Community Mobilization and Learning Continuity Lead(CMLC)

The Opportunity

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Nepal and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and future we share. Save the Children expects that anyone associated with it abides by its Safeguarding and other Zero Tolerance Policies. 

The objective of the USAID Early Grade Learning (EGL) activity is to strengthen the capacity of federal, provincial, and municipal governments to improve learning outcomes in Grades 1-3. Specifically, EGL aims to (1) build federal, provincial, and local level capacity for delivering EGL services, (2) improve local governments’ ability to provide teacher professional support, coaching, mentorship, and supervision, and (3) support local level governments in improving access to and quality of education services in early grades. 

The Position Holder will technically lead on mobilization of community, parental, and familial support for the acquisition of Early Grade Learning by students enrolled in the early grades of primary school. The position holder will design and utilize easy-to-use training materials for communities to better understand and support early-grade learning activities. S/he will gather the evidence from USAID on early grade reading, Reading for All and pre-primary programs, and previous USAID programs and utilize them. The position holder will technically lead the development and implement cost-effective strategies to engage parents/guardians and communities in supporting Early Grade Learning.

The position holder will be self-accountable for making decisions, leading technically on the mobilization of community, parental and familial support for the Early Grade Learning interventions; and achieving and role modelling Save the Children and USAID/EGL project’s values and principles.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the position holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead in the development and implementation of cost-effective strategies for community mobilization and learning continuity to engage parents/guardians and communities in supporting Early Grade Learning 
• Lead in the adaption and development of community-based and home-based learning materials, resources such as “homeschooling ”, and school at home for children with disability, radio-based learning, based on different contexts and regions and local needs etc.
• Lead technically in designing training, orientation materials for communities to better understand and support Early Grade Learning activities
• Provide oversight in the  development of messages, materials, and resources  in regional languages (Maithali and Awadhi) for the difficult-to-reach communities and provide adapted support based on students' needs.
• Lead on gathering proven practices, innovations, models nationally and internationally to engage parents/guardians and communities in supporting Early Grade Learning and utilizing these while developing the community engagement strategies.
• Lead on generate evidence gathered from USAID on early grade reading, R4A, and pre-primary programs, and previous USAID programs to develop and implement cost-effective strategies to engage parents/guardians and communities in supporting Early Grade Reading and Learning efforts in their respective province and local level.
• Lead on development of guidelines and plan and provide leadership in ensuring integration and cross sectoral linkages between EGL during disaster and shocks.
• Develop guidelines and plan for the development/revision of local level costed education policies and plans with incorporation of equitable, inclusive, quality, and resilience education for school education.
• Lead on coordination with Nepal Education Cluster at the federal level and on developing guidelines on supporting provincial and Local government and schools on the development or revision of the DPRP and preparedness and response education plans and incorporate  scenario planning to account for the times of crisis.
• Ensure compliance of the project during various phases of implementation as guided by USAID policies and Save the Children policies.
• Lead in the development of high-quality program plans and progress reports in collaboration with project team.
• Coordinate with the Senior PDQ advisor, PDQ team, and Education Technical Manager of Field Offices for technical support, as required. 

People Management:

• Provide training, orientation, coaching and mentoring to CMLC specialists and other relevant local staff.
• Ensure that the project staff are well equipped for community mobilization and learning continuity strategies and interventions and provide need-based coaching and mentoring support to the Line management of the Community Mobilization and Learning Continuity (CMLC) Specialist (7); GESI Specialist
• Ensure all people processes are adhered to as per USAID and SCI policies.
• Identify strengths and areas of improvement of team members for quality delivery and plans to improve gaps through coaching, mentoring and technical support. 

Representation:

• Coordinate and collaborate with the government (MOEST, CDC, ERO) and other relevant forums on the community mobilization and learning continuity-related interventions and also provide technical insights. 
• Coordinate and collaborate with the consortium partners and ensure quality implementation of community mobilization and learning continuity related interventions.

Qualifications and experience:

• Master’s in Social Science or related field; Master’s in Education preferred.
• At least 7 years of experience  (5 years for GSI) in similar position
• Prior experience in USAID funded projects
• Demonstrated experience in working in consortium projects.

Required No.(s): 1 (Nepalese Citizen Only)

Contract length: Fixed Term

Location: Kathmandu

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. 

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday 
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated 

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued. 

Application Information

Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. 

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.