TaRL Technical Advisor at Plan International

Locations: Adamawa, Borno &Yobe (Northeast)
Functional Area: Programme, Education in Emergency
Effective Date: 15th November, 2019.
Grade: International - Unaccompanied

Role Purpose

• The purpose of this role is to coordinate Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) activities within Plan International implementation areas in Nigeria.

Dimensions of the Role

• The post holder will provide technical assistance on designing context specific TaRL programme approach focusing on learning outcomesof pupils through TaRL classes.
• The advisor will provide overall leadership and technical support for mentoring, monitoring and documentation of lessons learnt, support assessments, mentors/teachers training and knowledge management. 
• He/she is responsible for coordinating baseline, midline and end line assessment, response analysis, design, capacity building of Plan International Staff, its implementing partners and government line ministries on TaRL.
• He/She is responsible for communicating within Plan International Nigeria, consortium partners and related government institutions on TaRL activities.

Accountabilities:

• In collaboration with the EiE Specialist,Project Coordinators, Project Officers and government Quality Assurance Unit:
• Coordinate the implementation of TaRL approach.
• Provide targeted program design, technical support, materials development, adaptation and revisions, field testing, assessment and monitoring/evaluation support and oversight to achieving Country Office EiE strategic objectives
• Support Plan Nigeria programme staff to integrate TaRL approach in upcoming programs and projects, ensuring that they are:
• Aligned with the PLAN’s EIE strategy 2019-2021 and Plan Nigeria’s Country Strategy of 2020-2024 which includes contextualizing education outcomes, the theories of change and include interventions chosen based on best available evidence;
• Conduct and coordinate technical training based on pilot learning outcomes and ongoing improvement in TaRL implementation for country program staff, including on outcomes, theories of change, evidence and indicators;
• Responsive to staffand partners’ technical support based on sound educational context gap analysis in literacy and numeracy
• Support selection of indicators for country programs based on available and emerging indicator testing;
• Review and develop facilitation materials together for program staff and implementing partners including UNICEF, Street Child and TaRL Africa
• Review technical quality of proposals, including providing input on budgets required for project delivery, technical activities, ensuring alignment to PLAN’s education and cross-sectoral outcomes;
• Help analyze data to inform periodic review and course correction to ensure that PLAN’s programs are based on evidence and generating innovative approaches towards learning outcomes;
• Share TaRL cross-context learning with country program staff and with PLAN Global EiE sector
• Teacher professional development (pre-service and in-service) on TaRL and learning outcomes.

Additional Functions:

• Engage with government and do outreach in support of literacy and numeracy remediation approach, especially in relation to implementation, scale up and sustainability;
• Contribute to technical narratives of proposals;
• Help define approach to teaming / partnering with other organizations;
• Present PLAN’s research findings across contexts and relevant conferences;
• Support in documenting lessons learnt and best practices of the project
• With support from M&E team design a Monitoring plan and simple data collection tools to ensure monitoring and data collection of key project indicators.  
• Ensure key data from assessments could be used as a baseline for program evaluation.  If additional baseline data is required to evaluate children’s learning outcomes, then work with appropriate colleagues to collect this additional information.
• Support in designing appropriate education interventions based on the outcomes of assessments and the context.  Inclusion of quality issues in education and learning outcomes is really important.
• Ensure that issues of early childhood, gender, protection, DRR, and conflict sensitivity are factored into the program design.
• Provide regular updates to Education Specialist and the Emergency Response Manager, humanitarian unit and the rest of the CO on innovative programme approaches adopted on education, track progress, priorities and constraints, as well as scale up with sustainability. 
• Perform any other project related duties as specified by the Education in Emergency Specialist
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young Peopleand Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Key Relationships:

• Support the preparation of reports for domestic and international consumption.
• Provide timely responses concerning queries linked with relevant projects or programmes.
• Report to the Education in Emergencies specialist;
• Provide support to Plan International Nigeria’s programme delivery and resource mobilization.
• Work with other members of the programme units to ensure effective and efficient programme delivery. 

Plan International Values in Practice:
We are open and accountable:

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact:

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together:

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering:

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge
Essential:

• University degree or equivalent in Education, Social Science, Social Work, Psychology, or related fields
• Minimum of 4-5 years relevant working experience in TaRL or similar innovative learning outcome approaches.
• Experience working in emergency settings at least 2 years.
• Good knowledge and understanding of DO NO HARM principles and established international child protection standards (especially UNCRC)
• Experience with participatory approaches to education, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, or other related areas.
• Experience working with IDPs, refugees and other vulnerable populations (ideal)
• Experience in TaRL methodology EiE programme desirable but not essential
• Previous experience directly providing services to children at risk and victims of abuse, exploitation and violence

Skills & Knowledge:
Desirable:

• Creates strong sense of purpose and commitment within own part of operations and with stakeholders
• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour
• Demonstrates a high degree of professionalism/integrity
• Provides good and adequate administrative and logistical support to enable programmes to meet its agreed financial and program outcomes.
• Actively seeks for support in addressing difficulties in execution of duties.
• Strategic thinking and effective contribution to own work and organisational development.
• Sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations
• Strong emotional intelligence including self-awareness.
• Leads by example to motivate high performance of others
• Very strong commitment to continuous learning

Physical Environment and Demands

• Travel extensively to lead and supervise programme activities

Level of Contact with Children:

• High contact- the job responsibilities of this position require the post holder to have very frequent contact with children. It is expected that children shall be protected at all times.

Salary
Competitive