About RTI:
RTI International is one of the world’s leading research institutes, dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. Our staff of more than 3,700 provides research and technical services to governments and businesses in more than 75 countries in the areas of health and pharmaceuticals, education and training, surveys and statistics, advanced technology, international development, economic and social policy, energy and the environment, and laboratory testing and chemical analysis.
About USAID LARA Program:
The Literacy Achievement and Retention Activity is a five-year USAID activity that supports the Ministry of Education Science Technology and Sports (MoESTS), Government of Uganda’s aim of improving early grade reading outcomes and enhancing safe school environments for children in primary grades utilizing EGR curriculum and methodologies. LARA is expanding the curriculum and methodologies developed and rolled out in SHRP districts to an additional 28 districts and will work with partners to improve reading skills in three local languages (Luganda, Runyoro/ Rutoro, Runyankole/ Rukiga) and English for early primary grades.
Job Summary: The SRGBV Technical Advisor will work with the districts in the designated areas to engage with Project activities, mobilize, motivate and encourage community leaders to influence their communities and help raise public awareness on the importance of positive and supportive school climates. The incumbent will work with the community based organizations (CBOs) to identify and strengthen referral webs and social behavior change communication processes in the communities. This position works closely with the Senior Program Specialist for
School Related Gender Based Violence and the Grants Manager. The CBOs will be implementing programming that creates positive and supportive school climates as part of an early grade reading and school improvement program. The incumbent will be responsible for negotiating and monitoring community mobilization initiatives. The SRGBV Technical Advisor will be responsible for transferring initiatives within the community in order to secure and monitor opportunities for community development.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
The jobholder will raise public awareness on the importance of positive and supportive school climate amongst the target population in the relevant districts.
Support schools and CBOs to plan and implement meetings and other activities to create positive and supportive school climates.
Explain the concept of positive and supportive school climates to the school community in detail and motivate the school community to use services provided in the area.
Work closely with CBOs supported by the Project grants to implement activities related to positive and supportive school climates.
Work with the Senior Program Specialist for School Related Gender Based Violence to assist school community members to analyze their problems related to positive and supportive school climates and to then identify needs, prioritize issues, and generate solutions.
Encourage and stimulate full participation by all community members; with special attention to those who are marginalized or excluded in community decision making processes.
Effectively plan and implement mobilization and other Project activities in line with the Annual Work Plan
Field-test various social mobilization materials as they are developed and provide feedback.
Assist in articulating the goals of the teacher training in positive and supportive school climates.
Actively facilitate Project implementation through monitoring visits to project schools and classrooms to assess the reach of the intervention, determine successes and challenges and document best practices.
Ensure efficient management of project administrative processes.
Working with schools and communities to put in place mechanisms for RTRR cases of SRGBV.
Facilitate Program Coordinators, Field Assistants, and CBOs to work with schools and communities to develop functional strategies and mechanisms for addressing SRGBV issues including RTRR of cases.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
The ideal candidate for the USAID LARA Project Program Coordinator job opportunity should hold a Master’s degree with three years’ experience or a Bachelor’s Degree with six years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
A minimum of ten years of relevant work experience in community mobilization, grants management, education, gender based violence, or child protection programming.
Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, ability to work under difficult circumstances with limited resources, and ability to form productive relationships with host country counterparts and training institutions.
Computer literacy i.e. working knowledge of MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel
Ability to multi-task
Ability to work well with others
Ability to listen and communicate well both verbally and in writing
Ability to work independently
Keen attention to detail and accuracy
Ability to obtain proper security clearances as noted by contracts
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send updated CVs including three work related referees and cover letters to the Human Resource Manager by e-mail to recruitment@lara.rti.org. Emails should not exceed 2MB.
Deadline: 20th April, 2016