EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)

Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity, with a focus on vulnerable and under-served populations.  Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.   

EDC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Project Description

The goal of the five-year, USAID-funded Integrated Child and Youth Development (ICYD) Activity is for Ugandan children and youth, especially the most vulnerable, to receive the support and services necessary to lead resilient, healthy, and productive lives. The ICYD Activity is expected to achieve the following:

1. Children and youth have improved learning outcomes;
2. Children and youth are safe and healthy in their community and learning environments; and
3. Youth practice positive behaviors and are able to make informed decisions about their lives and relationships.

Working in partnership with MOES and MGLSD, district and zonal officials, and other Ugandan government and civil society partners, ICYD will comprise a series of activities to: support improved basic education for Ugandan children; address school-related and gender-based violence; facilitate enhanced child protection and support for vulnerable youth; provide support to HIV-affected orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and their caregivers/families; and support HIV care and treatment outcomes in close collaboration with clinical and community structures. 

A total of 135 Community Mobilization Assistants (CMA) will work with School Management Committees (SMCs), Foundation Bodies, and Parent-Teachers Associations (PTAs), as well as Community Development Officers and Assistants, to initiate Local Reading Support Plans (LRSPs), school-based Early Warning Systems, and the community component of the MOES Journeys curriculum in school communities. The CMAs will manage a team of community-based literacy volunteers. The CMAs will be responsible for working with and through community structures to implement project interventions to support quality implementation of these components of the ICYD Activity.  Community support activities for reading will dovetail with efforts to improve retention and school safety. CMAs will work out of the following ICYD Zonal office- Kampala (25). CMAs will be managed by District Community Engagement Supervisors. *This is a Zonal position. Applicants should be residents of Kampala or neighboring districts.

As a member of the project team, CMAs will: 

• Support School Management Committees (SMCs), Foundation Bodies, Parent-Teachers Associations (PTAs) and other community organizations to develop plans and strategies to address barriers to enrollment and retention; identify and recruit age-appropriate children; monitor attendance; and address school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) at the school level;
• Work with the community to facilitate the activities in the Local Reading Support Plans (LRSPs);
• Recruit and train youth and older individuals who have successfully completed primary school on the tutoring package by ICYD early grade reading officers;
• Provide support to teachers, school staff, and community focal points for implementation of an Early Warning System (EWS) to prevent drop-out and address child protection concerns;
• Work closely with the Para–Social Workers (PSWs) and Social Workers (SWs) who organize Village Child Case Management Committees (VCCMCs) at community level to provide a venue for reporting, tracking and managing child protection issues, and facilitate linkages between the EWS and VCCMCs; 
• Contribute to addressing child protection and violence issues at family and community levels;
• Contribute community mobilization plans and strategies to an integrated zonal level project work plan;
• Prepare written reports on project activities and results on a monthly and quarterly basis;
• Actively participates in Collaborative, Learning and Adapting (CLA) processes in place within the project; and
• Conduct these and other tasks as required in support of project goals.

The candidate for the position of Community Mobilization Assistant shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

Education:

• Grade III Teaching Certificate; Diploma in a related field will be preferred

Skills and Experience:

• At least 1-2 years’ proven experience in implementing community awareness-raising/sensitization and advocacy activities;
• Experience conducting training for communities;
• Experience conducting community asset mapping and/or stakeholder analysis;
• Understanding of the Ugandan education context;
• Understanding of common violence and trauma issues facing children/youth and communities, including HIV and GBV;
• Knowledgeable about local government community structures and strategies for working with same;
• Ability to verbally communicate in an engaging manner with a variety of stakeholders, and write clearly and concisely;
• Ability to build effective relationships with all clients, peers, and stakeholders;
• Ability to work within a cross-cultural setting with tolerance and respect and negotiate diplomatically.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of at least one Ugandan Local Language is required. 

Application Instructions:

Job closing date: February 12, 2021

To apply, Applicants are encouraged to visit the Careers Page at: https://go.edc.org/EDCUgandaJobs

Applications submitted without a resume or CV will not be reviewed.

Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified.  No phone calls, please.

EDC is committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

 This announcement is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this notice are the sole responsibility of Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

Note: EDC doesn’t solicit for money from applicants at any level of the recruitment & selection process.