Education/Reading Technical Advisor

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC delivers education programs in 22 conflict-affected or post-conflict countries around the world.  The IRC’s educational interventions strive to help children and youth gain valuable skills and knowledge that will increase their opportunities and life chances, and contribute to their well-being and livelihood. The IRC supports formal and non-formal learning activities that lead to tangible learning outcomes and promotes the protection and psychosocial well-being of conflict-affected children and youth.

SCOPE
The Education/Reading Technical Advisor (TA) will be responsible for ensuring that IRC education projects implemented in Pakistan and Afghanistan have the technical support needed to meet the desired projects’ outcomes which include: increased access to safe learning environments, improved reading instruction and reading assessment, improved math instruction and assessment, as well as improved instructional and classroom practices that promote children’s social and emotional well-being.   The TA will be based Globally with frequent travel to Kabul, Afghanistan and work under the Child and Youth Protection and Development Technical Unit based at HQ (New York City). S/he will identify, marshal, coordinate, and directly provide the appropriate and quality technical assistance needed to ensure the overall quality of the technical design and implementation of these projects.  The TA will also work closely with in country Senior Staff to monitor and ensure the overall quality of the technical approach and its implementation across projects. 

Eighty percent of the TAs time will be focused on two large projects.  In Pakistan, the largest project IRC is implementing is a five-year, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project (Pakistan Reading Program, PRP) to support Pakistani-led efforts to introduce and institutionalize improvements in reading instruction and reading assessment in grades one through five in public and private schools throughout Pakistan for 2.5 million children.  The Education TA will be based Globally and spending 40% of their time on this project.  The IRC is also implementing a four year, CIDA funded project (BEACON) to similarly support improved reading and math instruction in X number of community based schools.  The TA will be spending 40% of their time on this project. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Assess technical assistance needs and identify the appropriate IRC or external consultant/service contract agency for the provision of assistance.  Coordinate and ensure overall quality of a comprehensive technical assistance package that helps senior technical staff achieve desired project outcomes. Help the DCOPs and Deputy Director of Programs (DDPs) to troubleshoot complex problems related to the projects’ technical approach or technical deliverables and coordinate HQ technical, regional and support resources that can contribute to the solutionEnsure that the Pakistan/Afghanistan projects benefits from lessons learned, promising practices, and resources developed globally in similar education programs as well as ensuring that IRC captures and applies globally what is learned and developed within the PRP, Beacon and other country level projects. Help senior technical staff in country develop and implement a strategy to create relevant technical tools, resources, and curriculum that increase reading skills, math skills, and/or social and emotional skills.  Contribute to the development of a country level and global research and learning agenda for reading and work with project staff to learn about some of the new and innovative approaches being implemented in improving students’ reading, math and well-being. Support the DCOPs and DDPs to put into place monitoring and quality oversight systems at field and HQ levels to ensure projects are meeting project technical deliverables and the projects’ desired outcomes and that short-term and long-term technical activities are on track.Work with senior project staff to help project staff analyze and reflect on monitoring and evaluation data to continually inform and refine the overall project design.For the Pakistan PRP, work with the Senior Project Officer based at HQ to ensure the distribution of information about project achievements, lessons learned, and resources developed across IRC technical units, particularly across IRC’s global education programs;Assist the DCOP and DDPs to identify and recruit project staff as needed and to identify human resources to fill short term gapsSupport cross border coordination (Afghanistan/Pakistan) on a Dutch funded program to promote peace building skills in schoolsSupport senior country staff with identification of and communication with key donors and collaborate to secure funding for education programs.  Assist country programs to respond to funding opportunities from public and private donors. 50%  travel to Afghanistan required

REQUIREMENTS

Master’s degree or PhD in Education or related field.  At least five years of experience managing and/or advising on education programs in conflict or post-conflict contexts.Strong knowledge of policy issues and technical experience in areas of primary reading education and teacher training preferred.Experience in the development of curriculum and teacher training materials preferred, particularly in areas related to reading instruction.Strong knowledge and experience with education research and evaluations preferredExperience in and strong knowledge of  Pakistan and/or Afghanistan preferredExperience with large USAID cooperative agreements.Excellent communication skills, cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, team player.Fluency in  spoken and written English requiredIRC leading the way from harm to home. 

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

   

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