Education Development Center (EDC) Hiring locally for 3 Positions to be located in Hargeisa, Somaliland.
- Youth Development Specialist
- Communications Specialist
- Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
All personnel must be willing and able to travel to all Somali regions, security conditions permitting.
About EDC
Founded in 1958, Education Development Center (EDC) is an international nongovernmental organization that works to build bridges between educational research, policy, and practice. EDC’s headquarters are located in Newton, Massachusetts, USA with other US offices in New York City, NY, and Washington, DC. There are also offices in numerous cities around the world. EDC has over 350 projects in 35 countries with approximately 1100 employees worldwide.
About EDC’s Work with Somalis
EDC has reached tens of thousands of Somali children and youth through 3 programs: SIRIP, Shaqodoon and G-Youth.
The Somali Interactive Radio Instruction Program (SIRIP) and Shaqodoon programs operate in Somaliland, Puntland, Galmudug and the South Central regions. SIRIP provides high-quality interactive audio programs to Somali children attending formal, non-governmental, Quranic and community schools. These lessons are broadcast into classrooms via radio on a daily basis or supplied on digital media players to students and teachers. The program has produced high quality Somali and English language books on Somali themes and has conducted teacher training and rehabilitated schools and classrooms.
The Shaqodoon program was created to provide Somali youth with a greater opportunity to access training, internships, work and self-employment opportunities. These opportunities are intended to productively engage youth and add to the stability and development of the region. It launched the cell phone service known as InfoMatch that helps youth find jobs and training opportunities.
The G-Youth Project is based in Garissa, Kenya. It aims to provide needed skills to youth while empowering them to make sound career and life decisions as they transition from high-school to the next phase of their lives. The youth are also encouraged to engage in advocacy in efforts to gain support for their aspirations and to address their challenges. They learn to use technology, radio and organizational skills to assist them in this advocacy role.
A New Program - Somali Youth Leadership Initiative
EDC is currently seeking resumes and applications from candidates who qualify for the following positions for which EDC is submitting a proposal to expand their US government-funded work to educate and empower youth through the Somali Youth Leadership Initiative. This is a 5-year program that will be headquartered in Hargeisa with work in Somaliland, Puntland and Galmudug and possibly in other south and central regions. The project’s key objectives are to create improved secondary education services that are perceived to be more fair and equitable, increase the number of youth who are better able to be economically self reliant with supportive systems and increase the number of youth who participate and contribute positively and productively to society.
Youth Development Specialist
This person will provide overall technical expertise and leadership among project staff and volunteers on implementing a multi-year, multi-sectoral youth outreach, livelihoods and engagement project in select geographic areas as determined through broad consultations with youth groups, relevant government ministries and local authorities, the private sector and NGOs. The Youth Development Specialist will participate in determining and designing types of assessments, project designs and oversee implementation activities with assistance from staff, youth leaders and youth groups, international and local partners, and other stakeholders. Work within a team to ensure quality assurance, accurate data collection and media and communications reflect program progress well. Reports to the Chief of Party. Supervises some staff and field operations.
Required: College bachelor’s degree, master’s degree a plus
Very high proficiency in written and verbal English language communication
7 years experience in youth development;
5 years work experience in developing countries that includes conflict –affected environments.
Experience in creating project designs and has implemented youth assessments, has worked in some or all of the following youth fields: youth livelihoods, technical and vocational education training, and youth civic participation.
Somali language skills are a plus.
Communications Specialist
The Communication Specialist provides overall technical expertise on strategic communications, outreach and advocacy to local government and stakeholders. The specialist does this by establishing a network of improved communication practices, each entailing recording and documenting all EDC’s activities and events, engaging local, national and international media outlets, communicating regularly with USAID and other donors and EDC’s home office. The specialist will identify, plan, edit, adapt, and apply appropriate medial tools, including, but not limited to web based media, multimedia tools, radio broadcasts, print media, social media and other culturally appropriate tools to disseminate information to ensure understanding and information sharing beyond simple reporting and includes provision of human interest reports to USAID/ East Africa on programmatic impacts. Reports to Chief of Party. Supervises communication interns.
Required: Masters degree or higher in education or related field with emphasis on media, communication and journalism
7 years’ technical experience in developing and implementing communications plans in
culturally, politically and security sensitive environments,
demonstrate at least 5 years’ work experience in developing countries, including in conflict affected environments.
Demonstrate use of social media, video and press outreach to achieve project objectives
Ability to coordinate or produce documentaries of project activities and success stories
Must have excellent oral and written communications English language skills
Somali language skills are a plus.
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
This individual will be responsible for project technical oversight and maintenance of the M&E systems, including design, data collection, analysis, performance monitoring, and evaluation. This means the person will train with staff and create an M&E team among staff and others to assist in parts of the data collection duties. The M&E Specialist must ensure that all activities are in line with the USAID Learning, Evaluation and Research policy [web site contains details of this policy] ensuring that impact reporting includes cost/benefit analysis of interventions. This person will receive some specialized back up support from EDC’s home office. Reports to the Chief of Party. Supervises one Associate, coordinates a staff and youth leaders M&E team.
Required: College bachelor’s degree, master’s degree a plus
Very high proficiency in written and verbal English language communication
5 years technical experience in developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation plans and results-based management.
Demonstrate at least 3 years’ work experience in developing countries, including in conflict affected
environments;
Somali language skills are a plus.
All positions require:
- Effective in the role of facilitative coach or advisor
- Ability to plan and schedule complex work load effectively.
- Very strong time management and interpersonal communication skills.
- Must also demonstrate experience working in a team-oriented environment.
- Work collaboratively and in consultation with a wide array of community, government, private sector stakeholders.
- Works with youth in ways that empowers and motivates them to achieve project objectives while developing their leadership skills.
- Ability to think creatively about all aspects of accomplishing tasks and the higher objectives of the project
- Collaborative orientation and flexibility, as well as the ability to be proactive in decision making when carrying out tasks.
Interested qualified candidates are requested to submit their resumes to Muna Said Warsame at [email protected] by July 15, 2011.