Contents: Job pack: Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor. Afar Regional Education Bureau. Job purpose

Transcription

1 Job pack: Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor Country Ethiopia Employer Afar Regional Education Bureau Duration 4 months Job purpose The main purpose of this job is to promote results based approach in education policy development and implementation in Afar region through improving the monitoring and evaluation and education information management and utilization systems. It will mainly contribute to realization of one of the overarching objectives of the VSO Ethiopia education programme: too promote the practices and cultures of participatory and accountable planning, leadership and management at all level: in schools, district (Woreda) education offices, REB, and teacher training institutes to respond to the needs of disadvantage groups. Contents: 1. Job Description Personal considerations Background and contextual information... 6 Page 1

2 1. Job Description Responsibilities Key Performance Indicators Competencies Skills and Knowledge Strengthen the current monitoring and evaluation practices - continuous monitoring, annual reviews, and mid-term and final evaluations; Support the Education Bureau in developing integrated monitoring and evaluation system; Build the capacity of the REB EMIS personnel in collecting, collating, analyzing and synthesizing and disseminating educational data; Advice, Coach and mentor REB and District Education Office staff on utilization of the existing EMIS, including efficient utilization of the technology for data collection and analysis, hence effective management of information systems for planning and decision making is ensured; Review the existing educational data collection approaches and introduce alternative and effective strategies; Develop guidelines and tools for education bureau, district education offices and school supervision on monitoring and evaluation; Work with the REB and district Education Office staff to improve systems and procedures, including organizational learning and information management, with a particular emphasis on gender equity and pastoralist education; Facilitate the practices of effectively communicating and using educational New/ innovative monitoring and evaluation practices and systems put in place. Capacities personnel in REB and line education offices enhanced Evidenced based decisions increased Effective Monitoring and evaluation systems put in place Innovative education assessment practices introduced Building and Sustaining working relationships The social skills to build and actively maintain working relationships that foster teamwork and collaboration with others for the benefit of a common goal. Open Minded and Respectful A non-judgemental approach that values other people and culture. Seeking and Sharing Knowledge Recognition that learning is a two-way and continuous process. Facilitating Positive Change The ability to analyse problems and develop lasting solutions in line with VSO approaches. Adaptability A flexible approach and the ability to adapt behaviour to different situations. Resilience The self-confidence to work with a variety of situations, diverse people and ambiguity. A minimum of MA degree in educational management and planning and any other relevant fields + a minimum of 5 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation of education programs. The ideal candidate will have additional qualifications and experience in educational measurement and evaluation. Excellent knowledge and skills in applying technology for planning, and management and monitoring and evaluation, and educational data analysis; Proven experiences in developing monitoring and evaluation systems, and procedures in education project management Experience of current developments in Education in general and in M&E and learning; Proven and practical knowledge of peer-topeer support to share experience and learning; Good interpersonal skills combined with a flexible and adaptable attitude; Excellent communication skills with good command of both spoken and written English Proven experience and skills in EMIS Page 2

3 Responsibilities Key Performance Indicators Competencies Skills and Knowledge assessment and monitoring and evaluation results to make educational decisions; Page 3 Support REB staff in reviewing educational data quality and identifying the relevant educational trends and dissemination of results; Train, advice and mentor education managers, officers and school supervisors in monitoring and evaluation; Work as a team with other VSO volunteers and other colleagues in the region to undertake needs/baseline assessment and build the capacity of officials of the regional Education Bureau (REB) and Woreda Education Offices to offer professional and supportive services to schools and other educational; Deliver training workshops on identified needs in monitoring and evaluation to staffs in the REB, district education offices and teacher training institutes; Strengthen links between the REB and MOE, the Woreda education offices and the Teacher Education Institutes, so that good practice and expertise can be shared systematically; Give guidance and technical support on integrating cross-cutting strands of pastoralist education including Non-formal Education/Alternative Basic Education in the monitoring and evaluation system; Work as a team with another VSO management and planning volunteer in developing and rolling out management and planning system for the REB; Train, advice and mentor education managers, officers and school supervisors in supervision, monitoring and evaluation; Objectives will be confirmed in a three way discussion between the volunteer, employer and VSO in the first three months of the placement. Utilization practice including data collection and analysis, hence using the technology to ensure effective management of information systems, planning and decision making; Desirable requirements: The ability and commitment of the volunteer to live in basic working and living conditions and in a hot climate. and difficult working environment, Knowledge and experience in pastoralist education; Willingness to travel to different locations in the region where district (woreda) education offices and schools are found; To have a realistic outlook of what can be achieved in the placement in the light of socio-economic conditions and their knock on effects within the organization; Willingness to share his/her skill with colleagues in a professional but sensitive manner without appearing to be aggressive or impatient; Language: Ethiopia is following federal model of government based linguistic group. Afar is the local language. The Federal language is Amharic and it is also widely spoken locally in Semera town where the volunteer will be based.

