Manager for Non-Formal Education

RE-ADVERTISED POSITION --Manager for Non-Formal Education

Location: Ramallah

Position Status: Full-time, Regular

Salary Level: 6A

Duration: One-Year, with possibility of extension.

Department: Positive Youth Engagement (PYE), Non-Formal Education

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program

Positive Youth Engagement (PYE) is a seven-year multi-sectoral Youth Activity designed to address the core issues of Palestinian youth development. The PYE activity will reach vulnerable and marginalized youth aged 10-24 at risk of social marginalization in deprived areas and private universities where they live by improving education, health, employment, community involvement (reintegration), and other needs as identified through drivers' assessments. The activity’s goal is to transform vulnerable youth into productive, contributing citizens who are connected to their communities by increasing opportunities for Palestinian youth to realize their potential and to effectively contribute to social and economic development. The following are the main themes of the PYE:

• Core programming that supports, protects, prepares, and engages youth in safe spaces found within a strong network of more than 80 CBOs throughout the West Bank.
• Tailored packages of activities, resources, and referrals that will set youth on individually selected pathways building on the core curriculum to increase opportunities for youth to effectively contribute to social and economic development.
• Opportunities for sustained community engagement and leadership through youth-led pathways and councils, community and social media campaigns, and mentorship of subsequent cohorts as part of sustainable community youth networks.
• Improve opportunities for learning and individual empowerment for youth in grades 7-12 through the network of safe spaces.
• Expand safe spaces through 11 local university career centers to reach youth ages 19-24 and offer the PYE core interventions including the Profound Stress and Attunement (PSA) approach and healthy well-being for youth, parents, and adult caretakers; learning activities (including the Passport To Success (PTS) and I: SERVE), youth pathways; and youth-led small-scale initiatives in addition to technology and innovation-driven learning programs with a focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics), green solutions, and entrepreneurship.

The Position

The Senior Specialist/Manager for Non-Formal Education  will contribute to the implementation of the new component entitled Non-Formal Education under the PYE program, under the supervision of the Technical Advisor for Non-Formal Education. The Senior Specialist/Manager will engage with existing partners in communities and safe spaces (primary, secondary) and the new service providers that will manage the design and implementation of related non-formal education  activities in the safe spaces across 60 geographic locations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The focus of this position would be to:

·       Contribute to the design of the PYE non-formal education framework and implementation plans in collaboration with the Technical Advisor on non-formal education, component’s leads, and partner organizations to ensure a participatory approach to integrate related activities in the target safe spaces;

·       Support the implementation of the non-formal education interventions and activities across target safe spaces in communities of the West Bank and East Jerusalem;

·        Liaise with non-formal education service providers on the development and/or implementation of curricula in math, science, innovation, and the English language, teacher training, and parental and mentor engagement initiatives;

·       Collaborate with the network of partner organizations and safe spaces to advance the implementation of non-formal education and related efforts across target localities with a focus on improving the educational performance of youth grades 7-12 through interactive and transformational learning activities and sessions that will take place in youth safe spaces at a total of 70 safe spaces;

·       Collaborate with the Technical Advisor and MEL team to ensure proper data collection (qaulitative, quantitative) under the non-formal education activities with a focus on measuring effective engagement of the target youth and improvemnet of their educational perfromance.

·        Contribute to the design and implementation of learning and outcome studies under the non-formal education and integrate related findings and insights in the improvement and growth of related activities; and

·       Contribute to the design and implementation of related localization and sustainability plans to institutionalize non-formal educaiton within target safe spaces and across partner organizations. 

·       The Senior Specialist/Manager will be supported by an Officer and Coordinator on the subject matter.

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Essential Responsibilities

• Contribute to the implementation and progress related to non-formal education activities across the network of 60 safe spaces in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
• Track the reach of the non-formal education program to students in public and private schools as well as dropouts from secondary and high schools across target localities with a focus on reaching them through the safe spaces in their communities.
• Support the training of pre-and in-service teachers in private schools and fresh graduates in coordination with specialized service providers.
• Support the training of youth mentors and facilitators within the network of PYE to provide related support to effectively implement and sustain non-formal educaiton activities.
• Facilitate the development of instructional approaches, curricula, and learning materials in support of literacy, math skills, science, and innovation through non-formal modes of instruction.
• Collaboration with educational organizations including Teacher Training Institutes, private schools, and educational civil society organizations to improve the capacity to deliver quality non-formal education interventions and learning.
• Work in close coordination with the Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor to develop and implement gender-specific mechanisms to reach target female youth.
• Engage with the Youth Safe Spaces Specialist to identify potential local NGO partners in the educational and non-formal education sectors.
• Oversee the performance of partners implementing non-formal education activities.
• Contribute to weekly, quarterly, and annual reporting on this component in English.
• Develop and monitor technical deliverables of service providers and safe spaces.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Technical Advisor for Non-Formal Education.

Supervisory Responsibility

The Senior Specialist/Manager will supervise the Officer and Coordinator for Non-Formal Education. Additionally, the Senior Specialist/Manager will be working closely with other staff within the PYE team, the MEL team, and Safe Spaces Specialist, in addition to the PYE partner organization and safe spaces. 

Accountability

Reports directly to: PYE Technical Advisor for Non-Formal Education

Works directly with: PYE Officer and Coordinator for Non-Formal Education

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

-        A degree in International Education, Public Policy, International Development, or a related field.

-        Minimum 8 years of experience in education programs and working with youth is ideal.

-        Experience initiating and implementing effective performance monitoring education delivery.

-        Experience working on education programs in the Palestinian context with key Palestinian stakeholders and community-based organizations is strongly preferred.

-        Prior experience in the implementation of teacher and facilitator training, support, and monitoring programs and protocols, including those that are evidence-based is preferred.

-        Strong interpersonal skills with evidence of ability to productively interact with a wide range and levels of organizations.

-        Demonstrated ability to be flexible and creative.

-        Strong communications and technical skills.

-        Fluent verbal and written communication skills in Arabic and excellent verbal and written English is required.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members and other stakeholders of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem-solving. This position requires an ability to think creatively about changing norms that lead to greater opportunities for economic growth at household, community, and institutional levels. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, problem-solve, work within a complex and sensitive setting, and follow laws and security protocols. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Qualified persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online HERE no later than 2:00 PM Tuesday, 5 March 2024.  Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.