Requisition ID: req23601
Job Title: PlayMatters Technical Project Coordinator (National Hires Only)
Job available in these locations:
Kampala, Uganda, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of
Sector: Education
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: No
Job Description
PlayMatters reimagines childhood for refugees. It will bring play-based learning to 800,000 children across Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania. It will redefine education and cultivate a generation of lifelong builders. PlayMatters is inspired by LEGO Foundation’s call to challenge the status quo, to offer children the quality education they dream of. Children are not gaining the skills they need, teachers are under-supported, and parents are overwhelmed. The systems built to serve them are failing them. PlayMatters proudly offers something different. It is being delivered by a coalition with a track record of thinking and delivering differently. We bring three distinct characteristics:
1. OUTCOMES. Everything we do is fueled by the social, emotional, cognitive, physical, creative and resilience outcomes we seek. We know learning happens when children are at the center and teachers, parents and the system surrounding them embrace children’s agency and have not only skills and resources, but the motivation to drive change.
2. RESEARCH AND LEARNING. Effective delivery requires both rigor and a big heart. With LEGO Foundation, PlayMatters will generate scientific evidence that can transform our understanding of play and learning for refugees in East Africa and around the world.
3. THOUGHT LEADERSHIP. The LEGO Foundation Humanitarian Initiative offers an opportunity to deliver and comes with the responsibility to lead. Our consortium’s members have a record mobilizing others.
Job Summary
The IRC is seeking a Technical Project Coordinator who will closely work with the PlayMatters Regional Technical Advisor and other technical staff as well as the PMC leadership to ensure that the implementation of PlayMatters both adheres to our approved work plan and responds to contextual factors. The Technical Project Coordinator will assist in technical aspects of project management and the coordination of the content development process and piloting including the planning and oversight of translation, printing, pilot roll-out, ToTs and coordination with MEL teams. As PlayMatters launches into its year of iterative content development and testing, the Technical Project Coordinator will closely work and support the technical advisor on building the capacity of PMCs in the planning and roll out of the pilots and enhancing the coordination among the CDCs, the piloting and MEL teams for smooth project implementation. The Technical Project Coordinator will be responsible for closely collaborating with the PlayMatters’ regional workstream leads, as well as the content development teams and PMCs in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Track the content development process including the drafting, review/revision and approvals and link that process with concrete plans for roll-out;
- Assist PMCs to set-up processes and requests for translation and printing of materials; work with the piloting leads to guide and support implementation on the ground adhering to roll-out plans;
- Provide hands on support with pilot rollouts including ToT planning and preparations across PMCs as per the work plan;
- Assist PMCs with planning and implementation of the Teacher professional Development (TPD) strategy aligning with TPD approaches in each country;
- In coordination with the MEL team, assist the PMCs in tracking progress against the work plan, documenting challenges and adaptations.
- Assist the PMC leadership to manage the project work plan including needed revisions and to use other project documents, tools, and resources;
- Support PMC Leads to use project documentation (including, but not limited to, the Gantt and budget) to guide their daily work;
- Assist in capacity building of the PMCs to collaborate and coordinate with each other throughout project implementation;
- Support harmonization of PlayMatters work approaches and best practices across the PMCs to achieve project outcomes;
- Conduct regular visits to field sites to support teams across the PMCs;
Key Working Relationships:
- Position Reports to: Regional Technical Advisor, PlayMatters
- Position supervises: TBD
- Indirect Reporting: Snr. Technical Advisor, Project Director, PlayMatters; Deputy Project Director for Operations, PlayMatters.
- Other Internal and/or external contacts:
Internal: IRC country program staff; Regional staff such as Content Advisor, Policy Advisor, RMEL Advisor, DD for Research, Communications; other technical units within IRC (Education, Health, Violence Prevention and Response, Economic Recovery and Development, Governance, Gender Equality)
External: IRC Research & Innovations leadership, War Child Holland; Innovations for Poverty Action; Behavioral Insights Team; host government officials; other consortium partner organizations; community representatives.
Requirements
- Advanced degree (MA) from an accredited university in education, development, social work
- Minimum of ten years of experience in leadership of Education programming, experience with education programming for refugees and displaced populations preferred.
- Significant previous experience implementing education activities in conflict or crisis situations.
- Experience working in East Africa and/or Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda on Education programming.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to develop relations with diverse teams, local counterparts, donors, and other partners.
- Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
- Proficiency in English required. Proficiency in languages of the region preferred (Amharic, Tigrigna, Arabic, Somali, Nuer, Kiswahili, French, etc.)
Working Environment:
- Standard office work environment
- Travel required 25-50% (COVID and security situations permitting)
- Position is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Kampala, Uganda; or Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (according to nationality of successful candidate)
Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Diversity Equality and Inclusion (DEI), Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
Narrowing the Gender Gap: The International Rescue Committee is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including a flexible hour (when possible), maternity leave, transportation support, and gender-sensitive security protocols.
Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws
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