Provincial Education Lead

Title: Provincial Education Lead

Functional Area: Program– Learn

Reports to Direct: Provincial Head

Matrix (dotted): Education Lead

Location: Janakpur, Madhesh Province

Travel required: Yes

Grade: D1

Type: Open to all applicants, Project-based employment until March 2026; based Madhesh Province

ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL NEPAL

Plan International is a development and humanitarian organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and achieving equality for girls. With a presence in over 75 countries, we work alongside children, young people, supporters, and partners to create a just world. Our work is guided by core values such as transparency, accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and the overarching ambition to empower girls and young women as part of our legacy.

Plan International has been operating in Nepal since 1978, earning a strong reputation as a trusted development and humanitarian actor. Over the years, we have worked in 23 districts across the country, helping marginalized children, their families, and communities access their rights to health, education, economic security, and protection.

Committed to feminist leadership and a gender-transformative approach, Plan International Nepal collaborates with local partners to ensure sustainable impact and foster equality, particularly for girls and young women.

Plan International Nepal strives for an inclusive, just, and safe society that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Our mission from 2023 to 2028 is to see All girls and young women standing strong enjoying their rights, and freedom with dignity in Nepal.

Plan International Nepal is looking for candidates who embrace feminist leadership, value diversity, and are driven to find innovative solutions to challenges. Ideal candidates should respectfully and boldly share their ideas, foster cross-department collaboration, practice active listening, uphold confidentiality, build trust, and demonstrate a strong passion for advancing children’s rights and promoting equality for girls.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Provincial Education Lead will serve as a province-level technical advisor to the Mahesh Provincial government to provide technical leadership, coordination, and strategic guidance to support effective implementation of education components of the Samartha Programme. The position holder will work closely with the Ministry of Education and Social Development (MoESD) and Education Development Directorate, Education Development and Coordination Units (EDCUs), other relevant line ministries, provincial authorities, local governments, schools, universities, private sector, and development partners to strengthen education governance, improve learning outcomes, and promote inclusive and equitable education services.

The Provincial Lead will ensure alignment of programme interventions with provincial and national priorities and promote innovative, evidence-based approaches tailored to local needs. This role requires a technically sound education professional with a deep understanding of Nepal’s education system and experience in education programme implementation, government collaboration, and systems strengthening. The Provincial Education Lead will work closely with the federal technical team, cluster staff, and provincial counterparts to provide evidence-based, inclusive, and sustainable education interventions.

Description
DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Technical Leadership and Strategic Implementation (60%)

• Provide technical support on the design, implementation, and adaptation of the programme’s education sector interventions in Madhesh Province, with a focus on foundational learning, inclusive education, and system strengthening aligned with national and provincial policies, plans and frameworks.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of local, provincial and federal education policies, reforms, and coordination mechanisms, ensuring programme strategies remain contextually appropriate and aligned with sectoral priorities.
• Provide necessary technical support to capacitate LGs in use of Education Management Information System (EMIS) in Local Education Plan (LEP), annual plans, policy and budgeting.
• Support the development and contextualisation of tools, resources, and implementation approaches that promote equitable and quality education, informed by local needs and national as well as international best practices in strengthening education systems.
• Support subnational stakeholders to uptake Samartha’s interventions such as out of school children mapping and retention, school improvement, scholarships, integrating inclusive disability education etc.
• Collaborate closely with thematic leads in health, GEDSI, governance, and Innovation, Evidence and Learning (IEL) to ensure cross-sectoral coherence, synergy and integration across Samartha’s interventions in Madhesh Province.
• Promote the application and monitoring of quality assurance mechanisms in teaching, learning, and school governance, contributing to measurable improvements in learning outcomes and institutional performance.
• Identify and address systemic barriers to access, equity and quality in promoting the inclusive quality education service delivery; support adaptive programming through the use of evidence and ongoing learning.
• Provide technical backstopping to education and cross-sectoral teams across clusters and local governments, in response to emerging priorities and operational needs.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring support to the local education experts of Samartha.
• Support the Provincial Education Training Center in conducting teacher’s training need assessment with special focus on GEDSI responsive education and provide required support for strengthening teacher’s support mechanism.
• Undertake any other technical assistance support as assigned to support the effective delivery of Samartha in Madhesh Province.

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement (15%)

• Maintain strategic, respectful and collaborative relationships with the MoESD, Education Development Directorate, EDCU, local governments, and other relevant provincial stakeholders to support alignment and joint ownership of education sector priorities in Madhesh Province.
• Represent the Samartha programme in provincial-level education forums, technical committees, working groups, and multi-stakeholder platforms, ensuring visibility, policy coherence and effective contribution to education sector coordination mechanisms.
• Facilitate communication and coordination between the Samartha technical team at national level, provincial and municipal education stakeholders to promote integrated planning, implementation, and adaptive learning processes.
• Support joint planning exercises, implementation reviews and structured learning dialogues with provincial and local government actors to strengthen education sector governance and institutional capacity for GEDSI responsive service delivery.
• Provide technical and advisory support to local governments, EDCU, Education Development Directorate in the preparation, revision and operationalisation of Provincial Education Master Plan and Local Education
• Plan (LEP), ensuring contextual appropriateness, inclusivity and alignment with national education priorities envisioned in School Education Sector Plan.
• Coordinate with other British Embassy Kathmandu funded programmes and with other development partner programmes.

