
Candidates interested in this position are encouraged to email a letter of application (maximum 3 pages) and a CV (maximum 4 pages) by 12th May 2017 with subject heading “Education Specialist – Kenya”, showing how the candidate’s background is linked to each item in the mandatory and additional desirable qualifications categories to:fsspkesa.recruitment@wusc.ca. In addition;
· Candidates must provide names and contact details of three references including at least one from a previous employer.
· Candidates whose documentation confirms they meet the mandatory criteria will be invited for an interview to assess their technical abilities and knowledge.
HOW TO APPLY:
APPLICATION PROCESS
Candidates interested in this position are encouraged to email a letter of application (maximum 3 pages) and a CV (maximum 4 pages) by 12th May 2017 with subject heading “Education Specialist – Kenya”, showing how the candidate’s background is linked to each item in the mandatory and additional desirable qualifications categories to:fsspkesa.recruitment@wusc.ca. In addition;
· Candidates must provide names and contact details of three references including at least one from a previous employer.
· Candidates whose documentation confirms they meet the mandatory criteria will be invited for an interview to assess their technical abilities and knowledge.