In Ethiopia, many children are out of school or at risk of dropping out, in particular girls and other marginalised groups. Progress has been made in expanding education access for children across the country, however, since 2019 progress stalled due to conflict and instability, climate-induced shocks and the impact of Covid-19 and wider macroeconomic challenges around inflation which exacerbated existing inequalities.

In response, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) aims to improve teaching quality and learning outcomes and increase access to education for girls and marginalised children through the ‘Transforming Education in Ethiopia’ project (2024-2028). The project will focus on three key components below:

• Teacher and school leader development:  Improved quality of teaching and learning with a focus on continuous teacher professional development in targeted schools. 

• English Language Teaching and Learning: Selected schools provide better teaching and learning in English Language as a subject, and improved use of English across the curriculum.

• Equity, Inclusion and Girls’ Education: Improved access and retention of the most marginalised children, particularly girls.

About the role: This is an exciting opportunity to help the government and people of Ethiopia strengthen the education system and work with experts in a dynamic consortium that is putting together a compelling and innovative bid for the forthcoming five-year “Transforming Education Programme in Ethiopia (TREE)”. As a Regional Lead for Addis Ababa, you will be based in Addis Ababa under this programme with frequent visits within the region and elsewhere in Ethiopia as necessary. 

You will report to the Consortium Deputy Team Lead and manage the regional based implementation team. Regular day to day liaison and coordination will be with the Education Programme Coordinator and Concern Worldwide’s Technical Advisers and operations departments in Ethiopia. You will work closely with the other consortium member agencies and downstream partners and contractors, the Core Programme Management Team, Regional Education Bureaus (REBs) and other regional stakeholders as necessary.

This role is contingent on funding being secured.

Job Grade: GB5

Employment Type: Definite

The Regional Lead for Addis Ababa will lead efforts to contextualise, implement, and oversee all project activities at the regional and community levels. The role will focus on contextualising national policies including on school leadership, gender and inclusion, and English language with support from the technical team. They will work closely with the Regional Education Bureaus (REBs), Zonal, Woreda education offices and other relevant stakeholders to roll out policies and strengthen school leaders and teachers’ capacity. The role also includes overseeing regional teams to implement teacher professional development, capacity building workshops, and community sessions. They will engage with key stakeholders to help achieve project goals, implement, and institutionalise access to quality and safe education-related policies, and interventions.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with REBs to contextualise national and global policies and frameworks including on school leadership, gender and inclusion, and continuous professional development. 

• Roll out contextualised training of trainers (ToT) for REBs, zonal and woreda education offices, school leaders and cluster supervisors. 

• Lead capacity building workshops on topics such as data management, reporting, accelerated learning, gender and inclusion, and English language with support from project technical leads. 

• Disseminate contextualised policies to schools and support regional teams to strengthen capacity of school leaders, teachers, and PTSAs.

• Work with REBs, zonal, and woreda education offices to implement the English costed plan for improving English teaching and cross-curricular English use with support from the English Language Specialist.

• Collaborate with MEAL staff to monitor the regional activities and contribute to the larger project MEAL strategic and implementation plan.

• Manage and coordinate regional teams ensuring provision of timely and effective support.  

• Conduct regular site visits to provide technical and operational assistance and ensure effective implementation and monitoring of project activities at the regional and community levels.

• Effectively communicate regional programme implementation updates and findings to the Deputy Team Lead, programme staff and external stakeholders, to facilitate informed decision-making and coherence and coordination with other regions.

• Engage with stakeholders to ensure alignment with national policies and secure support for the programme’s initiatives.

• Working with relevant Concern staff and other consortium member agencies, identify and mitigate risks associated with the delivery of project activities as part of overall risk management.

• Within this role, promote and help ensure adherence/compliance with Concern Worldwide’s Code of Conduct & Associated Policies (including Programme Participant Protection, Child & vulnerable adult Safeguarding, Anti-Trafficking policies), Conflict of Interest Policy, Anti-Fraud Policy, and Modern Slavery Transparency Statement. 

• Within this role, promote and help ensure accountability to programme participants and wider communities in line with Concern Worldwide’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) and Do No Harm principles and ensure high ethical standards throughout programme implementation.

