Programme Director at Children in Crossfire

Programme Background
Children in Crossfire is an Irish-based NGO with a focus on Early Childhood Development. We have been active in Tanzania since 2008 and are well respected as a key stakeholder working towards improved lives of Tanzania’s youngest and most vulnerable children.

In October 2014 Children in Crossfire initiated a 4-year programme called “Fursa kwa Watoto” (Opportunity for Children). In the context of poor learning outcomes for children in primary school in Tanzania, this programme will demonstrate that children who access quality pre-primary education before entering Primary School have improved school readiness on entry into primary school and ultimately improved learning and developmental outcomes at Standard II. The programme will combine direct interventions with 27,000 children in schools in Kilimanjaro and Mwanza Regions with local and national advocacy that will educate decision makers and lead to improved resources and quality of pre-primary education in Tanzania.

The implementation is be led by Children in Crossfire in collaboration with multiple partners, both at the national level and in the regions. The programme is governed by a Programme Steering Committee that the Programme Director oversees and coordinates. The Steering Commitee includes other partners and oversees implementation.

This position is for the final 2 years of the programme and covers the ‘Roll-out’ Phase. It reports to the Country Director and has 4 direct line management reports.

Specific Responsibilities
Programme Implementation Management:

• Management of a detailed 2-year programme rollout phase
• Ensuring that Children in Crossfire programme objectives are met and outputs delivered in compliance with relevant programme and operational plans
• Management of MOU’s with Children in Crossfire implementing partners.
• Management of technical consultants for inputs at agreed stages
• Ensuring systems effective monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment of programme activities are retained.
• Adhere to internal review and learning mechanisms to ensure the programme remains on track and relevant.
• Disseminate reports, progress updates and evidence to all relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate with Children in Crossfire Country Director for programme alignment to Children in Crossfire’s Country Strategic Plan.

Programme representation locally, nationally and internationally:

• Participate in all relevant forums for the programme in Tanzania - Donor Partners for Education, Global Partnership for Education, Education Sector Review, Development Partners for ECD and other relevant initiatives/committees.
• Inform all local and national structures of the progress and evidence of the programme.
• Engage with all programme partners to influence policy and resource allocation locally and nationally.
• Be informed of policy changes, initiatives and budgets and ensure the programme remains aligned to government and donor priorities.
• Engage with international research and forums to ensure the programme remains informed by new evidence of pre-primary education best practice and informs regional and international forums of the evidence of Fursa kwa Watoto.

Liaison and coordination with Donors and other programme partners:

• Preparing and submitting a high standard of programme & project reports, both financial and narrative, in accordance with donor, board, Country Director and management requirements.
• Liaise with Children in Crossfire’s Head of International Programmes for engagement with Donors
• Manage all Children in Crossfire implementing partner activity and finance reporting
• Coordinate reporting with other programme partners
• Coordination of the Steering Committee and annual monitoring, evaluation and learning cycles.

General Children in Crossfire Responsibilities:

• Adhere to Children in Crossfire’s internal policies and procedures
• Comply with Children in Crossfire’s Child Protection Code of Conduct at all times
• Reporting to the Country Director on a monthly basis or more often as required.
• Explore opportunities as they arise to engage new donors for potential additional country programme funding.
• Ensure the effective performance of all in-country staff by providing leadership to and line management of all staff employed by Children in Crossfire Tanzania

Person Profile

• Educated to Degree Level in relevant subject area of Education, International Development or Social Science
• At least 3 years’ experience working in a developing country in a programme management and/or monitoring & evaluation post.
• Demonstrated significant experience in programme management leading a consortium or partnership
• Experience in education sector, especially early years education
• Ability to motivate and lead others
• Financial and Programme Management skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong humanitarian values and commitment

Remuneration
Salary package is in line with the level of responsibility of the position.