Summary
Date Posted: Friday, August 18 2023, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Duties
The primary role of the Program Officer is to contribute to the technical management, development and implementation of the education theory and practice elements of Geneva Global, Inc. (“GGI”) and GG Uganda (GG-U) programs and other initiatives in Uganda. This entails the delivery of client- supported education programs and related activities managed by GG-U.

Currently, GGI and GG-U implement a multi-year education, community empowerment, and systems strengthening program in Uganda, known widely as the Speed School program. The focus of the program is to reduce the incidence of out-of-school children and facilitate their enrolment in primary school to complete at least a basic cycle of education.

Operated by Geneva Global-Uganda in collaboration with district and municipal education officers, the program comprises three key components, with the Speed School model at the center. Speed School is an accelerated education program which provides a condensed curriculum in 10 months to out-of-school children aged 9 to 14. The aim is to equip them to successfully continue their primary education in the formal system the following year. The other components are (i) Self-Help Groups, which foster the economic and social empowerment of the mothers of the Speed School students to support their formal education better, and (ii) training and support to formal primary school teachers and the broader system.

The Program Officer will be primarily responsible for accompanying the successful management of the Speed School program by the district and municipal offices in and around the catchment areas of Namutumba District. The position will report to the Uganda Program Manager, Education.
The specific responsibilities of the Program Officer are as follows:

Provide training and technical assistance to Namutumba District Education Office in the implementation of Speed school program.
• Support the GG-Ug Program Managers for Education, Community Engagement, and Monitoring and Evaluation in the delivery of three Training of Trainers per year, aimed at readying the DEO/MEO/PTC agents to deliver the same training to the Speed School facilitators;
• Support the same GG-Ug Program Managers and the DEO/MEO/PTC agents in conducting three Facilitator Training Workshops per year;
• Provide on-going training and support to the DEO/PTC agents in their continuous supervision and support of Speed School facilitators and Self-Help Groups, including routine reflection sessions and joint monitoring visits to schools;
• Support the same DEO/PTC agents in their introduction and adoption of the Speed School instructional methods by teachers in conventional primary classrooms and of the Community Engagement model by the SHGs;
• Report regularly to the GG-Ug Program Managers on the performance of the DEO/PTC agents, of the Speed School facilitators, and the Self-Help Groups;
• Introduce new elements to the DEO/PTC agents to strengthen and deepen their support of the Speed School facilitators and Self-Help Group members;
• Identify and coordinate with other government units (and civil society institutions, as relevant) to help mobilize critical non-education support of Speed School classes and students and the Self-Help Groups;
• Support and enforce the routine collection and submission of data on the Speed School classes and SHGs by the DEO/MEO/PTC agents, as guided by the Program Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Support continuous efforts to strengthen the design, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of program elements:
• Be continuously alert to opportunities to strengthen the Speed School model, methods, and materials as well as strategies and efforts to introduce and support these in practice;
• Conduct regular (weekly or bi-weekly) meetings with the DEO/PTC agents to seek their thoughts and recommendations to improve the same;
• Identify teacher/facilitator training needs and work closely with education officials on the design and implementation of training workshops and other continuous professional development activities for Speed School facilitators;
• Help track any costs associated with the work of the DEO/PTC agents and with the operation of Speed School classrooms and SHGs;
• Work with education and other local officials to: monitor overall school operations, collect statistics and tracking forms, classroom size, and attendance and to gather other information relevant to the SHGs;
• Work with education officials to establish active communities of practice among Speed School facilitators;
• Draft narrative reports on a quarterly basis on the progress of Speed School activities in the district, providing insights into challenges and successes, quantitative and qualitative data and case studies.

Support GG-U and GGI in all other aspects related to the overall successful management and operation of the program, including the following:
• Prepare and submit to GG-Ug Program Director planning and budgetary requirements for the upcoming month;
• Prepare and submit to GG-Ug Program Director a monthly report of technical activities, expenditures, challenges and other issues confronted, accomplishments of the DEO/MEO/PTC agents, Speed School facilitators, link school partners, and SHGs;
• Participate in the annual reporting led by the GG-Ug Program Director;
• Participate in the annual planning led by the GG-UG Program Director;
• Support the preparations for and conduct of any visits by external persons, including from the program’s funders, GGI, and the Ministry of Education and Sports, among others;
• And provide all other reasonable support and delegated portfolio as requested by the GG-Ug Program Director.

Other Tasks and Activities
In addition to the above, GGI/Uganda expects the Employee to demonstrate the following attitudes and values:
• Be diligent and transparent in rendering services to GGI/Uganda.
• Be attentive to detail and work methodically and accurately.
• Possess and demonstrate good and positive communication skills, including internally and externally, orally and in writing, and in English and local languages.
• Manifest professional presentation and conduct with grantees, partners clients and fellow employees and directors of GG;
• Exhibit prudent initiative and creativity in accordance with specific duties.
• Work independently as well as part of a team.
• Work effectively and calmly under pressure, committed to meeting deadlines and seeking appropriate help and guidance, when necessary.
• Ensure adherence to Geneva Global policies, tools, handbooks, and guidelines
• Exercise good judgment, strong ethical behaviors, and careful stewardship in all activities and interactions associated with GG.

Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Education, and other relevant fields of academic background.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience coordinating programs with an educational or social mission.
• Excellent knowledge of English and Lusoga both written and oral is required,
• Experience in program design and management including budgeting. Experience leading and designing self-help and empowerment programs for women is advantageous.
• Proven experience working in emergency affected community’s education and development programs. Experience in working with NGOs (highly desirable) in the field of education, with emphasis on primary and non-formal education, monitoring and evaluation is preferable.
• Experience leading trainings of large groups of people with a demonstrated ability to build capacity of others.
• Ability to develop user-friendly technical documents and produce high-quality briefs and reports in English.
• Proven ability to think and act strategically and collaboratively and approach projects from an organizational perspective while demonstrating interpersonal skills and ability to interact at all levels including senior leadership.
• Experience working closely with a culturally and globally diverse team, building and maintaining relationships both in the office and digitally.

Suitable candidates who meet the job specifications are required to make their application not later 25 August, 2023.


Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
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