Quality Learning Specialist

Volunteering Teaching & Training

Overview

Support implementation of quality education programs for foundational learning in Sierra Leone.

You have:

• Five years of professional experience in implementation of education programmes and management in education, with a focus on quality learning and teacher capacity building, preferably in a developing country context.
• Strong technical knowledge of teacher capacity development strategies, structured pedagogy, and the development of early grade foundational teaching and learning materials.
• Some experience and/or knowledge of digital learning, technology/innovative tools for teachers and trends in teacher professional development.
• Some experience and/or knowledge of socio-emotional learning in early grades.
• Practical experience supporting or coordinating development of teaching and learning materials (TLMs), in-service teacher training or teacher professional development programs.
• Ability to coordinate with multiple stakeholders, monitor implementation progress to drive programmatic achievements and positive results for children.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) aims to improve access to and quality of education for all children, with an emphasis on providing quality foundational learning for the most marginalized early grade learners. The Government and partners have focused on transferring basic literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills to children – the fundamental building blocks for all other learning, knowledge, and higher-order skills in order to transform the country’s education sector. The GoSL has prioritised investments in: a). foundational years to ensure that young children are prepared for future success in school and work, and b). strengthening systems to transform education by improving foundational learning out-comes across Sierra Leone.

To achieve this ambitious goal of transforming education across the country, the GoSL, with technical assistance from UNICEF, are implementing the “Delivering the Foundations of Learning for All” program. This 4-year program is financed by three grants from the Global Partnership for Education, the System Capacity Grant (US$ 2.6 million), the System Transformation Grant (US$ 22.5 million) and the Multiplier Grant (US$ 15 million). With technical assistance from UNICEF as the grant agent, the programme is implemented by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), including the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), across all 16 districts in Sierra Leone from 2023 to 2027.

Component 1 of the GPE program aims to improve the quality of and children’s access to pre-primary education, while Component 2 proposes key investments to strengthen the instructional core, teacher’ cadre, and system-wide capacity to improve foundational learning across Sierra Leone.

The UNV will support implementation of priority activities under these two components, including supporting the literacy teaching and learning materials (TLMs) development process, teacher capacity building, digital learning to support teachers and socio-emotional learning training modules development.

Under the guidance of the Chief Education and the general supervision of the Education Specialist (GPE Coordinator), the UN Volunteer will actively support the planning, implementation, monitoring and coordination of education projects, with a strong focus on strengthening the quality of learning.

The UN Volunteer will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Literacy TLM development support: • Coordinate writing workshops with the international literacy consultant and national writers, in-clouding logistics, materials, and budget preparation. • Liaise with the international consultant to provide on-site support for the writing process. • Monitor progress of the writing process to ensure timely completion. • Review draft materials for clarity, educator accessibility, and proofreading prior to external validation. • Develop TORs and manage engagement with a graphic design firm for TLM production.

2. Teacher capacity building (training and COP) implementation and monitoring: • Support planning, coordination, and delivery of national in-service teacher training for P0 and P3 and P4 literacy and numeracy. • Coordinate with the Ministry, district stakeholders, and FLN SQAOs to implement and monitor the Community of Practice (COP), including managing activity reports, following up with District Edu-cation Offices, and organizing district review meetings.

3. Digital learning to support teachers: • Collaborate with the Government, teacher training institutions (TTIs), partners, and consultant to conduct a needs assessment for teacher support through digital learning tools, including AI and digital content. • Develop and oversee implementation of a work plan to create digital resources that support teachers’ adoption of structured pedagogy.

4. Socio-emotional learning (SEL): • Facilitate technical consultations with MBSSE, MTHE, and partners on socio-emotional learning to support development of SEL modules for national teacher training. • Coordinate with partners to develop a work plan, recruit technical expertise as needed, and monitor progress on deliverables. • Prepare for implementation of SEL modules within the national teacher training program.

5. Documentation, reporting and knowledge management • Support preparation of technical briefs, presentations, success stories and lessons learned related to teacher capacity development, digital learning and SEL to inform UNICEF planning, partner coordination and donor engagement. • Support communication/advocacy on implementation progress, including maintaining activity trackers and drafting summary updates for UNICEF and partners. • Conduct programme monitoring and manage record of progress of the activities.

☒ Accountability. ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility. ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Judgement and Decision-making ☒ Knowledge Sharing Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Technological Awareness ☒ Working in Teams

• Five years of professional experience in implementation of education programmes, and management in education, with a focus on quality learning and teacher capacity building, preferably in developing country context. Experience in sub-Saharan Africa is an asset.
• Strong technical knowledge of teacher capacity development strategies, structured pedagogy, development of early grade foundational teaching and learning materials.
• Some experience and/or knowledge of digital learning, technology/innovative tools for teachers and trends in teacher professional development.
• Some experience and/or knowledge of socio-emotional learning in early grades.
• Practical experience supporting or coordinating development of teaching and learning materials (TLMs), in-service teacher training or teacher professional development programs.
• Ability to coordinate with multiple stakeholders, monitor implementation progress to drive programmatic achievements and positive results for children.

The UN Volunteer will be based at UNICEF’s Sierra Leone Country Office in Freetown with periodic travel to districts. Freetown is classified by the United Nations as Family duty station and living conditions are generally good.

The UN Volunteer will be responsible for covering the costs of their own accommodation and other related living expenses while based in Freetown. Travel costs incurred in the performance of official duties will be covered in accordance with UN standards. UNDSS clearance to ensure adherence to minimum safety standards is required and will be facilitated by the Office.

Freetown is the capital city of Sierra Leone, situated on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. Sierra Leone is generally safe, the security level is low, and the society is very religiously tolerant. Freetown is a family duty station. Floods and mudslides have been identified as the two main risks in the country in terms of emergency, in addition to epidemics including Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks (2014-2016), COVID-19 outbreaks and recent Mpox outbreak.

The cost of living for expatriates is generally fair or high, especially for imported items, and there are good supermarkets, restaurants and hotels available. There are good communication services, including mobile and internet services, available with a fair price. Local and regional banks deal in both local and foreign currencies. ATMs are available, and credit cards are accepted in some establishments. However, this is generally a cash economy.

Freetown has a tropical climate, with very high rainfall in the rainy season, Sierra Leone boasts the finest beaches in West Africa, within easy reach of Freetown, with excellent seafood, surfing and sunshine.

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Potential interview questions

Added 6 months ago - Updated 5 months ago - Source: unv.org