Education Programme Coordinator

Employer: Himalayan Trust New Zealand

Job Type: Full Time

Location: Kathmandu

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Organization: Himalayan Trust New Zealand

Position: Education Programme Coordinator

Number of Vacancies: 1

Contract Period : 1 July 2020 – 31 December 2021 (18months including 6month probation period)

Contract type : Consultant Contract, up to 30-40 hours per week (TBC)

Fixed Term Consultant : Contract with 6month probation period, renewable based on performance

Role reports to : New Zealand Education Programme Manager

Direct reports : Nil

Location : Home-based, Kathmandu or Lukla, Nepal

Travel : The role is expected to travel to field locations up to 40% of time

About Himalayan Trust New Zealand

Sir Edmund Hillary founded the Himalayan Trust in the 1960s when he built the first schools and hospitals in the Everest region. We follow in his footsteps, working in partnership with local communities to improve education, health care and safe water systems for remote communities in Nepal. The Himalayan Trust works to empower communities and reduce poverty in the Everest region of Nepal.

Himalayan Trust New Zealand (HTNZ) implement’s a range of programmes, the largest of these is our Education programme, which is funded 60% by New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and 40% through HTNZ fundraising. The programme works to improve teaching and learning outcomes through quality education for all children in Soluknumbu from 2019-24. The programme is implemented by two local partners in Solukhumbu: Himalayan Trust Nepal (HTN) and Action for Nepal (AFN); together we work to help local government and schools create a firm foundation for children’s educational journey by ensuring a quality literacy and education programme is in place for early grades, teachers are trained in quality teaching at all levels, and schools are more broadly supported with resources, scholarships and infrastructure to assist the new local government structure as it builds its local education policy amidst operationalising federalisation in Nepal.

Purpose of role

The Education Programme Coordinator role represents and oversees the overall performance of Himalayan Trust’s Education Programme in Nepal, including conducting monitoring and providing ongoing technical capacity building across both implementing partners, ensuring the programme delivers against its objectives and commitments set out in the programme design document. The role works closely alongside the NZ-based Programme Manager and is responsible for developing and rolling out a technical capacity building plan for both implementing partners, representing the Trust in external engagements, and producing programme progress reporting in line with donor requirements.

Description

Role requirements and deliverables

Technical oversight, capacity building (education, literacy and MEAL) (40%)

Oversee the technical performance of the programme across both partners and develop and rollout plans to build the technical capacity of implementing staff. Provide regular ongoing education programming technical capacity building and coaching to strengthen the quality and results/impact of implementing partners work. Ensure the programme meets national government (NEGRP) and international best practice standards for international literacy programme. Including:

• Monitor the technical performance of the programme implementation across both partners, including conducting at least quarterly field visits to monitor in-classroom activities;
• Regularly assess and report on the technical capacity and performance of the implementing partners and the programme;
• Develop capacity building plan for each implementing partner to strengthen the technical capacity of implementing staff and partners;
• Develop and deliver training programme for partner staff to strengthen knowledge and capacity to deliver: MEAL (monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning) system and Education programme including quality teacher training
• Support partners with training teachers; monitor the technical quality of teacher training inline with Nepal national education and NEGRP standards; and
Provide technical advice to partners during implementation, including reviewing and advising on policy documents, developing technical tools such as training materials, guidelines for teachers and monitoring tools.

External engagement and coordination(10%)

Represent Himalayan Trust New Zealand in Nepal, including proactively building relationships and visibility with National Government, Local Government, and development partners. Ensure effective coordination between partners, including:

• Participate in national education development sector meetings to raise the visibility of HTNZ’s work and ensure the programme aligns with national and international education priorities. Participate and represent HTNZ in national education working group meetings, NGO-donor meetings, NEGRP events etc.;
• Report programme progress to national Department and Ministry of Education, through regular meetings, facilitating joint-monitoring, and sharing of programme reports and performance indicators;
• Ensure effective coordination and collaboration between both implementing partners (HTN and AFN); encourage and facilitate sharing and coordination across the implementing partners; proactively work to help resolve disagreements across the two implementing partners where they arise;
• Coordinate with other Nepal education organisations to share lessons, tools and approaches, and access technical support for the programme where needed;
• Oversee implementation of a shared local education advocacy plan across HTN and AFN, including on use of Nepali as LOI for literacy in early grades, and effective school-sector planning around COVID-19;
• Work with both partners to develop and oversee an Education local governance capacity building plan, through which the programme delivers on the intentions of the new Output 5 by supporting local governments to put in place more effective local education policies and plans; and
• Advise and oversee both partners to ensure effective and unified/harmonized HT voice on key education policy issues; with local and national government on education policies and plans.

Programme coordination and partner relationship management (25%)

Coordinate across implementing partners to ensure the programme is delivered in line with donor expectations and commitments set out in Activity Design Document and HTNZ-MFAT Contract, including:
• Orient implementing partners on all requirements related to meeting donor expectations and targets, with support from the Programme Manager.
• Develop and implement a HTNZ Education programme quality strengthening workplan in coordination with NZ Programme Manager and implementing partners;
• Draft and deliver six monthly and annual programme progress reports meeting donor requirements and share with NZ Programme Manager at least 2 weeks prior to donor deadline. Coordinate with partners to collate data and produce a first draft consolidated programme progress report (every 6 months) on time as requested by Programme Manager; and
• Quarterly financial reports – coordinate with partners to ensure timely delivery to NZ.

Programme quality monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) (25%)

Oversee partners to ensure effective MEAL systems are in place to track and report against all activities, outputs and indicator targets.
• Develop the programme-wide baseline and endline methodology and tools, in coordination with partners;
• Establish a MEAL strengthening work plan in coordination with the NZ Programme Manager;
• Monitor programme performance – conduct routine quarterly site visits (spot checks) to inspect the quality of monitoring and activity implementation;
• Ensure partners have appropriate MEAL staffing, structure and systems – coach, train and support implementing partners to establish dedicated M&E person responsible for conducting ongoing monitoring and managing rollout of the MEAL system;
• Coordinate with partners to collate data and produce draft HTNZ Education programme-wide MEAL reports (baseline, midline, endline and monitoring reports (every 6 months) on time as requested by Programme Manager; and
• Provide regular ongoing M&E technical capacity building and coaching to strengthen implementing partners MEAL capacity and practice.
• Training and support partners to rollout the baseline, annual and endline assessments to measure the programmes indicators.

Required skills, education and experience

Required

• Advanced degree in education or related area
• Completed NEGRP training
• Excellent written English skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Negotiation and relationship management skills
• Excellent technical knowledge in teacher training, school performance, community engagement, and early grade literacy programming
• 5+ years experience managing technical performance of education and literacy programmes in Nepal

Preferred

• Master’s degree in education
• Qualified NEGRP Trainer of Trainers
• Established relationships with National and/or District Education authorities/governments
• Experience in Solukhumbu district

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Last date to apply: 7 August 2020

HOW TO APPLY

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