Project description.
The Regional Teacher Initiative for Africa (RTIA), a programme funded by the EU/EC via the Education section (G3) of DG INTPA aims to improve learning outcomes and the socio-emotional development of children in Africa, by having a more competent, motivated and inclusive teacher workforce in basic education.
The RTIA will especially seek to achieve the following outcomes over the next 6 years:
- Improve the governance, management, attractiveness, and gender balance of the teaching profession, with a strong focus on increased digitalisation and innovation.
- Enhance the quality, relevance, and effectiveness of initial and continuous teacher professional development, notably through digital education, peer-to-peer learning approaches and regional collaboration.
Within RTIA, the Regional Facility for Teachers in Africa (RFTA) will support teacher policy and improve teacher education and professional development systems by i) providing capacity building at country level through technical assistance, ii) promoting innovation and scaling of effective teaching solutions; iii) increasing the production and use of data and evidence, and iv) promoting the use of regional frameworks, evidence-based practices, and joint learning at regional level.
The Regional Facility for Teachers in Africa (RFTA) will reach the above-mentioned objectives through 3 types of instruments or “windows”:
- one window to deliver technical assistance on teacher governance and teacher education and professional development based on the demand from eligible partner countries ,
- one window on testing and scaling effective programs for teacher education and professional development in the thematic areas of digital skills, gender, green skills, and pedagogical skills, including in the context of refugees and displaced populations,
- a research window to create new evidence and support the integration of evidence in the policy making process and in the design of teacher education and professional development programs.
In addition to these windows the Facility’s knowledge management and communication activities will further contribute to the sharing of knowledge, evidence, and best practices related to the overall Initiative outcomes.
The Facility will be funded by the European Union and be co-implemented by the Partnership formed by 3 member state agencies: Expertise France for France, Enabel for Belgium, EDUFI for Finland. Expertise France has been designated the Coordinating Agency for this Partnership. With the Facility governance scheme serving as the Initiative’s governance scheme, it is expected that the Partnership will work closely with UNESCO and UAC, in charge of the other 2 components of the EU Initiative.
The duration of the action is scheduled from 01.02.2024 to 31.01.2027 (36 months) with a budget of 46.000.000 EUR.
Assignment description.
Based in Expertise France coordination office in Paris, with regular travels to MS coordination offices in Europe and Africa, the Programme Coordinator will lead the overall management, planning, and implementation of EF-managed activities in an efficient and effective manner.
Collaborating closely with Program Teams in each MS agency for alignment and consistency, the Programme Coordinator will oversee the day-to-day operations of the EF Program Unit. This team, consisting of 5 members, is responsible for planning, implementing, and monitoring activities related to Window 1 (Technical assistance) and Window 2 (Grant scheme to support teacher in crisis context) of the Facility. Some team members are based in Paris, while others operate from Addis Ababa.
Responsible for the programmatic coordination of EF activities, the Programme Coordinator will actively participate in key governance bodies overseeing the Initiative’s implementation progress, including the Initiative Steering Committee (ISC), the Technical Coordination Committee (TCC), and the Partnership Meeting (PM). He/she will assume the responsibilities of the Facility Team Leader during his/her absence, taking on the role as the acting Team Leader to ensure the continuity and seamless execution of tasks, decision-making, and team management in accordance with established protocols and objectives.
Reporting to the Facility Team Leader at the RFTA coordination office in Paris, the Programme Coordinator is assigned the following primary responsibilities:
Responsibility 1: Operational management of EF activities
- Support the overall management, planning, and implementation of EF-managed activities (Windows 1 and 2) according to donor contract.
- Lead the development and revision of EF work plan, and annual performance plan whilst ensuring consistency between budget planning and operational planning. Identify any discrepancies and propose and implement necessary adjustments.
- Organize and lead consultation/coordination meetings between the EF team and MS agencies, facilitating effective activity planning and implementation.
- Actively participate in the identification of project needs, define terms of reference, and contribute to the recruitment of experts essential for meeting project requirements, in close collaboration with the Senior Education Advisor.
- Provide operational leadership, closely monitor activity implementation, and take corrective actions in case of difficulties, risks, and contextual factors affecting project activities.
- Oversee the effective implementation of workflows, key processes, and required forms (templates, TORs, activity reports, etc.) to manage Technical Assistance (TA) and Grant-making activities within EF and across MS agencies.
- Supervise and manage the grant scheme under Window 2, overseeing partners and subgrantees, whilst ensuring compliance with reporting requirements and providing detailed oversight of programmatic aspects.
