Local Education Unit Coordinator

Aasaman Nepal (ASN) ‘A pioneer organization for education and nutrition’, is one of the leading Terai based NGOs led and managed by social activists since its establishment in Dhanusha, Janakpur in 1999. ASN has been engaged in developing and implementing programs aimed at protection, promotion, and fulfillment of child rights in Nepal. Currently ASN has been working in 25 districts under 6 Thematic Areas as: Education/Child Protection, Women Empowerment, Livelihood/ Natural Resource Management, Disaster Risk Reduction, Health/ Nutrition and Good Governance.

Details / requirements:

Aasaman Nepal is implementing USAID Early Grade Learning (EGL) Project to strengthen the capacity of Federal, Provincial, and Municipal governments to improve learning outcomes in Grades 1- 3. Specifically, EGL aims to (1) build federal, provincial, and local level capacity for delivering EGL services, (2) improve local governments’ ability to provide teacher professional support, coaching, mentorship, and supervision, and (3) support local level governments in improving access to and quality of education services in early grades.

The project will be implemented in four provinces Sudurpaschim, Gandaki, Lumbini and Madhesh Provinces across 18 Districts Kanchanpur, Dadeldhura, Kailali, Doti, Achham, Gorkha, Kaski, Tanahun, Nawalparasi East, Nawalparasi West, Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha and Saptari. Aasaman Nepal is looking for the self- motivated, result oriented and hard- working Nepali citizen for the following positions:

Local Education Unit (LEU) Coordinator– 5 positions (Dhanusha– 1, Sarlahi– 2, Kanchanpur– 1, Dadeldhura– 1)

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

To accomplish these goals, the LEU Coordinator will be responsible for implementing activities at the Municipal and school levels and for collecting data for each relevant District. They will be responsible for liaising with the local government Education Units, the District Education Development Coordination Unit (EDCU), and other key stakeholders and professional networks to coordinate and effectively integrate activities with local government activities. This will be achieved by developing effective and productive working relationships with all district and local government counterparts. The coordinator will report to his/her Manager, will work under the guidance of the provincial technical team and will ensure effective service delivery. They will follow and observe all technical and operational management guidelines, processes, and procedures for the effective implementation of all activities at the municipal and school levels to ensure delivery of quality services.

Key Responsibilities

Technical aspect

• Work closely with the Local Government Education Unit, EDCU and other key stakeholders and professional networks in their respective districts to implement EGL technical support and interventions.
• Work closely with the Municipal Education Unit to implement jointly developed education plans and programs and facilitate the implementation of EGL interventions.
• Facilitate the implementation of the local government capacity needs assessments, the development of school improvement plans, the use of school report cards, and the adaptation of IEMIS profiles.
• Facilitate and support local government / schools to conduct early screening and detection processes to identify children with functional limitation and their referrals.
• Work closely with local governments and support the implementation of Teachers Professional Supports (TPS) strategies in schools.
• Collaborate with Municipalities and collect micro grant proposals from the schools, maintain records, and send to the provincial level Program Support Unit (PSU) for approval.
• Support implementation of micro- grants (SMC) awarded to schools, and supervise interventions under the technical guidance of the PSU technical team.
• Work with respective provincial teams to facilitate teacher training programs, workshops, and professional development sessions for teachers’ professional support.
• Support implementation of project activities as per the Annual Work Plan (AWP) and USAID guidelines.

System strengthening

• Work closely with the provincial PSU to plan and implement capacity building interventions for local governments to ensure effective EGL service delivery.
• Provide technical assistance to Local Government and Local Education Units to develop costed education plans, policies, and programs in line with the EGL objectives and priorities including the gender budget.
• In collaboration with the provincial technical lead, support SMC/PTA and parents to ensure effective engagement to improve the quality of learning.
• Collaborate with local government, P/ETC, PSU to organize MToT Teacher professional development interventions.
• Coordinate with the provincial technical team, plan and implement capacity development initiatives of the local government and the schools on IEMIS strengthening including EMIS- disability subsystem.

Monitoring and evaluation

• Contribute to the Activity’s AWP, quarterly reporting, monitoring and evaluation, success stories, and other reporting needs as requested.
• Coordinate regularly with local governments to ensure the Prioritized Minimum Enabling Conditions (PMEC) are met by schools.
• Support the collection of data on student performance, teacher effectiveness, teachers’ time-on task, maturity matrix, and other relevant indicators.
• Supports the Activity’s related assessments and studies (Baseline survey, and baseline, midline, and, end line assessments as needed.
• Work closely with provincial MEL M&E team member lead, to prepare and update all programmatic reports, data and supporting evidence on time as per the given templates and framework.
• Support in organizing monitoring visits including joint monitoring visits.

Communication and networking

• Engage and foster communities of practice among the LEU coordinators and share their learning.
• Establish regular communication with the local government, provincial level technical team following the given communication protocol.
• Represent USAID Early Grade Learning at local and other level in meetings,
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, development studies, gender and development and others social science with 5 years of experience in local level education project delivery.
• Experience working in programs related to inclusive education, early grade reading, democracy and governance in education, disability and inclusion, and capacity development etc.
• Extensive field experience in targeted districts.
• Prior experience working in communities with marginalized and disadvantaged groups and integrating crosscutting GESI strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships with government counterparts, local organizations, and other program and partners;
• Strong oral and written communication skills in Nepali and English.
• Basic knowledge and skills on digital literacy.
• Valid two- wheeler driving license preferable.

Languages: Strong command of Nepali, English (oral and written) and local language preferred/required.

Aasaman Nepal has zero tolerance of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. We expect all our employees/volunteers to ensure we are protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm and abide by our safeguarding policy.

Other Attributes for all positions: Excellent quality of work and commitment to high standards, strong communication skills, team building and willingness and motivated for good service delivery with strong networking and interpersonal skills and comfortable to work under stress and emergencies.

Age Limit: Candidates between 21 years to 55 years are only eligible to apply for the above position, depending upon the nature of job they will carry.

All employees must adhere to child safeguarding in person’s provisions covered in the project agreement.

Monitor staff and partners’ and ensure adherence to Aasaman Nepal’s policies and internal procedures, protocols, Aasaman Nepal’s code of Conduct with special attention to Safeguarding Standards and Procedure, Case Handling Framework, Child Protection and Do No Harm Policies. Also, immediate reporting and redress of any complaints and issues based on its severity.

Notes:

• Locals, especially women and members of ethnic or marginalized communities are encouraged to apply for this position.
• Applications received after the deadline will not be considered and only shortlisted candidates will be notified for the further process.
• Canvassing at any stage of the recruitment process shall lead to automatic disqualification of the candidate.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their application filled by downloading the link below along with an updated CV and Cover letter by 07/10/2024.

https://forms.gle/waiqSjcSNV78FNVEA

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for participation in the recruitment process. No telephone enquiry is entertained. ASN reserves the right to qualify/disqualify any applications without any reason.