PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

The STEM II program is a 3 year, DFID-funded program focused on supporting the education of marginalized girls in Kailali District in the Far Western Region of Nepal, which is part of a DFID-led global initiative called the Girls Education Challenge (GEC). The GEC is supporting a growing portfolio of almost 40 projects in around 18 countries being delivered by different I/NGOs, of which Mercy Corps Nepal is one. By the end of the program STEM II is expected to reach around 5,000 in-school girls between grades 8 and 10, and out-of-school girls who dropped out from school grades 6 to 10 since 2066 BS from 30 STEM schools. The project will target 10 VDCs -Basauti, Dododhara, Hasuliya, Masuriya, Gadariya, Pabera, Naryanpur, Ratanpur, Pahalmanpur, Udasipur,- one municipality, Ghodaghodi and one sub-metropolitan city, Dhangadhi in Kailali district. The project works with 30 lower secondary and secondary schools in Kailali district.

Program activities include: campaigning to promote girls’ education; training school teachers, school management personnel, and parents; upgrading school infrastructures; offering vocational training and business start-up/expansion loans; delivering critical academic support, life skills and sexual and reproductive health training to girls; and providing training and employment opportunities to help girls transition from school into employment. Project implementation is preceded by a 6 month period comprising of Changeover Period (May to July 2017) and Inception Phase (July to September 2017) where the STEM team will toward towards the initial development and design of the programme, oversee implementation and continuous development during the Implementation Phase (October 2017 to March 2020), and thereafter a 3 month M&E and research phase until programme close-out in June 2020. The project is jointly implemented by Mercy Corps and a partner organization. The project will target 10 Village Development Councils, one municipality and one sub-metropolitan city in Kailali district. The project works with 30 lower secondary and secondary schools in Kailali district.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Education Coordinator (EC) will work under the supervision of the Programme Manager (PM) and work closely with the whole STEM II team, providing technical and logistical oversight of two major outputs of the programme: training to school management personnel/parents and some aspects of Girls Clubs for in school and out-of-school girls. He/she should be experienced in the areas of training, M&E, communication and curriculum development. The EC will also play a pivotal role in providing adequate technical monitoring support to the STEM team to ensure technical quality throughout the program implementation cycle. She/he will work with other members of the MC team to promote and disseminate good practices and lessons learned in technical aspects in programs internally As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance and M&E are cross-cutting components of all Mercy Corps program(s), the Education Coordinator is required to own these components and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices and M&E systems are integrated into his/her work area.

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Program Manager STEM

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program Manager, M&E Manager, Mercy Corps Support Functions Team and partners (local NGOs, private sector, government bodies).

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Program Manager, Position Description; National Staff Policy Handbook; Code of conduct and Mercy Corps policy and procedures.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Post-graduate degree in education or a related field with additional training in education planning and management.
• A minimum of 4 years of relevant hands on experience in developing curriculum for in and out-of-school girls or at-risk youth, teachers’ training and capacity building of teachers/School Management Committee (SMC) /Parents Teachers Association (PTAs) or other similar bodies.
• Proven experience of working with adolescent girls and an awareness of their particular needs and issues are desirable.
• Proven experience of thinking creatively and dynamically to develop and produce to finalization high quality, innovative and cost-effective education materials and initiatives.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in writing high quality reports and producing sound M&E tools.
• Proven experience of working with local/national governments and capacity building of systems, partners and staff.
• Ability to extensively travel (with driving license for two wheelers) for programme monitoring and provide on-site technical support to the field team.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation, consensus-building, facilitation and coaching.
• Strong written and spoken English language skills.
• Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player.
• Experience of working directly with SMC and PTAs is preferred, as is experience of working in the Far West Region of Nepal.
• Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player.
• Excellent negotiation, representation, skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a very sensitive environment.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment

SUCCESS FACTORS:

A successful Educational Coordinator would provide high-level technical support to the program team. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem-solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.