Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity, with a focus on vulnerable and under-served populations.  Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

EDC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Project Description

The goal of the five-year, USAID-funded Integrated Child and Youth Development (ICYD) Activity is for Ugandan children and youth, especially the most vulnerable, to receive the support and services necessary to lead resilient, healthy, and productive lives. The ICYD Activity is expected to achieve the following:

1. Children and youth have improved learning outcomes
2. Children and youth are safe and healthy in their community and learning environments
3. Youth practice positive behaviors and are able to make informed decisions about their lives and relationships

Working in partnership with MOES and MGLSD, district and zonal officials, and other Ugandan government and civil society partners, ICYD will comprise a series of activities to: support improved basic education for Ugandan children; address school-related and gender-based violence; facilitate enhanced child protection and support for vulnerable youth; provide support to HIV-affected orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and their caregivers/families; and support HIV care and treatment outcomes in close collaboration with clinical and community structures. ICYD will also contribute to improved systems within the MOES and MGLSD to promote EGR and child protection.

The District Community Engagement Supervisors will supervise Community Mobilization Assistants in their delivery, monitoring and documentation of community engagement activities around reading, school retention, school-related gender-based violence, and child protection. The District Community Engagement Supervisors will coordinate with local government (District, City and Municipality) staff, education and Community Development staff, and partners on Local Reading Support Plan (LRSP) and Early Warning System (EWS) activities linked to participating primary schools. Working through the CMAs, they will be responsible for working with and through schools and community structures to implement quality interventions to achieve the intended results of the ICYD Activity. Community support activities for reading will dovetail with efforts to improve retention and school safety.

As a member of the ICYD Activity team at the zonal level:

• Contribute to ICYD’s Task 1 (early grade reading) by supporting community development of Local Reading Support Plans (LRSPs)
• Contribute to ICYD’s Task 2 (SRGBV) focusing on addressing primary school retention and child protection through a combination of family, community and school- based interventions that address known drivers of school dropout, including early warning systems and other protection and violence prevention activities
• Support School Management Committees (SMCs), Parents Teachers Associations  (PTAs) and other community organizations to develop plans and strategies to address barriers to enrollment and retention; identify and recruit age-appropriate children; monitor attendance; and address school related gender based violence (SRGBV) at the school level
• Contribute community mobilization plans and strategies to an integrated zonal level project work plan
• Conduct timely and quality planning, implementation and monitoring of all project activities related to community mobilization at the zonal level. Plans will be based on activities and interventions developed by ICYD technical teams  scheduled for coordinated roll out in the ICYD zones
• Review progress against the work plan on monthly, quarterly basis with zonal project teams, local government officials and Community Engagement Manager
• Contribute to the capacity building and training of a team of up to XXX Community Mobilization Assistants
• Prepare written reports on project activities and results on a monthly and quarterly basis
• Conduct these and other tasks as required in support of ICYD Activity goals

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in community mobilization and development related to provision of quality education and or child protection, preferably including social behavior change activities
• Experience in implementing community awareness-raising/sensitization and advocacy activities for education and child/youth wellbeing outcomes
• Proven experience working with gender-based violence (GBV), child protection, and/or violence prevention programming
• Knowledge of local government community structures and structures for working with same
• Experience conducting community asset mapping and/or stakeholder analysis Experience conducting training for communities and other stakeholders
• Proven ability to coordinate and manage teams and to effectively mentor in one or more project topics;
• Understanding of the Ugandan education context
• Actively participate in Collaborative, Learning and Adapting (CLA) processes in place within the project
• Ability to verbally communicate in an engaging manner and write clearly and concisely
• Ability to build effective relationships with all clients, peers, and stakeholders
• Must be able to work within a cross cultural setting, negotiate diplomatically, and function well under pressure
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple projects to completion
• Knowledge of/experience with USAID or other donor-funded projects preferred

Language:

• Fluency in English is required
• Knowledge of Ugandan local languages is an additional advantage