Position: Education Advisor (National Position)

Reports to: Manager Program Quality

Job location: Kampala

Starting date: January 2025

Vacancy closing date: 12th November 2024

Duration position: 1-year renewable contract

Working hours: Fulltime (40 hours per week)

About ZOA

We are here for people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster.

ZOA, as an international NGO, supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. Together, we can come to their aid in emergencies and remain faithful to communities as they recover – providing new opportunities for them to help themselves again. The work of ZOA is coordinated from the Netherlands. We are active in multiple countries in Africa, South America, the Middle East Region, and Asia. We work with approximately 900 employees worldwide and with (local) partners. We invite you to join our team of committed colleagues.

Our work in Uganda

In Uganda, ZOA has offices in Kampala, West Nile (Arua), Acholi (Gulu), and Karamoja (Amudat). ZOA Uganda works both in relief and recovery on the themes of food security & livelihoods, education, and conflict management with a special focus on land Rights.

ZOA Uganda is looking for Education Advisor to be based in Kampala.

Your challenge

The Education Advisor is the technical lead in the area of Education in Emergencies and basic education and ensures quality implementation and donor compliance of ZOA Uganda’s education projects. S/He ensures that training of staff and partners, technical monitoring and coaching is carried out regularly. The Education Advisor is responsible for overseeing proposal development and exploring new Education project opportunities on behalf of ZOA Uganda. The position requires significant time spent at project locations and in coordination with partners and donors.

Your main tasks and responsibilities

The main responsibility of the Education Advisor is to ensure high quality Education programme design, implementation and evaluation of projects by providing technical support with expertise and knowledge of Education. The Education Advisor is responsible for the development of high-quality Education / basic education project proposals for potential donors.

Programme quality

• Provides high quality technical support to the implementation of ZOA Uganda’s Education programme; supporting education projects throughout the project management cycle, including technical review of procurement tasks.
• Develops and upholds a coherent ZOA Uganda Education strategy in line with national and/or international trends, approaches and standards.

Learning and capacity strengthening

• Contributes to the development and implementation of Education Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) plans.
• Contributes to learning and knowledge development for ZOA (worldwide) specifically related to Education in Emergencies (EiE) and basic education in recovery context; with a specific focus on early grade reading, inclusive education, gender and (child) safeguarding and protection.
• Builds capacity of education project staff on key project concepts and Education approaches; builds capacity and ensures capacity strengthening of co-implementing partner(s) in line with identified needs.
• Recommends strategic training opportunities for project staff.

Proposal development

• Scopes for new opportunities for ZOA Uganda.
• Leads or participates in development of high-quality education project proposals.
• Collaborates with finance department for proposal budget development.

Reporting

• Reviews and where required leads the writing of donor reports in line with contractual obligations.
• Contributes to ZOA’s quarterly and annual reports and the Country Annual Plan (CAP).

Stakeholder management

• Builds and upholds relationships with key Education stakeholders in Uganda, specifically with Education Consortium partners, the Consortium Management Unit (CMU), and other education actors across the country.
• Represents ZOA Uganda externally in relevant EiE and basic education planning and coordination meetings, specifically at national level – e.g. the EiE Working group and applicable task teams.

Accountability

• Sensitize all stakeholders (beneficiaries, service providers, partners, government and other) on feedback and complaint mechanisms implemented by ZOA Uganda
• Upon receipt of a complaint or feedback, ensure that it is correctly documented following correct reporting procedures
• Understand ZOA’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies, ensure adherence to these policies and that project activities are implemented with a “Do No Harm” approach

Other activities

• Provides input to communication and visibility efforts, e.g. online, printed materials, ZOA’s international website.
• Supports the recruitment of project staff; when necessary, reviewing the job descriptions, participating in job interviews.
• Any other duty assigned by the Manager of Programme Quality or Country Director.

Your profile

Identity

• The candidate is expected to fully support the vision, mission and Christian values 0f ZOA (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity)

Knowledge & Experience:

• University degree (Master’s preferred) in Education, Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relations or other relevant field.
• At least 5 years of delivering high quality Education response and recovery programmes in displacement and/or post-conflict contexts.
• Sound understanding of the EiE/Education landscape, including major trends and developments in the education sector, both on a national and global level (with a main focus on primary education);
• Demonstrated experience in EiE programming in Uganda and beyond, including knowledge of INEE minimum standards, CHS and child protection/child safeguarding with children in (post) conflict areas.
• Strong track record and (lead) writing experience in successful proposal development proposals to institutional donors (e.g. ECW, UN, EU, BPRM, USAID, etc.) and foundations, both standalone and in consortia.
• Experience working in consortia and with local partners; experience representing the organisation externally.
• Experience with supporting (the development of) early grade reading programmes, teacher training, child safeguarding & protection, inclusive education and/or SEL/MHPSS is considered an asset.

Skills:

• Excellent facilitation, communication skills and writing ability.
• Strong reporting and writing skills.
• Innovative, creative and enthusiastic.
• Provides regular feedback, acknowledges success and the need for improvement with Supervisees.
• Result oriented and possession of learning power.
• Good computer skills: Ms Excel and Ms Word.
• Self-motivator, able to take initiatives with limited supervision.

Attitude/behaviour:

• High level of personal integrity.
• Flexibility and adaptability.
• Commitment to inclusion for People with Disabilities
• Interpersonal and cross-cultural sensitivity.
• Able to work under pressures and meet deadlines.
• Able to work in a sometimes fluid and innovative environment.
• High level of networking capacities, with interpersonal, organizational and intercultural sensitivity
• Commitment to ZOA’s mission, vision and values (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity)

Special conditions/circumstances

The Education Advisor will be based at the ZOA office in Kampala. Regular field visits to the project locations/other districts in the region are anticipated, for several days at a time.

The role is 1.0 FTE (40 hrs/ week). Working hours are outlined in the ZOA Uganda Conditions of Service. Some flexibility on working hours may be required, e.g. for travel at weekends, or during proposal submission and reporting periods.

Our offer

• ZOA offers a challenging role in a dynamic context, and you will be part of an inspiring and motivated team.
• We offer good benefits and remuneration which suits the NGO sector.

Do you need more information?

For more information about ZOA, please visit our website www.zoa-international.com.