About the Project: Plan International Nepal is a sub-contractor of the Early Grade Reading Program (EGRP), funded by USAID, led by RTI International. The project aims to address the reading gap among the youngest learners by supporting the government of Nepal, School Management Committees (SMCs), Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), parents and communities to bring improvements of children reading in Early Grades. Plan International Nepal’s role in consortium is to lead the community mobilization and support activities, which will build capacity of SMCs, PTAs, parents and community organizations to help their children learn to read. The project is being implemented in 16 districts of Nepal.

Purpose: The position holder will be responsible for the coordination and support of Early Grade Reading interventions in the project districts. She/he will liaise and coordinate with the school and community through partner NGOs, local level (Rural Municipality and Municipality), including, local education units and District Education Offices as appropriate. She/he will Support and facilitate understanding of the importance of children reading in the language they understand among parents and communities, as well as engaging parents and community-based organizations through evidence-based practices to support young readers.

Term and Location: Fixed term employment till 31 December 2019 based in and co-located at EGRP/RTI Regional Office, Nepalgunj.

Required Qualifications and Experiences: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Social Work or in relevant field.
  
• At least 4 years of relevant experience in providing community mobilization, direction and capacity building for improved educational outcomes. 
  
• Experience in coordination and facilitation roles for large donor-funded grants and/or contracts (bilateral or multilateral donors). USAID experience is preferred.
  
• INGO work experience preferred;
  
• Experience in designing and leading capacity building strategies for small local NGOs and community-based organizations
  
• Experience in early grade reading or community literacy preferred;
  
• Experience with Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) methodologies preferred;
  
• Experience with ICT interventions preferred.
  

Key Responsibilities: 

• Guide EGRP local grant recipient NGOs, monitor work-progress and report to the Regional Field Coordinator, EGRP Regional Office in Nepalgunj and EGRP Central Office in Kathmandu as needed;
  
• Coordinate district based NGOs, local level (Rural Municipality and Municipality), including local Education Units (LEU), and District Education Office as appropriate and other relevant stakeholders of the project district and establish good working relationship with them for the promotion of early grade reading program in all school of the project district;
  
• Coordinate and support activities to raise community awareness about the importance of medium of instruction in improving participation to support early grade reading interventions;
  
• Support to develop parent and community capacity to monitor reading progress increased in target districts;
  
• Support Regional Field Coordinator in developing a local plan for family engagement to support reading e.g. orientation for parents on use of locally-produced reading materials, gender-sensitivity and inclusiveness;
  
• Support Regional Field Coordinator to ensure non-literate and low-literacy parents and caregivers in children’s EGR acquisition are integrated into social mobilization strategy, using tools and training manuals;
  
• Facilitate and support the activities of small grant recipients e.g. regular community forums and events; support to orient parents and family members on using locally produced early grade reading materials with their children; coordinate and monitor to ensure teachers periodically inform parents of reading assessment results;
  
• Represent Plan International Nepal and the EGRP in regional and district level meetings and events;
  
• Ensure that principles of gender equity are mainstreamed throughout EGRP program intervention;
  
• Build on current best practices (requiring evidence or strong development hypothesis) in Nepal for community mobilization to support early grade reading improvements.
  
• Work as a point person for overall documentation of IR3 related information, update and share database regularly with Regional Field Coordinator