Reporting to: Program Coordinator, Strengthening
Educational Systems in East Africa (SESEA), and with dotted reporting line to
In-Country Project Manager
Duration: 21 months (with possible extension)
Start Date: 4th April, 2016
Based in: Arua-West Nile Region of Uganda, Lindi-Southern
Tanzania and Mombasa-Coastal Region of Kenya
I. Background:
Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a private, non-denominational, development
agency promoting creative solutions to problems that impede social development.
AKF (East Africa) seeks sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty,
hunger, literacy and health, with a special emphasis on the needs of rural
communities in coastal and other resource-poor areas. AKF (EA) works in five
sectors including Health, Education, Early Childhood Development, Rural
Development and Civil Society enhancement. Over the last several years, AKF
(EA)’s programs have evolved and expanded in response to government policies,
beneficiary demand and assessment of needs. In order to optimize AKF (EA)’s
efficiency and effectiveness as a development actor in the region, it seeks to
support and improve innovations that create viable solutions to community
problems that impede development.
Are you interested in finding innovative ways to improve education
opportunities for children of East Africa? AKF is seeking dynamic, creative and
experienced Gender Support Officers (GSO) (three positions) to
take the lead as persons responsible for gender within the SESEA educational
project. SESEA is a five-year project co-funded by Global Affairs Canada and
the Aga Khan Foundation, Canada that aims to sustainably improve learning outcomes,
with a particular focus on literacy and numeracy, for pre-primary and primary
children in target areas of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The project aims to
leverage assets of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) institutions to achieve
broad, systematic, and distinctive impact on the quality of teaching in the
region in both public and private education systems. Specifically, the project
builds on the experience and gains made by various AKDN institutions working in
the education sector in East Africa, including Aga Khan University-Institute
for Educational Development, Aga Khan Academies, Aga Khan Education Services,
and Aga Khan Foundation.
The SESEA project is currently in its fourth quarter of its third year of
implementation, and is scheduled to end in December 2017. This position will
therefore be project-funded for a period of 21 months, and will be based at the
respective project sites in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
II. Job Objective:
Provide technical guidance to explicitly and systematically integrate gender
equality considerations (activities, outputs, and results) at all
stages of the project, including budgetary provisions where possible. The GSO
will ensure effective implementation of the SESEA Gender Equality Strategy by
AKDN SESEA implementing agencies and partners.
III. Responsibilities:
The GSO will be responsible for providing targeted expertise to ensure
gender is integrated into all aspects of SESEA project implementation. The GSO
will also strengthen the capacity of AKDN implementing agencies, to address
gender barriers and identify specific opportunities for improving and
mainstreaming gender equality through project activities. The GSO will work
with SESEA project teams and partners to support gender integration into
project activities, including monitoring and evaluation tools. The key
functions of the GSO will include:
- Coordinating gender mainstreaming
- Providing technical support to the project team
- Knowledge management and sharing
- Monitoring and reporting on gender issues
i. Coordinating gender mainstreaming:
- Set priorities, and develop and implement a clear
and comprehensive gender action plan to redress gender concerns within
respective SESEA implementing agencies. - Provide input and comments on development of
project/program plans, budgets, reports and agency policies, and make
recommendations for improvement. - Review, edit, and comment on gender achievements
contained in the agency monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual
progress reports as appropriate.
ii. Providing technical support to the project
team:
- Provide advice and support to project staff,
managers, and partners on the SESEA Gender Equality Strategy and
implementation of key gender components across all activities - Analyze and ensure interventions are sensitive
and responsive to gender issues in education, within respective project
locations. - Support the updating and sharing of recent
developments and knowledge tools in the areas of interventions. - Participate in program team meetings, campaigns,
and civil society forums and ensure gender topics are considered and
discussed.
iii. Knowledge management and sharing:
- Assist in data collection, compiling lessons
learned, and establishing indicators to support knowledge sharing. - Assist in the development of concept notes and
project documents on gender issues, as directed by the supervisor. - Participate in the gender-related community of
practice in the region. - Support the writing of stories related to program
and project developments, as they relate to gender equality issues. - Provide support to different partners/civil
society organizations in all SESEA project activities.
iv. Monitor and report on gender issues:
- Work with teams to review training resources, and
monitor and report on project-related gender issues. - Provide feedback to the project team to ensure
practical implementation of activities related to the SESEA Gender
Integration Guidelines and Gender Equality Strategy. - Guide development and/or review of M&E tools
– specifically the verification, indicators, and analyses matrix to
monitor implementation of gender mainstreaming. - Prepare timely and quality monthly, quarterly,
semi-annual, and annual reports to share with the Program Manager and SESEA
Program Coordinator at the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) PCU. - Perform any additional duties assigned by the
Program Manager or Program Coordinator, as required.
IV. Required Qualifications and Experience:
The GSOs should meet the following criteria in terms of qualifications,
technical competencies, and experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline,
particularly gender studies, education, or the social sciences. - Minimum of three (3) years’ of relevant
experience in gender mainstreaming into projects/programs. - Experience working with NGOs, government
agencies, and donor-funded projects. - Experience in conducting gender reviews, gender
integration, and implementing gender equality activities in international
development projects, particularly in the education sector. - Knowledge of and in experience of results-based
monitoring and evaluation, with particular attention to assessing gender
equality results. - Superb analytical, organizational, interpersonal,
negotiation, and problem-solving skills. - Proven ability to meet strict reporting deadlines
and produce results. - Excellent written and oral communication skills
in English. - Training in project planning, management, and
Monitoring and Evaluation is an added asset.
V. Other Competencies:
- Ability to multi-task, work independently, take
initiative, and manage a variety of activities simultaneously. - Flexible, innovative, and dynamic team player
with strong facilitation and coordination skills. - Willingness to travel to project locations within
the respective project implementation sites. - Experience in the East African development
context is an asset. - Experience with Global Affairs, Canada and other
bilateral donors is an asset. - Language proficiency in Swahili (Kenya and
Tanzania) and one local language in West Nile Region (Uganda) is strongly
recommended.
VI. How to Apply:
Interested applicants are requested to submit their application with CV
including desired project location, Cover letter explaining why they are best
suited for the position and names and contact information of three referees by 7th
February, 2016 to the Human Resource Officer, Aga Khan
Foundation (East Africa) by e-mail to: recruitment@akfea.org.
