Chemonics seeks a Programme Officer (Education and Protection) to support education programming in Northwest Syria. The project aims to provide children living in Northwest Syria with safe, inclusive, and quality education that meets their specialized learning, psychosocial, and protection needs. The Programme Officer (Education and Protection) will support the technical implementation of the program’s education interventions and work closely with the Protection Manager and technical teams to deliver protection interventions. This position will be based in Gaziantep, Turkey. The Programme Officer (Education and Protection) will report to the Education Manager. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.
Background:
More than 2 million Syrian children are out of school, and more are at risk of dropping out; more than 90 percent of Grade 3 children are not reading at grade level, and numeracy rates are similarly low. Nearly 6 million Syrian children need educational assistance. Helping communities, education authorities, and other service providers determine what quality and relevant education entails, and how to monitor and evaluate key learning outcomes, is a challenge in non-regime-controlled areas. Moreover, rebuilding and operating successful education systems is an ongoing and long-term challenge. While maintaining a humanitarian dimension to the education response, in opposition areas, a strategic shift is occurring toward a longer-term approach toward quality learning outcomes. This requires continued strengthening of systems and policy promotion frameworks. It also requires deliberate and specific planning to scale up access and adopt a strong focus on quality, inclusion, equity, and child protection.
Position Description:
The Programme Officer (Education and Protection) will be part of the core program team, assisting in the implementation of education interventions with a focus on literacy, numeracy, and supporting partner relationships. They will identify, develop, and monitor the implementation of Chemonics’ instruction and pedagogy training modules. The Programme Officer (Education and Protection) will provide day-to-day oversight of technical activities related to quality education training modules and liaise closely with the Protection Manager to ensure that activities include safeguarding children from potential adverse impacts.
The Programme Officer (Education and Protection) will adhere to and act in accordance with Chemonics’ professional code of ethics, “Living Our Values,” and will make the principles of the code a part of the programme’s culture and operating procedures. They will uphold the programme’s safeguarding standards at all times and will promote a safeguarding culture among partners, beneficiaries, and staff. They will also foster and maintain good relationships with potential and actual grantees, will disclose any affiliations that could be perceived as a conflict of interest, and will maintain confidentiality regarding program activities.
Responsibilities Include:
- Support the technical implementation of the program’s education interventions and assist in designing quality education activities with a focus on literacy and numeracy in collaboration with the Education Manager.
- Maintain direct, daily communication with activity partners, including Education Directorates and NGOs, to ensure effective implementation.
- Contribute to reports on education interventions and work closely with the Protection Manager to integrate safeguarding and psychosocial support into education interventions.
- Collaborate with the MERL department to develop and apply monitoring and evaluation tools and plans for education interventions, incorporating feedback from the field and MEL into intervention design.
- Help in developing weekly school implementation plans for deputy headteachers, focusing on practices from the Teachers in Crisis Context (TICC) framework.
- Create and develop training materials, learning circles content, self-reading materials, and guidance for professional development for education instructors, deputy headteachers, and headteachers.
- Review learning assessment results, prepare summaries, and share findings with coaches for school-level discussions. Design or adapt activities based on learning assessment results and research.
- Support the creation of activity plans for catch-up programs, review weekly and monthly reports, and provide corrective feedback. Help in developing assessment tools to measure improvements for various programs, including Summer schools, catch-up programs, accelerated programs, and home-based activities.
- Participate in discussions with Education Directors and help develop policies and procedures for school assessments and assist in the annual district-level inclusion planning
- Assist in developing training modules for psychosocial support and inclusive education, ensuring the technical quality of these modules and incorporating field feedback.
- Work closely with the Protection Manager and technical teams to deliver protection interventions and coordinate with education actors to integrate child protection practices at school and education assemblies’ levels.
- Support the scale-up of complaints mechanisms and child protection reporting systems, assist with arranging PSS/Inclusion conferences, and work with the MEL team to develop monitoring and evaluation tools for child protection interventions.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required, or equivalent relevant experience
- Demonstrated proficiency and experience in special education and is preferred
- Demonstrable experience in developing and implementing different education programs to improve education quality
- Demonstrated experience working in child protection, including developing and implementing psychosocial training and plans
- Knowledge of in-service teacher professional development in the context of literacy and numeracy
- Strong understanding about the context, conflict and security situation in Syria, previous experience in Syria strongly preferred
- Experience working with different levels of stakeholders; local actors, local and international NGOs
- Knowledge of the political, humanitarian, and education sector dynamics within the Syrian context
- Team player with strong communication and writing skills
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
- Fluency in Arabic, with strong speaking and writing skills in English
Period of Performance:
The assignment is long-term through the life of the relevant donor contract.
Location of the assignment:
The assignment will be conducted in Gaziantep with intermittent travel
Supervision and reporting:
The Programme Officer (Education and Protection) will report to the Education Manager
Application instructions:
To apply please fill out this form: SEP II Job Application Form by September 2, 2024. No telephone inquiries, please. Chemonics will contact finalists.
Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.
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