Job Title : Advocacy & Accountability Specialist

Department : Program

Report To : Director Accountability

Opening Date : July 15, 2024

Closing Date : July 26, 2024

Duty Station : Monrovia

Project Description:

Background/Summary:

FHI 360 is a global development organization, with a rigorous, evidence-based approach to human development. Our team of professionals includes experts in health, nutrition, education, economic development, civil society, environment and research. FHI 360 operates from 70 offices with 4400 employees in the United States and around the world. Our commitment to partnerships at all levels and our multi-disciplinary approach allows us to have a lasting impact on the people, communities and countries we serve by improving the lives of millions of them. We are currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Advocacy & Accountability Specialist for the USAID-funded Liberia Education Systems Strengthening Activity (the Activity).

Project description

The 5-year Liberia Education Systems Strengthening Activity, will work in partnership with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to address system-wide constraints and increase the MOE’s capacity to provide decentralized and inclusive education, monitor progress, and sustain improved learning outcomes for all children and youth. The activity will support the central MOE to improve education data, resource management, and accountability, and work to improve county-, district-, and school level governance processes and systems in Montserrado, Margibi, Lofa, Nimba, Bong, and Grand Bassa counties. The activity will target education officials and professionals at the central, county, district, and school level with its capacity development interventions with the end goal of improving education outcomes for children and youth

Job Summary

The Advocacy and Accountability Specialist will be responsible for providing technical support and overseeing the implementation of activities related to building the MOE’s capacity to improve supply-side accountability mechanisms (particularly Work with CSOs and media organizations to strengthen advocacy and transparency mechanisms. Provide TA to CSOs to support scorecard/PTA training; collaborate with Rising Academies. Strengthen civil society/media organizations’ capacity to increase advocacy and demand for quality, equitable education services.

Support the MOE to train PTAs, in coordination with other USAID education interventions, to fulfill their roles. Support CEOs/DEOs to design/implement participatory, SQAF-aligned school scorecards and use scorecards for participatory school planning and community oversight.

The Advocacy and Accountability Specialist will also support the School Quality Assessment Framework [SQAF] and National School Quality Standards and Supervision [NSQS] tools). She/he

will support the analysis of MOE’s current monitoring and supervision systems, work with the SQA team to identify bottlenecks and capacity constraints, and collaborate closely with MOE counterparts at the Central, County, and District levels to design sustainable, government-led solutions. In addition, they will also provide technical support to community-level accountability activities such as building the capacity of Parent-Teacher Associations, supporting PTAs and communities to design and implement school monitoring tools, and supporting civil society organizations to advocate effectively for quality education services. This position will be based in Monrovia and report to the Director for Accountability.

Key Roles/Responsibilities:

• Oversee, plan, and coordinate all advocacy and accountability-related project activities in close coordination with ESSA partner organizations and government counterparts. • Strengthen civil society and media organizations capacity to increase civil society and media organizations improve advocacy and increase demand for accountability. • Plan and provide technical oversight over the training of PTAs to improve advocacy and accountability at the school level.
• Provide technical oversight over grants to local civil society organizations for advocacy activities.
• Provide day-to-day, hands-on capacity building to the MOE staff.
• Provide timely reports and updates to the Director of Accountability for onward submission to the Chief of Party, highlighting issues and priorities within the MOE.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly reports as well as contribute to the annual report for accountability activities.
• Engage in operational planning with senior management of the MOE and key operating officials.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications and Requirements:

• Master’s degree (preferred) or bachelor’s degree in International Development, Education, Public Administration, Social Sciences, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience supporting the Liberian education system at the central, county and/or district levels.
• Demonstrated experience supporting community organizations (PTAs, CSOs) to productively engage in school quality.
• Experience developing, delivering, and coordinating professional development training programs and workshops.
• Experience with international development projects in complex environments preferred. • Familiarity with education policy, equity issues and MOE accountability frameworks (i.e., knowledge of MOE’s supervision/monitoring frameworks and approaches).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to produce clear and concise research reports and policy briefs.
• Strong advocacy and mobilization abilities.
• Experience with Microsoft Office.
• Cross-cultural awareness and capabilities.
• Ability to work with high-level government officials.
• Fluency in English required.
• Only Liberian nationals can apply

This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

The position will be based in FHI 360’s ESSA office in Monrovia.

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest and Curriculum Vitae (CV) with Subject: “Advocacy & Accountability Specialist” to Liberia-ESSA-Recruitment@FHI360.org. Closing date is July 26, 2024, at 5.00 pm. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

We offer competitive compensation and a package of exceptional benefits. Please visit the FHI 360 Career Center at http://www.fhi360.org/careers for a list of all open positions.

FHI 360 is an employer with equal opportunity and affirmative action. FHI 360 is committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or veteran status in policies, programs, or activities.