Save the Children Alliance
Save the Children has a long history of engagement in Somalia and in Somaliland stretching as far back as 1954. In more recent times (since 1992) Save the Children UK has maintained an operational office in Hiran Region in what is now called the Central South Zone of Somalia and since 2000, both Save the Children Denmark and UK have been working in what is now the self proclaimed republic of Somaliland. In response to the Tsunami that hit the coast of Puntland in 2004 Save the Children UK established an office in Puntland State and continues to undertake programmes from this office while Save the Children Denmark in Puntland works through partners. In the past two years Save the Children Finland has been supporting both Save the Children Denmark and UK with funding.
Closing date: 13 Nov 2009 -- (CLOSED)
Location: Kenya
JOB PURPOSE
The thematic coordinator is responsible for partnership and quality programming activities of education and child protection themes of the country programme. This includes program development, monitoring, documentation and utilisation of learning; provision of specialist support and guidance in the area of child rights programming, effective programming and partnership development to managers and staff responsible for planning and implementation of educational and child protection programs in Somalia/Somaliland. The thematic coordinator is also responsible for promoting SC’s work though the coordination structures established in Nairobi in education and protection and for building personal relationships with technical counterparts within the donor community and to identify areas of potential funding to support and expand SC’s work.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Together with project managers design project proposals based on Save the Children’s effective and child rights based (CRB) programming principles and approaches
- Support project managers to develop and apply effective CRB monitoring systems and tools
- Ensure that project progresses, results and outcomes are periodically monitored and lessons gained through this exercises are integrated into the ongoing and future implementation of projects
- Build capacity of project staff in the area of project cycle management and key programming approaches such as child rights programming etc.
- Play a key role in the process of reviewing and implementing Save the Children (SC) partnership strategy through providing technical support to regional managers. This includes supporting regional programs in promoting partnership approaches aimed at building local capacities to implement programs guided by broader/stronger vision and goals for children.
- Ensure that SC minimum standards related to education and child protection projects are met according to SC and donors’ requirements
- Liaise with technical support departments and individual advisers in the headquarters of the SC Alliance members of the Unified Presence and respond to requests for information to support global objectives and targets.
- Follow up and ensure reporting requirements/deadlines with project managers or regional managers
- Review quality of project reports received from program/regional managers before they are submitted to donors
- In coordination with program managers facilitate studies, assessments, reviews and evaluations through development of terms of references and ensure quality of such works in the field and reporting of the same.
- Represent Save the Children in various fora related to the sector
- Develop personal contacts of technical staff within the donor community and secure additional funding for SC’s work.
- Organise periodic program review meetings/sessions with SC partners in Nairobi
PERSON SPECIFICATION
- Degree in education, development, social studies or related fields
- Substantial (at least four) field level experience in participatory project development and management, participatory M&E system and in conducting of research, evaluations, and impact assessments in the areas of education and child protection
- Innovative, self starter and result oriented professional quick at learning new skills, successful at self and team management
- Knowledge and experience of project cycle management and designing/applying participatory M&E system
- Ability to translate planning, monitoring, evaluation, impact assessment and research concepts into practical tools and methods that can be used by field teams
- Substantial hands on experience and ability to facilitate and to write technical reports, proposals, reviews, project documents, repackaging documents, and to communicate effectively the status, achievements, challenges, needs and plans of staff, projects and stakeholders
- A clear understanding and experience of working in issues of diversity.
- Proven representation and lobbying skills and the ability to secure funding from donors
- Proven track record as a trainer/facilitator
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including excellent command of spoken and written English.
- Willing and able to travel at least 50% of the time to Somalia/Somaliland to support field teams
- Commitment to SC’s mission, values and approaches (includes child focus, equal opportunities) and in depth knowledge of Child Rights Convention and with experience in Child Rights Based rights based programming
- Strong planning and organisational skills including the ability to strategically prioritise and meet deadlines.
- Strong computer skills.
Reference Code: RW_7XBCA4-37
