Background:
Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.
Program Summary:
The USAID/Somalia Bar ama Baro program, a five-year USAID funded program, works to increase access to quality education for a targeted number of out-of-school children and youth (ages 8-15) in specific regions of Somalia. The Program will work to increase student enrollment in alternative education program sites, improve their safety, monitor acquisition of literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills among the learners who enroll in them, and enhance the Federal Government of Somalia’s capacity to regulate them.
Position Summary:
The Policy and Partnership Senior Coordinator will lead the project supported efforts to facilitate the development of national Accelerated Education Program (AEP) policies and corresponding quality assurance measures with the Federal Government of Somalia Ministry of Education. The Senior Coordinator will lead a collaborative and capacity building approach to use data, build national AEP policies and design quality assurance measures. The Senior Coordinator will assist the federal government in this process to engage federal member state education officials and critical non-governmental actors who provide educational services across Somalia. This position requires senior level leadership and mediation skills to mobilize actors in supporting a comprehensive program to better serve Somalia’s out of school children and youth (OOSCY).
Reporting and Supervision:
The Policy and Partnership Senior Coordinator will report to directly to the Reading/Education in Crisis or Conflict Advisor.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Facilitate a process with the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders at central, state and district levels to map and review existing education policy frameworks, especially around systems, attendance, access, reading instruction, and assessment;
- Assist our project partners to strengthen education management information system (EMIS) in support of AEP related data to inform all policy design and facilitate data-driven decision-making at the central and state levels around ensuring progress in expanding access and quality education;
- Lead advocacy and capacity-building efforts with senior federal and state education officials to utilize school profile data to make decisions that improve educational services;
- Lead a phased process with appropriate governmental and non-governmental stakeholders that results in the design and endorsement of the following AEP policies:
- AEP Learner Eligibility Policy
- AEP Learner Certification Policy
- AEP Teacher Certification Policy
- AEP Accreditation Policy
- Work with relevant project stakeholders and local officials to provide support to sustain policy initiatives and facilitate development and implementation of policies, particularly in the areas of systems, access, attendance, reading instruction, assessment, and accountability;
- Facilitate policy review meetingsregardingreading and access to track progress in implementing new policies, identify corrective actions to speed implementation, and develop tools to assess impact;
- Lead the planning and implementation of capacity-building plans for education officials and local stakeholders to develop leadership, managerial, and supervisory skills to effectively implement policies and regulationsregardingaccess to education and improved learning outcomes;
- Provide capacity-building support on data analysis and evidence-based decision-making, monitoring, and staff mentoring;
- Support various means and methods for the dissemination of new policies and opportunities for bottom-up feedback at all levels through state-level workshops involving federal and state government education officials and other federal, state and local level actors supporting education service delivery;
- Promote inclusivity, gender equity, and conflict mitigation and peace-building throughout all policy design and implementation and consensus building processes; and
- Perform other tasks as assigned.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- Master’s in Education, Public Administration, or other relevant degree, or a bachelor’s degree with two (2) additional years of experience;
- At least six (6) years of experience in education policy in Somalia and of international development activities with increasing levels of responsibility;
- Demonstrated understanding of EMIS systems and data-driven decision-making;
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills;
- Ability to demonstrate leadership and team-building skills;
- Ability to engage positively and productively with a diverse population of team members, stakeholders and government counterparts;
- Experience working on donor-funded projects, USAID experience preferred;
- Professional proficiency in written and spoken English;
- Fluency in Somali language; and
- Authorization to work full-time in Somalia and possession of a Somali passport.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
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