The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
The IRC has worked in Ethiopia since 2000, providing essential services through direct and partner-led programming. Currently, the IRC offers multi-sectoral assistance through emergency response and long-term resilience-building. The IRC implements development, humanitarian, and life-saving emergency programs through different sectors, including Environmental Health, Health and Nutrition, Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), Emergency Rapid Response (ERR), Education (EDU), Child Protection (CP), and Community Wellbeing Initiative (CWI).
In Ethiopia, the IRC delivers educational services to children, their parents or caregivers, and to government-run primary schools. The IRC operates directly and indirectly throughout all regions of Ethiopia, except for the Southwest Region. The IRC works through seven field offices – in Adama, Hawassa, Asossa, Gambella, Somali, and Shire, and four satellite offices in Aleta Wondo Harar, Bahir Dar, and Shiraro. The IRC directly operates in Oromia, Somali, Tigray, Beninshangul-Gumuz, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP), Sidama, Gambella, and Harari regions. The IRC operates directly and through its partners in Amhara and Afar regions.
Background and Objectives of the FCDO Transforming Education in Ethiopia (TREE) Programme
Education in Ethiopia is under stress, with limited access and retention for marginalized groups and reduced levels of learning outcomes across all year groups. This is further compounded by different crises – conflict, climate-induced shocks, and residual impacts of COVID-19, with some children out of school for most of the past 3.5 years. The Transforming Education in Ethiopia (TREE) Programme (2024 – 2029)” initiated by the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) aims to increase access to education for girls and other marginalized groups and enhance their learning outcomes as well as improve teaching quality and learning outcomes with a focus on foundational learning.
The program will focus on three key components below:
1. Access to quality education: Improved quality of teaching and learning in targeted schools.
2. English Language: Selected schools provide better teaching and learning in English Language as a subject, and improved use of English across the curriculum.
3. Inclusion: Increased number of the most marginalised children, particularly girls, access education, stay in school and learn.
4.Recruitment for this role is contingent upon the successful award of the project, and the final applicant’s selection is subject to FCDO approval.
Scope of Work
The Regional Leads will be responsible for managing, implementing, and overseeing all project activities at both the regional and community levels. Their primary focus will be on adapting national policies related to school leadership, gender inclusion, and English language education, with support from the technical leads. They will collaborate with Regional Education Bureaus (REBs), and other key stakeholders strengthen to strengthen the capacity of school leaders and teachers. Additionally, they will supervise teams conducting workshops and community sessions.
Responsibilities:
• Collaborate with Regional Education Bureaus (REBs) to customize national and global policies and frameworks concerning school leadership, gender inclusion, and ongoing professional development.
• Implement Training for Trainers (ToT) targeted at REBs, zonal and woreda education offices, school leaders, and cluster supervisors.
• Provide tailored policies to schools and assist regional teams in enhancing the skills of school leaders, teachers, and Parent-Teacher-Student Associations (PTSAs).
• Oversee and coordinate regional teams to ensure they provide timely and effective support..
• Engage with stakeholders to ensure alignment with national policies and to build support for the program’s initiatives.
• Gather data and information from the target region and document lessons learned.
• Provide regular updates on project progress and challenges to the technical lead.
• Compile and share periodic internal and donor reports with technical leads.
Qualifications
• An advanced degree (or equivalent experience) in Education, Gender, disability and inclusion, or a related field with at least 5 years of work experience in international development.
• At least 5 years experience in a senior management role of large and complex donor-funded programs, managing a diverse team of professionals and consortium partners. Experience with delivery at a national scale will be an advantage.
• Extensive experience working in East Africa, ideally in Ethiopia.
• Experience and ability to provide leadership and direction in harnessing the multi-disciplinary skills of the technical personnel and consortium partner within complex and high-risk environments.
• Experience in programming for girls’ education and education for children with disabilities, and marginalized children.
• Experience working with children and adolescents and an ability to apply safeguarding, ethics, and ‘do not harm’ principles.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and writing skills and the ability to articulate arguments and positions backed with evidence to promote causes and ideas
• Proficiency in the required languages, particularly Amharic and English, is preferred.
*With your application, please indicate the region(s) in which you would prefer to be based, and highlight relevant experience pertaining to the preferred region(s)
**Standard of Professional Conduct:**The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.