4 Responsibilities Key Performance Indicators Competencies Skills and Knowledge Raise awareness on and promote gender equality amongst educational leaders; Maintain effective communication between VSO, Regional Education Bureau and UNICEF; Due to the nature of our volunteer placements, it is possible that the responsibilities of this role may differ in reality and therefore the postholder will need to be prepared to be flexible and adapt to their environment as necessary. Responsible to: VSOE will support the volunteer to acquire the local language or Amharic -depending on the volunteers preference. There will be training sessions on language during ICT. Besides, VSO will support the volunteer to develop further the language skill acquired during In Country Training.. The volunteer will report to Afar regional Education Bureau. The partner organization will assign line manager for the volunteer on arrival. In addition, a VSO link manager provide technical and professional support to the volunteer. Page 4

5 2. Personal considerations In addition to the job description, the following information should be used when considering whether a placement is suitable for you. Personal health considerations If you have a significant current or past medical condition and/or you have general concerns about staying healthy as a volunteer, please use this information to assess whether this placement will be suitable for you. All volunteers require medical clearance from a VSO medical adviser before they are able to take up a placement with VSO. Occasionally, VSO may consider that this placement is too great a risk for you in terms of your personal health and you would be advised to consider a different placement. For further guidance about medical assessment and volunteering with a medical condition please see the frequently asked questions on VSO website. Access to medical care and support The standard and quality of local medical care and support available at this placement will depend on its location within the country. Health facilities are likely to be more poorly resourced in rural areas in terms of medical expertise, equipment, infrastructure and regular supplies of medication. However, this may not be the case in the capital city or in a larger town, where in some countries there may be a reasonable standard of medical care. The following gives you an indication of where the placement is in relation to the country office and how easy it would be to make the journey if you were ill. This placement is: in Semera town, the Administrative centre of Afar region.semera is a small town. About 560 kms from the capital, Addis Ababa, 8 hrs to travel on good roads but in difficult hot weather. It takes about one hour by plane. There are usually flights twice a week from here to the capital: flights are not affected by bad weather. If you wish to discuss your personal circumstances or health concerns in confidence with VSO s medical team before you apply for this placement please contact medical@vsoint.org. Accompanying partner or family: If you have a partner or children who are planning to accompany you to your placement, please use this section to assess whether this placement will be suitable for you. To secure work permit from the Ethiopian government, the couple should both volunteer and need to have authenticated marriage certificates. Otherwise, it is not possible to process residence permit for accompanying partners. Motorcycle requirements Riding is not desirable Page 5

6 Security information Semera is a safe town to work and live in, except the hot weather that makes it difficult to follow the normal practice and work time. There is no security problem in Semera and so other VSO volunteers also work and live in Semera town. Volunteers usually have day and night guards. 3. Background and contextual information The Ethiopian Ministry of Education has identified as a priority need to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of education management and administration including monitoring and Evaluation at all levels. Hence, management and planning (MAP) has been a key component of the General Education Quality Improvement Program (GEQIP) and is also the focus of the 4th Education Sector Development Plan of the Ministry of Education (MOE). Alongside MAP, the School Improvement Programme (SIP) of MOE requires schools to produce individual plans and monitor and evaluate their success to improve education quality, working in participation with their communities. School directors, woreda (local authority) officials, education supervisors, zonal education officials (the zone being the levels of local government between region and woreda) and Regional Education Bureau (REB) officials have been given only limited training, and personnel generally see management more as an administrative or directive function rather than a leadership or mentoring role. During the capacity assessment in July, 2012, it has been identified that there is a serious gap in developing, implementing and monitoring and evaluation of results and in managing effectively the human and financial resources in the education sector of the region. Hence, together with a focus on greater effectiveness, efficiency, transparency, accountability, monitoring and evaluation and community participation, MAP aims to encourage a more developmental role for education managers. EMIS is also at central of the focus in overhauling the management system. To support these efforts, recently, VSO in collaboration with UNICEF is implementing a program to build the capacity of the REB in educational management, administration and leadership and monitoring and evaluation. Hence, the volunteer s primary role is to support, and where required lead, the REB s efforts to achieve these aims in general and the monitoring and evaluation component in particular through Page 6

7 capacity building approaches- including systems and procedures development and staff capacity development primarily via the vehicle of continuous professional development, and also through dedicated training and mentoring, so as to ensure the quality of education in Afar region. The potential candidate will be working in a team with another volunteer who will be specialized in management and planning and other Ethiopian local colleagues. Further information on VSO s work in each of the countries we work in can be found on the VSO website. Page 7