Emergency response

Concern is committed to responding to emergencies efficiently and effectively in order to help affected people meet their basic needs, alleviate suffering and maintain their dignity. To this end, when emergencies strike and the Ethiopia Programme is to respond, all staff are required to actively participate in the response, regardless of location and contribute to the efforts aimed at achieving the humanitarian objective of the organization.

Gender Equality

• Demonstrate understanding of Concern Ethiopia’s Gender Equality Strategy

• Contribute to ensuring that Concern Ethiopia is a place where men and women are treated equally and with  dignity and respect 

• Demonstrate gender equality awareness and gender sensitivity and an ability to integrate a gender equality perspective into tasks and activities.

Accountability

In line with Concern’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS): 

• actively promote meaningful community participation and consultation at all stages of the project cycle (planning, implementation, M&E); 

• work with relevant colleagues  to ensure that the Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) is functional and accessible, that feedback and complaints are welcomed and addressed; 

• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure that information about CRM, safeguarding and expected staff behavior is disseminated among programme participants and communities.

Safeguarding

• Able to seek appropriate advice and report concerns, and feel confident that they have been understood.

• Understands local safeguarding structures and arrangements.

• Practice in a manner that seeks to reduce the risk of abuse, harm or neglect.

• Identifies and refers to appropriate services any other associated persons including carers, family members and children at risk.

• Able to document safeguarding concerns, and maintain appropriate record keeping, recording the wishes and views of the adult or child at risk, differentiating between fact and opinion.

What we offer

• A competitive salary and benefit package

• Excellent medical benefits (100% cover including dependents)

• 20 days annual leave

• 26 weeks (paid) maternity leave, 18 weeks (unpaid) parental leave

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s or equivalent qualification in education, public administration, international development, gender or related field.  Master’s is preferred. 

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in managing and successfully delivering large-scale, complex projects at regional level in Ethiopia or similar contexts. Preference will be given to candidates with such experience in the field of education. 

• Ability to provide leadership and harness the multi-disciplinary skills of the technical personnel and consortium partners. 

• Staff management experience, with experience in leading and motivating individuals and teams to deliver high quality activities and achieve programme outcomes.

• Experience and ability to work with and build effective relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including government, civil society, and communities. 

• Understanding of the education delivery system in Ethiopia and familiarly with the political, cultural context and operating environment in a region and Ethiopia more broadly. 

• Experience in coordinating and working with the government of Ethiopia at a regional level, specifically within the education sector is preferred. 

• Prior experience of operating effectively within complex and high-risk environments and managing the needs of multiple stakeholders. 

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deliver results in a fast-paced and complex environment.

• Strong analytical skills, with experience using data to inform decision-making and programme adjustments.

• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to articulate complex information backed with evidence. 

• Fluency in spoken and written English and Amharic.  Fluency in Oromifa is an advantage.

Desirable:

• Strong understanding of the Ethiopian education system.

• Familiarity with MoE policies and strategies and the role of REBs.

Competencies:  

As this is a key leadership position, potential candidates are expected to demonstrate significant ability in the following areas:

Focusing on the most marginalised people 

Communicating and influencing

Managing risk

Leading change

Making decisions

Driving performance

Leading by example

Removing barriers to delivery

Motivating and developing

Recruitment for this role is contingent upon the successful award of the project, and the final applicant's selection is subject to FCDO approval.

How to Apply

Qualified and interested applicants should send non-returnable C.V., application letter outlining how their experience and education fit this vacancy, please note that no need to submit your supporting documents at THIS LINK      

We encourage all eligible candidates, irrespective of gender, ethnicity or origin, disability, political beliefs, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status to apply to become a part of the organization. Concern is against all forms of discrimination and unequal power relations and is committed to promoting equality. 

Early application is strongly recommended, Concern reserves the right to interview and select the chosen candidate before closing date for receipt of applications.               

If this role sounds right for you, please apply with your CV and cover letter.  

Only short listed candidates will be contacted

Important information:

Concern has an organizational Code of Conduct with three Associated Policies: The Programme Participant Protection Policy, the Child Safeguarding Policy, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy accessible here. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organizations, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in their work, in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Consequently, working or volunteering with Concern may be subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking. 

During this job application, you will provide Concern with your personal data. Concern takes its responsibilities towards this personal data very seriously and is committed to complying with all relevant data protection legislation.   

Women and people with disability are highly encouraged to apply!