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 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 can make informed decisions about their lives and relationships.

The ICYD Activity promotes improved coordination and collaboration across sectors and other USAID-supported programs. In addition, the Activity aims to strengthen systems for better communication and planning at national, district, and municipal levels of government and between government and non-governmental institutions that serve children and youth. The Activity works in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), the District Local Government, Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development (MGLSD), and School Foundation Bodies at district, regional and national levels, cultural institutions, communities, parents and other key stakeholders.

Purpose of the Accelerated Education (AE) Post Reading Assessment

As part of its support to children and youth who dropped out of school, ICYD has been implementing Accelerated Education (AE) programming for 1,440 learners in selected AE centers in Kamuli and Mayuge Districts. ICYD will conduct reading assessments at the end of AE interventions to be able to ascertain changes in reading outcomes of learners after the AE intervention. Reading Assessments will be conducted with a sample of learners enrolled in selected AE centers in both Kamuli and Mayuge districts. The data from the reading assessments will be used to report on status of indicator ES. 1-54: Percent of individuals with improved reading skills following participation in USG-assisted programs. Findings will also be shared with USAID, the Ministry of Education and Sports and other donors working in accelerated education.

Supervisors will be responsible for a team of assessors assigned per district, will pack materials for fieldwork, guide the assessors to adhere to set data collection procedures, collect data and upload data to the cloud. The supervisors will be expected to fill a school/center summary sheet for each of the schools/centers visited and submit all assigned equipment in good working conditions at the end of data collection. The selected candidates will undergo a training to equip them with the necessary knowledge regarding the tools, protocols and ethical considerations for the exercise.

The successful candidates will be contracted for a maximum period of 10 working days in November 2023. All honoraria and expenses will be paid by USAID/ICYD. The two (2) AE Supervisors that will be recruited will report to, and will be supervised by, the ICYD M&E team.

** Please note that this is a local temporary position. Eligibility is limited to Ugandan nationals**

Responsibilities

• Supervise a team of assessors during the assessment – including distributing tasks before and during each AE center visit, ensuring punctuality, friendly and professional treatment of learners, and correct application of instructions for each subtest
• Introduce study team and explain the purpose of the visit to the school administration and AE facilitator.
• Ensure that the assessment is carried out as per the protocol
  • The sample of learner to be assessed at each AE center is drawn following proper randomized procedure agreed upon during training, 
  • Ensure (a) the identity of each learner sampled and (b) the efficiency of the learner assessment process, with all assessors occupied with a learner at all times throughout the process.
  • To the extent possible, you should collect the learners from the class and bring them to the assessors,  
  • Ensure that every learner instrument administered is collected, in order and complete. 
  • Correctly complete the AE center field work visit summary  
  • Ensure that all of the assessments are uploaded onto the server
  • Provide a daily report/debrief to the ICYD M&E team to resolve problems that arise and communicate work progress
• Deliver other materials assigned to your team that were used in the data collection exercise. These include: Tablets, chargers, fieldwork bags, etc.
• Assist with the trouble-shooting of the Tangerine application and ensure that assessors strictly adhere to the protocol. Ensure that the results of assessment are displayed on the results menu and serialized by order of assessment
• Behave professionally when working and dress in a professional and culturally appropriate manner

• Bachelor’s degree in Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts, Economics, Statistics or Education
• Fluency in English and Lusoga local languages required. Applications that do not indicate language fluency will not be considered.
• Previous experience leading data collection teams
• Experience conducting assessments with children
• Previous experience using electronic data collection software
• Previous experience as a data collector/assessor in an Early Grade Reading Assessment or Youth Literacy Assessment preferred

Job closing date: October 20, 2023

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.