Project Director - Education For All South Sudan (EFASS)

Job Description

The IRC has been operating in South Sudan since 1989. Our programs have provided critical Health, Nutrition, Protection and Rule of Law, Child Protection, Education and Economic Wellbeing (EWB) services in eleven field sites, covering five of the ten states and one administrative area. With two offices in Northern Bahr el Ghazal- NBeG (Aweil East and South), five offices in Unity State (Bentiu, Koch, Mayendit, Ganyliel and Nyal), one in the Ruweng Administrative Area (Jamjang) covering operations in the Ajuong Thok and Pamir Refugee Camps and the host community, one office in Rumbek town covering the whole of Lakes, one office in Maban covering the refugee response and one field office in Central Equatoria (Juba)-urban programming together with the Country office.

Background and objectives of EFASS

FCDO funded Education For All South Sudan (EFASS) will directly support 350,000 girls and children with disabilities nationwide to access education through cash transfers, whilst investment in behaviour change, in-service teacher training, and catch-up classes will improve both access and learning for many more nationwide. Systems strengthening and incentivising greater ownership of, and investment in, the education sector by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan will help strengthen the social contract and build functioning education institutions to enable future development. Geographically targeted pilots, including an innovative health co-investment, will support life skills development, address additional barriers faced by children with disabilities, enable improved resilience (including to climate shocks), and support peacebuilding, including to help prevent drop-out. EFASS aims to build on the existing success of the multi-donor platform which was established under the Girls’ Education South Sudan Programme to continue current coordinated donor investment in shared sectoral priorities.

EFASS will target the following two outcomes:

• Children, especially girls and those living with disability, can safely access 12 years of quality education which equips them with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive.

• Quality is improved through increased investment (including as a result of increasing government budget allocation and execution) and strengthened national policy in areas critical to inclusion.

Scope of Work

The Project Director will coordinate across multiple partner organisations and IRC staff and be the primary representative of the project to all key stakeholders, government officials, and donors at coordination fora and other related meetings. The role holder will ensure that the project achieves the expected results and is implemented in accordance with the donor agreement, donor regulations, and internationally recognised quality of assistance standards. You will have the overall responsibility for the oversight and delivery of outputs and results of the projedct Oversee management of partners/subgrantees and provide financial and operations support that optimises resources through sound budgets, consistent financial tracking, and timely submission of reports to the donor. This will include overall technical, financial and operational management of the program. You will be supported by a team of dedicated full-time and part-time personnel as determined by the needs of the project. Other responsibilities will include supporting project staff by creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility

As the Project Director you will be the face of the project and expected to maintain strong relationships with FCDO and other networks in the sector as well as communicate effectively and distribute information about project achievements and lessons learned to a range of different audiences. You will bring exceptional experience, expertise and commitment to girls’ education and empowerment especially in South Sudan. The Project Director is expected to have extensive skills in complex project design and development, advocacy and networking with international and national institutions and development agencies which promote girls’ education and empowerment. Wider technical knowledge of gender programming including women and girls’ economic empowerment, gender and poverty-related barriers, gender-based violence, education and livelihoods will be essential.

Project Director Profile & Qualifications

• Advanced degree (or equivalent experience) in education, gender, public administration, or related field with at least 10 years working in international development in adolescent girls and empowerment.

• At least 10 years’ experience managing large-scale, multi-million-dollar, complex, multi-partner projects.

• Experience and ability to provide leadership, direction and in harnessing the multi-disciplinary skills of the technical personnel and consortium partners; Familiarity with the key issues related to girls’ education and empowerment including FCDO’s thinking and emerging priorities.

• Experience and ability to work with, and build effective partnerships between, a broad range of stakeholder groups including government, civil society, private sector, multi-laterals and other donors.

• Prior experience in operating effectively within complex and high-risk environments and managing the needs of multiple stakeholders.

• Prior experience in managing large FCDO contracts will be a bonus.

• Experience of coordinating and working with the government of South Sudan, particularly within the education sector will be an advantage.

• Experience working with children and adolescents and an ability to apply safeguarding, ethics, and ‘do no harm’ principles.

• Solid analytical, communication and writing skills, with the ability to articulate arguments and positions backed with evidence to promote causes and ideas.

• Will be expected to align to and assure project adherence to IRC’s internal policies, guidelines and ethics as well as FCDO’s code of conduct and compliance requirements.

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.

Please note that the JD is high level and indicative only at this stage and may be subject to change once the Terms of Reference for the programme is released and as the opportunity develops. This position will be contingent on the outcome of the bid.

Safety & Security Situation: All staff must comply with all IRC South Sudan by security policies and procedures.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Qualifications