- Ensure close coordination with the EF Support Services Unit for the administrative, financial, and logistical organization of activities, including field expert missions and grant-making.
- Contribute to budget monitoring in collaboration with the Administrative and Financial team, ensuring compliance with EU and Expertise France procedures.
- Ensure all programming, financial and administrative matters related to EF activities comply with donor and EF policies and procedures and are transparently, expediently, and effectively managed in line with established processes, rules and regulations.
Responsibility 2: Program Unit Leadership and Coordination
- Lead, manage, and supervise EF Program Unit team in Paris and Addis Ababa and evaluate their performance, whilst maintaining strong functional link with MS agencies’ operational teams
- Facilitate EF Program Unit coordination mechanisms through regular and ad hoc meetings.
- Sustain ongoing coordination with Program Teams in each MS agency, ensuring alignment of the work plan and annual performance plan while maintaining consistency between budget planning and operational planning.
- Participate in the ISC (Initiative Steering Committee), the TCC (Technical coordination Committee), Partnership and the FIT (Facility Implementation Team) meetings.
- Assume the role of the acting Team Leader in the absence of the Facility Team Leader to ensure the uninterrupted execution of tasks, decision-making, and team management in line with established protocols and objectives.
Responsibility 3: Reporting, Knowledge Management and MEAL
- Contribute to the preparation of interim and final activity reports (narrative and financial) in accordance with deadlines and contractual terms.
- Participate in the development and implementation of the methodological framework and analytical tools to monitor and measure results across the project, in cooperation with the MEAL Coordinator
- Support data collection and analysis across the project
- Contribute to the development and consolidation of key project documents and deliverables.
- Support any necessary monitoring, learning or evaluation exercise conducted by Expertise France (or by a body engaged by Expertise France) or the donor.
Responsibility 4: Communication and Visibility
- Contribute to the implementation of the operational communication strategy and 3-year action plan of the Facility, in close link with INTPA 02
- Participate actively in communication, visibility, and knowledge management events.
- Promote visibility and best practices of EF activities in collaboration with MS agencies
The described tasks involve the necessity to network and interact with a multiplicity of institutions from EU and Sub-Saharan countries and require readiness and ability to travel abroad when necessary.
Expériences / Formation
Required Skills :
- Relevant university degree related to programme management in international cooperation and development sector (e.g., political or social sciences, international cooperation, project management, or any other relevant field).
- Good command of EU grant management procedures and Expertise France’s project management tools and processes.
- Proven experience in engaging institutional relations with national authorities and donors. Capacity to advocate, liaise and coordinate with various actors. Demonstrated ability to coordinate networks of public and/or private stakeholders.
- Excellent project planning, organisational, interpersonal and communication skills.
- Strong analytical skills, excellent leadership competences, strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Full command of standard computer applications (Microsoft Office)
- Fluent French and English spoken and written skills are essential. Other languages desired: Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic.
Required Experience :
- A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience in development project design, implementation, coordination and/or management in complex environments, especially projects funded by the European Union (EU). Experience managing large complex projects (> 10M€) is an asset.
- Previous experience working on education projects or programmes design or implementation. Working knowledge of education and teacher education systems and stakeholders in Sub-Sahara Africa is an asset.
- Previous experience as project manager or a deputy team leader of projects providing policy advice and capacity building to public institutions (eg. technical assistance, peer-to peer exchanges among civil servants, etc.), involving logistical arrangements (organisation of missions, meetings, workshops, training sessions) and the use of IT tools is an asset.
- At least 3 years’ experience in developing or implementing MEAL systems.
- Ability to successfully manage and develop staff, especially remotely, as demonstrated by experience.
- Ability to manage partners, sub-contracts and grant programs with all required reporting requirements.
- Experience in working and coordinating with international and national partners, government, and donor agencies.
- Working experience with the promotion of inclusivity of vulnerable groups, in the broad sense of the word.
- Work experience in a multi-lingual/international environment and ability to accommodate cultural differences to interact effectively with people of different cultures.
Salaire
The contract period is for 36 months starting as soon as possible (extendable to 72 months after signature of the costed extension of the MPCA for the second phase of the Initiative). We offer an EF contract with a competitive salary and benefit package which includes comprehensive insurance cover, social security, pension contribution, holiday allowance, 13th month, etc.
Comment postuler
Documents to be provided :
- A CV
- A cover letter
- Three business references including email and telephone contacts.
Cliquez ici pour postuler
www.expertisefrance.fr/en/on-recrute?redirected=2#page-cv/upload/vacancy/10616