Requisition ID: req38113

Job Title: Education Officer (PlayMatters)

Sector: Education

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Kasulu, Tanzania

Job Description

Background: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Job Overview/ Summary: PlayMatters (2020-2026) is an education initiative funded through a $100 million grant from the LEGO Foundation. The program reimagines childhood for 800,000+ refugee and host-community children across Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda – children whose education and social development has been affected by displacement and trauma. Building on children’s amazing resilience and a growing evidence base supporting Learning through Play methodologies, PlayMatters cultivates holistic learning for children ages 3-12+. PlayMatters is led by the International Rescue Committee and includes Plan International, War Child Holland, Innovations for Poverty Action, the Behavioral Insights Team in partnership with the LEGO Foundation.

IRC is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic PlayMatters Education Officer to carry out PlayMatters activities in refugee camps and host communities in Kigoma region. The PlayMatters Education Officer will be responsible for supporting the PlayMatters Manager in ensuring that PlayMatters consortium and IRC staff identify, engage, and influence key education partners in Tanzania responsible for promoting learning outcomes for refugee and local children ages 3 to 12.  The PlayMatters Education Officer will work with a team of officers to ensure all project activities are carried out in a timely manner. The PlayMatters Education Officer will represent the PlayMatters in relevant camp-based stakeholder meetings and PlayMatters project coordination meetings.

Responsibilities:

Program Implementation

• Assist in implementation of Learn through Play (LTP) content piloting activities targeting educators, community leaders and caregivers in the refugee and host communities, including logistical arrangements, coordination with relevant stakeholders, and facilitation of all pilot activities.
• Support the development/adaptation of LTP content, such as workbooks, activity cards, etc., for educators, community leaders and caregivers in refugee and host communities through participatory and consultative processes, including participation and engagement in consortium-wide, multi-country content development committees (CDC)
• Support the delivery of Training of Trainers (ToTs) / trainings to educators, community leaders and caregivers in collaboration with district and ward education officers, community development officers, school administration, and consortium staff, using a cascade model.
• Provide technical support on LTP to target user groups (educators, community leaders and caregivers) through regular mentoring and coaching.
• Work closely with the M&E team to implement mechanisms and processes for data collection, data review and learning during piloting process so that user groups’ feedback can be utilized to continuously adapt LTP content.
• Assist in adaptation, development and roll-out of LTP monitoring tools.
• Engage with field level coordination leads, implementing partners, teachers, parents, and children through structured co-creation processes.
• Support and oversee the implementation of LTP activities in refugee and host community schools and facilitate exchange of learning and standard methodologies.
• Monitor project implementation, track progress and achievements and produce quality reports.
• Assist to develop meaningful procurement, activity, spending plans and stick to them to avoid any over and underspending.
• Support the PlayMatters Manager as a focal person in all matters related to PlayMatters project in the field.
• Work closely with HR and the Education Protection Officer to ensure all violations of the Teacher Code of Conduct and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse are properly reported.

Representation and Partnership:

• Support coordination and participation in monthly camp-based Education Working Group meetings, providing minutes to the regional Education Working Group.
• Represent IRC Tanzania in meetings with regional project team and meetings with other consortium members
• Ensure the PlayMatters project is integrated and coordinated with other IRC sectors

HR Management:

• Support coordination and participation in monthly camp-based Education Working Group meetings, providing minutes to the regional Education Working Group
• Represent IRC Tanzania in meetings with regional project team and meetings with other consortium members
• Ensure the PlayMatters project is integrated and coordinated with other IRC sectors

Qualifications

Education:

• Degree in Education or Psychology from a recognized institution
• Minimum two years’ work experience in program implementation.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission and humanitarian principles
• Receptive to building and maintaining positive relationships with people from all backgrounds, genders, cultures, and viewpoints
• Experience working with refugee communities desirable
• Knowledge of Education in Emergencies
• Experience working with children, preferably in a teaching capacity
• Experience in planning and delivering training
• Experience in community mobilization and coordination.
• Highly collaborative and consultative approach.
• Good IT skills: knowledge of MS Word; Excel and Outlook required
• Swahili and good English written, and oral skills required.  French and Kirundi a plus.

Professional Standards IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity.  We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Warning: Please be warned of various scams, being circulated via e-mails, from Internet websites, and via regular mail or fax, falsely being issued by or associated with the IRC. Beware that The IRC does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training, or any other fee). IRC does not request any information related to bank accounts. If asked for any payment, please contact [email protected].