Innovation, Evidence, and Learning (IEL) with Reporting (10%)

• Contribute to the generation, interpretation and utilisation of data and evidence to inform the design, delivery and continuous improvement of education interventions, with particular attention to equity, inclusion, learning outcomes and GEDSI responsive service delivery system performance.
• Work closely with the IEL team to track the progress of effectiveness, inclusiveness and responsiveness of education related activities and targets.
• Document lessons learned, innovative practices, implementation challenges and success factors to support internal reflection and learning, as well as sharing of knowledge products with proven evidence (as relevant).
• Contribute to the preparation of technical reports, policy briefs, case studies and other knowledge products related to education programming in Mahesh Province.

Capacity Strengthening and Systems Support (15%)

• Identify capacity gaps and systemic bottlenecks existing in the current social sector service delivery particularly in the education sector at subnational level.
• Coordinate closely with the EDCU, the Provincial Directorate of Education, Education Training Center and other relevant authorities to ensure that identified capacity-building needs of local governments are assessed and addressed in a strategic way.
• Sensitise and capacitate the education service providers at province/ cluster/ local level on how to effectively prioritise GEDSI concern on planning, budgeting and decision-making processes, thereby strengthening local ownership and accountability on service delivery.
• Plan and facilitate training sessions, learning sharing events, mentoring and on-the-job coaching on priority themes such as foundational learning, inclusive education, school leadership and data-informed planning.
• Support the development, contextualisation and dissemination of technical tools, operational guidelines and capacity-building modules that are responsive to the evolving needs of subnational education governance in Madhesh Province.

Other

• Carry out other related tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Ensures the full integration of Plan International’s global policies on Safeguarding Children, Program Participants, and Gender Equality and Inclusion (DEI) within their area of responsibility. This includes adherence to the policy principles, relevant Implementation Standards, and Guidelines. Key responsibilities involve ensuring that staff and associates are informed of and understand their obligations under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their specific roles, and that any concerns are promptly reported and managed in line with established procedures.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience with a Masters’ Degree or 7 years with Bachelors’ Degree Education, Educational Planning, Public Policy or any other related field.
• Must have working experience in education sector planning, budgeting and promoting inclusive education programme, including at least 3 years working experience in a senior technical or advisory role.
• Proven experience working with local, provincial and federal level government, particularly for implementation of education sector programme.
• Familiarity with Nepal’s education system, federal level education governance structure and education sector policies, plans and priority programmes.
• Experience with donor funded education programmes is preferred.
• Knowledge of basic MS Office including MS Outlook, MS Word and MS Excel.
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English and Nepali.

Skills (leadership/managerial if applicable)

• Strong understanding of education governance, foundational learning, inclusive and disability education and school-based planning.
• Excellent facilitation, coordination and communication skills.
• Proficiency in data use for education planning and decision-making.
• Fluency in Nepali and English is mandatory (both spoken and written); however, knowledge on local language such as Maithali or Bhojpuri will be an advantage.
• High integrity, diverse cultural sensitivity and commitment to promote inclusive education principles.

Behaviours

• Demonstrable professional maturity and able to work independently.
• Based in Madhesh Province with extensive travel to cluster areas and local governments.
• Candidates with a valid driving license is a distinct advantage.
• Strong personal commitment to gender equality, social inclusion and strengthening of public education systems through evidence-based approaches.
• Ability to work independently in complex and evolving political and institutional environments.
• Ability to apply good judgment and professionalism in the resolution of work-related problems.
• Willingness to work under pressure and adapt to changing contexts.
• Honest, encourages openness and transparency
• Efficient in meeting commitments and deadlines in achieving results.
• Ability to plan and organize work by identifying priority activities and adjusting priorities as required.
• Demonstrated approach to work that is characterized by commitment, motivation, energy and flexibility.
• Ability to relate to government authorities and other development/humanitarian actors and to build a rapport effectively.
• Commitment to Plan’s values including the rights and needs of children.

PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES

We are open and accountable

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organisation by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.

We strive for lasting impact

We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.

We work well together

We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organisation, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners.

We are inclusive and empowering

We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programmes and our workplace. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

This position is based in Janakpur, Madhesh Province, with frequent travel to project areas.

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

High level: Frequent interaction with children

“Say Yes ! To Keeping Children and Young people safe and Protected”

Application Deadline: Friday 25th July, 2025

Source: Kantipur Dainik, 12 July, 2025

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