Early Childhood Development Officer

Job Overview/Summary:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has received confirmation for funding from Save the Children under the Uganda Education Consortium funded by the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) to implement an eight month project titled ‘Watoto Wasome – meaning ‘Children Learn.’ Watoto Wasome is an initiative aimed at responding to challenges relating to early access to learning, protection and play opportunities for children aged 3-6 years with sustainable, community-driven solutions at the household and community levels in Imvepi and Palabek settlements. In households, IRC will support responsive caregiving by working collaboratively and closely with caregivers and parents to ensure that they are in the drivers’ seat for the care, protection, learning and development of their children, to improve holistic nurturing care. Our entry point will largely be working with and at the early childhood development (ECD) centers and parents of the children in the supported ECD centers. IRC will work closely and collaboratively with local leaders such as refugee welfare committees, IRC’s women and girls' centers and other existing structures to better engage the parents. The project will contribute to the achievement of three key project outcomes:

·         Improved access and retention to inclusive and gender transformative learning and training opportunities,

·         Improved delivery of quality education and training, and

·         Strengthened systems for effective and resilient service delivery.

The Early Childhood Development (ECD) Officer will be based in IRC’s Terego/Lamwo field Office. The ECD Officer will support field level project implementation and work collaboratively with the ECD Senior Officer and other project staff in providing technical support to the implementation of the project.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technical implementation of project activities:

•  Lead on daily and weekly basis, the implementation of set activities in line with the approved workplan.
•  Lead the development of training materials in line with approved curriculum on Early Childhood Development (ECD).
•  Support parents and caregivers (HH or group level) in providing caregiving and early learning to their children under between 3-6 years.
•  Support the development of ECD improvement plans with ECD providers/caregivers [individuals] and volunteers.
•  Support the provision of essential materials to the ECD centers and parent groups and ECD providers accordingly.
•  Lead the training of caregivers (teachers) and parents/guardians at centre level on caregiving, child protection and early learning.
•  Support the linkage of target clients (parents/guardians and caregivers) to ECD services.
•  Support actions leading to the maintenance of the ECD Infrastructure so as to support a conducive learning environment for the children for better learning outcomes.
•  Support the establishment of Centre based volunteers for safeguarding and other groups to support smooth implementation of the project
•  Lead the trainings and support ECD Center Management Committees (CMC) to ensure they are functional and support the project implementation.
•  Support actions and relevant activities of the Community ECD Groups.
•  Organise and deliver trainings for the ECD Center Management Committees and other groups as indicated in the project document.
•  Ensure that the ECD centres receipt appropriate support with learning and teaching materials and ensure these are appropriately utilized for the intended purposes.
•  Organize and facilitate Caregiver Learning Circles (Community of Practice) and other learning opportunities for the Caregivers and headteachers.

Coordination, representation, and partner/stakeholder relationships:

•  Ensure close collaboration with the field-based team members and consistency in protocols, information, and reporting systems in line with Consortium Management Unit requirements
•  Lead coordination efforts at each project location/zonal level by ensuring weekly and monthly coordination meetings.
•  Work in collaboration with settlement and community leadership in (and partners) in identification and selection of clients and delivery of project activities
•  Make referrals to the appropriate actors where necessary.
•  Maintain respectful and constructive relations with partner organisations, local authorities, and humanitarian actors.
•  Attend zonal and sector working group coordination meetings at the settlement and sub counties of operation whenever required and providing detailed reports as required.

Monitoring, reporting and communication responsibilities

•  Monitoring ECD performance/progress and documenting best practices, lessons learned and success stories in line with the agreed templates and formats.
•  Prepare weekly and monthly program reports, and compile lessons learnt to inform continuous project implementation.
•  Collect relevant data (in collaboration with the MEAL Officer) during project implementation and provide regular reports.
•  Monitor client payment processes at participating Money Transfer Agents’ locations accordingly.
•  Participate in the collection of data, during assessments and post-distribution surveys as and when required including design of required tools by providing technical input.
•  Participate in the verification exercise, research or MEAL whenever needed.

Other duties

·         Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable implementation of the IRC programs,

·         Raise Purchase requests as and when required,

·         Participate in regular team meetings and supervision sessions

·         Ensure that all materials are ready for info sessions before the activity

·         Work constructively within the team and take the initiative on new tasks

·    Promptly report safeguard concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment.

·      Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit