District Program Officer

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

RTI International , the International Education Division, is currently accepting applications for a full-time District Program Officer (17 positions) to support the Early Grade Reading Program (EGRP), a USAID-funded program to improve early grade reading in Nepal. The program works closely with and supports the Government of Nepal’s design and initial implementation of a national education model that standardizes early grade reading in public schools. These positions are based in ten districts namely Dhankuta, Parsa, Mustang, Rupandehi, Dang, Bardiya, Surkhet, Dolpa, Kailali and Dadeldhura.

The District Program Officer will support implementation of program activities at the Local Education Units (LEUs) level. H/She provides technical support to LEUs to implement activities under NEGRP and will build capacity at the LEU level.  H/She will be responsible to liaise with government counterparts at LEU level and other stakeholders to foster good working relationships at the local government and with EDCUs. H/She reports to and works closely with the District Coordinator to assure technical support and quality assurance.

Period of Performance: May 1, 2019 to  March 31, 2020

Primary Responsibilities:

Materials and Teacher Training and Ongoing Support (40 %)

• Coordinate with DCs and LEUs to support trainings for teachers, head teachers and education officers at cluster level.
• Support the distribution and management of Teaching Learning Materials (TLMs) and Supplementary Reading Materials (SRMs) at LEUs and school level.
• Participate in head teachers’ meetings in each Municipality and, as possible, provide input for promoting EGR activities and get updates on the use of TLM and SRM.
• Monitor and encourage Head Teachers / Primary-in Charge to support EGR teachers in EGR instruction in the schools (following TPS guidelines).

System Support, Monitoring, and Planning (45%)

• Collaborate with the DC to organize LEUs/cluster level orientations, review meetings, capacity building workshops.
• Support LEU to analyze and use Integrated Education Management Information System (IEMIS) data in planning, monitoring and decision making process.
• Support LEUs to prepare education profile, municipal education plan incorporating relevant Early Grade Reading (EGR) related activities.
• Support LEUs to disseminate early grade reading related policies, guidelines and other relevant EGR packages.
• Establish and maintain network/relationship with other organizations working in the education sector in the respective palikas.
• Support LEUs to implement G2G activities in line with budget and time.
• Coordinate with LEUs to plan and conduct joint monitoring visits to monitor the implementation of EGRP activities, including accessibility of materials, instruction, and Teacher Professional Support system.

Community Mobilization (5%)

• In coordination with DC and regional team, facilitate partner NGO to implement social and community mobilization interventions in concerned palikas.
• Facilitate partner NGO and schools to implement SMC grants activities, Annual School Improvement Plan (ASIP) update and other activities.

Program M&E and Assessment (10%)

• Support LEUs to plan and implement EGR related student assessments such as CB-EGRA, EGRA etc.
• Support DC and regional team by collecting and compiling M&E related data for internal M&E and PMP.
• Prepare reports on EGRP activities for assigned municipalities and submit to district coordinator for monthly/quarterly reporting.

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, public administration or social science with 3 years of experience or Master’s degree in education, public administration or social science with 1 years of experience.
• At least 3 years of experience in program design, implementation and support, preferably in education sector.
• Extensive field experience in targeted districts and palikas with marginalized and disadvantaged groups, and integrating cross-cutting GESI strategies.
• Demonstrated success in providing support to partners and local governments.
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships with government counterparts and other partners.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in Nepali required. Relevant local language(s) and English preferred.

To Apply: Qualified candidates are invited to apply via email to sranathapa@np-egrp.rti.org by Friday, April 19, 2019 . Please clearly mark “Application for District Program Officer” as subject of the email with the district you wish to apply for . Only short listed applicants will be contacted. RTI is proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. Females and candidates particularly from disadvantaged and socially excluded groups are highly encouraged to apply.