Education Technical Advisor

The Organisation

Plan International is a girls’ rights organization that partners with adolescents and children around the world to overcome oppression and gender inequality, providing the support and resources that are unique to their needs and the needs of their communities. Working in more than 75 countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan’s holistic, rights-based approach ensures that our project participants achieve their full potential with dignity, opportunity and safety. Our projects are designed in partnership with communities and strategically address systemic issues that often transcend sectors. As such, Plan demonstrates technical expertise across a range of intervention areas: education, health, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), protection and youth economic empowerment. In addition, Plan has a robust humanitarian response and disaster preparedness practice. With extensive local networks and community reach, Plan drives positive change through broad community participation, achieving sustainable results by actively engaging and providing services to individuals, families, communities and governments. Plan International has been working in Malawi since 1994.

Position Description:

Plan International is seeking a Education Technical Advisor for the anticipated USAID-funded Secondary Success Activity. The activity will build on existing structures to increase the availability, access, and quality of education, including remedial skills, lifeskills, health and leadership, mentorship, and financial inclusion. The Education Technical Advisor will support the Chief of Party in the management of the project The Education Technical Advisor will be in charge of providing high-quality technical inputs and responsible for the implementation of educational technical project activities to achieve program objectives. The Education Technical Advisor will work closely with project leadership technical advisors to build on current best practices in country, as well as coordinate with partners, relevant Government ministries, USAID, international and local partners to achieve project outcomes. This position is contingent upon award of the project by the donor.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement program activities that contribute to increasing the availability, access and quality of education, including remedial skills, lifeskills, health and leadership, mentorship, and financial inclusion.
• Contributes to the development of the annual workplan and activities budget
• Oversee and provide technical expertise to ensure that project activities are locally-relevant and gender transformative.
• Work closely with Ministry of Education, civil society and community-based organizations, and other relevant key stakeholders to ensure capacity and ownership of program activities
• Collaborate with the M&E officer to design and implement MEL plan that will inform the program implementation and provide evidence-based data to strengthen program implementation.
• Contribute sections to the project’s quarterly reports on progress, for those technical areas of responsibility
• Initiate procurement requests for program activities, and provide technical reviews and approvals for proposed procurements related to the relevant areas of responsibility
• Integrate ongoing learning into program adaptations, working closely with the Chief of Party, USAID and the Ministry of Education
• Participate on education related networks, and clusters beneficial for the program.
• Perform any other duties within the scope of the position as assigned by the supervisor.
• Ensures compliance in reporting to USAID, Plan International, Plan US National Office (USNO) and Government of Malawi counterparts.

  Requirements:

  • A Master’s degree in International Development and/or Education, with a minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience; or a Bachelor’s degree in International Development and/or Education with seven (7) years of relevant experience may be accepted.
  • Experience with USAID or other international donor-funded programs focused on Education, particularly at the secondary level, that promote the availability, accessibility, and quality of education in Malawi. Work experience with USAID projects strongly preferred.
  • Work experience in designing, planning and implementing education projects in Malawi
  • Demonstrated knowledge about gender and development, and demonstrated experience and proficiency in managing programs that mainstream gender.
  • Demonstrated ability to implement projects with rigorous timelines and deliverables.
  • Experience working and collaborating with diverse sets of stakeholders, such as NGOs, governments and the private sector.
  • Work experience in Malawi required.
  • Fluency in English and excellent oral and written skills required.

    Plan International’s 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.