Discovery Learning Alliance Job Vacancy For Club And Community Action Mobilizers

Discovery Learning Alliance (DLA) is a US-based non-profit organisation using the power of media to improve student learning outcomes, teacher effectiveness and community engagement in schools in the developing world. See www.thepoweroftv.orgfor more information. In many countries, girls continue to face barriers to accessing a quality basic education. This is the focus of Discovery Girls. with DFID and Discovery Communications support, the project will reach hundreds of schools and communities across Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria over the next 2-3 years. DLA is inviting applications for the two senior-most positions of the project team, to be based in Tamale – the overall Project Manager and the Training & Outreach Manager. In the near future, we will be advertising for additional positions responsible for teacher training and community outreach.

Job Description

In many countries, children continue to face barriers to accessing and achieving a quality basic education.  For a second three-year phase, the Discovery Project will continue to address this challenge, reaching hundreds of primary and junior secondary schools and communities and increasing the quality of education and boys’ and girls’ enrolment, attendance, learning, retention and transition across Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria.

With strong support and guidance from the Clubs & Community Outreach Coordinator, the Club and Community Action Mobilizer will implement community engagement and girls and boys club activities geared toward mobilizing greater awareness, dialogue and student- and community-driven collective action to address barriers to girls’ learning (with a focus on literacy and numeracy), retention and transition to secondary school and beyond. This will include contributing, under the leadership of the Community Outreach Coordinator and Deputy Director for Community Outreach and Procurement, to the setting of a strong vision and clear roadmap for the community action and girls and boys club components of the project.  The position will require significant local travel to assigned project sites and communities.

Main Responsibilities

• Establish relationships with community leaders and stakeholders in assigned project areas to introduce the initiative and to raise awareness about girls’ education.
• Undertake and deliver high-quality training to school and community leaders as well as club mentors in assigned project areas.
• Monitor the progress of community training and support school communities as they develop and implement their action plans to address barriers to girls’ learning, retention and transitions, including through formation and strengthening of clubs that reach highly vulnerable, marginalized girls.
• Monitor the progress of club mentor training and support mentors as they develop girls’ and boys’ life skills and link to resources and opportunities for marginalized girls’ learning, retention and transition.
• Monitor and support club members’ economic empowerment, particularly through micro-business start-up and development planning and implementation.
• Facilitate evaluation and continuous learning with relevant colleagues.
• Ensure strong performance in line with agreed plans and budgets.
• Maintain strong communications with supervisors and project sites, ensuring the routine flow of information up from project sites and that all reporting requirements are met.
• Additional duties as required.

Required Skills or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in social work, education, international development, gender or  development (equivalent additional training and experience will be considered);
• Minimum 5 years of experience with community-based facilitation.
• Experience with girls’ education and/or gender and development is strongly preferred.
• Field experience in social and cultural context, especially as it relates to barriers to girls’ education.
• Demonstrated project and people management.
• Demonstrated commitment to program effectiveness, impact, and learning.
• Excellent communications, team-building and organizational skills.
• Excellent cross-cultural, relational and interpersonal skills, including patience, diplomacy, willingness to listen, and respect for partners and colleagues.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment.
• Must be flexible, willing to work irregular hours, and adaptable to changing circumstances.  Must also possess demonstrated problem solving and conflict management skills.
• National of Ghana.  Proficiency in English and at least three local languages spoken in the northern region required.