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IMPORTANT: All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the country where the position is located. Room to Read is not able to provide sponsorship.

Scope of Work

Foundational Literacy Technical Consultant

Room to Read – Rwanda Country Office

Overview

The Foundational Literacy Technical Consultant will provide strategic and technical leadership for Room to Read’s lower primary literacy programming in Rwanda. Working closely with the Country Director and Associate Director, Literacy Program, the consultant will guide the design, implementation, and quality assurance of interventions that strengthen research-based literacy instruction, teacher professional development, library management, and the production and use of engaging reading materials.

The consultant will collaborate with the Government of Rwanda (GoR), Room to Read’s Global Office Literacy team, creative and publishing partners, and other stakeholders to advance foundational literacy outcomes. The Foundational Literacy Technical Consultant is a member of the Country Management Team and reports to the Rwanda Country Lead.

Key Deliverables

Technical Leadership & Program Support

• Support recruitment of consultants and service providers for the literacy program, including developing terms of reference.

• Support the engagement and management of implementing partners delivering teacher and school leader training.

• Participate as a member of the country management team, contributing to strategic planning and program oversight.

• Develop and review annual and quarterly budgets for the Rwanda literacy program.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Identify and collaborate with similar education NGOs for learning, alignment, and knowledge sharing.

• Engage key public and private stakeholders—including REB, MINEDUC, Kigali Public Library, publishers, publishers’ associations, and development partners—to support effective implementation.

• Strengthen the capacity of creatives and publishers and support the co-creation of fun, high-quality children’s stories.

Quality Reading Materials

• Review Kinyarwanda decodable readers prior to mass printing to ensure pedagogical quality and alignment with literacy standards.

• Lead and coordinate development, validation, and printing of training materials (facilitator guides and trainee handbooks) for decodables use, library management, and reading activities.

Teacher Professional Development

• Lead and coordinate the piloting and nationwide roll-out of training on decodable use, library management, and fun and engaging reading activities with children using books from the library.

• Support school-level initiation and establishment of reading clubs and reading competitions.

National Literacy Frameworks & Systems Strengthening

• Lead and coordinate the development of the national book policy.

• Lead and coordinate the development and validation of the national textbook strategy and the national storybook guidelines.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, Literacy Education, or a closely related field, with strong technical grounding in early grade literacy.

• Minimum of 8 years of technical experience in the Rwanda education sector, including literacy instruction, teacher support, and/or curriculum development.

• At least 3 years of proven management and leadership experience, including supervision of professional staff, quality assurance of deliverables, and program oversight.

• Demonstrated expertise in literacy teaching, learning, and assessment, with experience designing or overseeing large-scale teacher professional development for literacy.

• Strong knowledge of the Rwanda education system, including curriculum, language policies, foundational literacy priorities, and stakeholder structures (REB, MINEDUC, etc.).

• Excellent communication and facilitation skills in English and Kinyarwanda, with the ability to conduct trainings, lead technical workshops, and engage government and partners effectively.

Duration of Assignment

The consultancy will follow a monthly level-of-effort (LOE) structure, with deliverables agreed upon for each period. The assignment will start on January 1, 2026 and end on June 30, 2026, with the possibility of an extension.

Level of Effort (LOE)

The Consultant is expected to provide services on a monthly level-of-effort (LOE) basis. The specific number of days or hours required each month will be agreed upon in advance with Room to Read based on planned activities and deliverables. Payment will correspond to the actual LOE completed and verified for each month.

Payment Schedule

Payment will be made once monthly upon receipt and verification of the Consultant’s timesheet and invoice.

Child Protection Principles

• Room to Read is committed to the education and welfare of children and protecting them from abuse and exploitation
• Room to Read has zero tolerance for child abuse and exploitation.
• All children have the right to be free from abuse and exploitation, including neglect, maltreatment, and physical, mental or sexual violence, injury or abuse.
• All children should be treated with respect and dignity.
• The well-being of the child is Room to Read’s first priority when dealing with all identified or suspected cases of child abuse.
• Room to Read shall integrate child protection into all its organizational strategies, structures and work practices.

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Principles

• Room to Read Representatives must create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.
• Room to Read has zero tolerance for adult sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Sexual exploitation and abuse are serious violations of fundamental human rights and will not be accepted or tolerated.
• All adults should be treated with respect and dignity.
• Room to Read implements a survivor-centered approach, putting the survivor’s rights and dignity at the forefront.
• Survivors referred to available professional assistance (e.g. mental health counselling), upon consent.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.

Read is a child-safe organization; all personnel must adhere to Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy, Child Protection Code of Conduct and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy.

About Room to Read: 

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow – creating lasting change. Through our Literacy Portfolio, we train and coach teachers of the early grades in literacy instruction; create and publish quality books and curricular materials in local languages; and establish children’s libraries filled with diverse children’s books that can be enjoyed at school and home. Our Gender Equality Portfolio supports adolescents, particularly girls, in developing life skills that promote gender equality, helping them to pursue lifelong learning and make informed decisions.

We support young people of all genders to overcome gender biases and build the knowledge and skills to create a gender-equal world. Room to Read collaborates with local communities, partner organizations, publishers, and governments to test and implement innovative models that can be integrated into the education system to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. To date, Room to Read has benefited more than 50 million children in 28 countries.

Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.