Education Officer

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview:

IRC is seeking an Education Officer for a five – year Project, “Play Matters”, funded by the LEGO Foundation. The Education officer will be a part of the larger Play Matters initiative to increase play-based learning opportunities for nearly 1 million pre-primary and primary school aged refugee and host community children impacted by the humanitarian crises in East Africa and living in Ethiopia and Uganda. This project aims to build children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and creative skills through play in their homes, schools, and communities and will be implemented in partnership with War Child, Plan International, Ubongo, Behavioral Insights Team and Innovations for Poverty Action.

The Education officer will be responsible for ensuring that Play Matters consortium and IRC staff identify, engage, and influence key education stakeholders in Ethiopia responsible for and engaged in promoting learning outcomes for refugee and local children ages 3 to 12. This includes collaboration with government, UN and other humanitarian coordination decision makers, education implementing partners, and large-scale development initiatives to improve learning through play.

The Education officer will be Managed by the Play Matters Education Manager at the field office level, with additional technical oversight from the country level Play Matters project team; Work closely with the camp-based education officers from RRS, SCI, WEO specialists/Experts and other implementing partners to integrate Learning through Play (LtP) into existing preschool, primary school, Accelerated Learning Programs (ALP) and child friendly space activities targeting children in refugee and Surrounding host community.

Major responsibilities:

• Assessment of TLM needs and capacity gaps: assist in mapping of existing teaching and learning materials being used in the refugee and host community schools/ learning institutions and identify playful activities at community level against a framework to identify areas of integration, adaptation, and development of contents relevant to the context. Conduct training/capacity building need assessment to support teachers to implement LtP strategies and practices. Assist in the development/adaptation of assessment tools and producing detailed assessment reports.

• Training delivery: Support the delivery of trainings to preschool and primary school teachers, target parents and community leaders in collaboration with teacher education colleges and education staff, other education partners and key government counter parts using a cascade model.

• Content development and cocreation: Support in the development of samples and templates of content for teachers, parents, and children on LtP. Update key messages and communications materials on play-based learning to reflect the Ethiopian context targeting refugees and host communities. Engage with field level coordination leads, implementing partners, teachers, parents, community leaders and children through structured co-creation processes.

• Learning through Play implementation: Support and oversee the implementation of Learning through Play activities in refugee and host community schools and facilitate exchange of learning, reflections and experience sharing sessions.

• Technical support and coaching: Provide technical support through regular mentoring and coaching of ECCD facilitators and primary school teachers, parents, and communities on the use of Learning through Play through closely working with education officers and assistants, cluster supervisors and school directors and community key leaders.

• Documentation and reporting: Supervise project implementation, track progress and achievements and produce quality reports accurately and on a timely basis. Work closely with the RMEAL Officer to put in place mechanisms and processes for regular review of project data and learning.

• Collaboration: Work with the education manager to ensure the type of engagement in design and implementation necessary to achieve joint priorities and objectives of providing play-based learning opportunities for all children.

• Execute and carry out additional assignments as per the request of supervisors and managers.

Safeguarding Responsibilities: -

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.