Inclusion Specialist, Education Pathways to Peace

Job Description:

Inclusion Specialist, Education Pathways to Peace

About the position

The Inclusion Specialist will support and work closely with the Lead Inclusion Adviser as well as the broader Pathways team of technical advisers towards the implementation of the program’s Phase 3 Inclusion Strategy and its annual inclusion workplan. The position will support the further design and implementation of Pathways integrated approach to inclusion. It will provide enhanced expertise and guidance towards intersectional issues of inclusion and exclusion as they impact K-3 education in the BARMM. The work of this important position cuts across the entire team and spectrum of activities and therefore requires a flexible, adaptive, and responsive way of working with Pathway’s advisers, MEARL and Operations to ensure that programs and inputs are well coordinated, synergistic, and coherent. He/she will identify gaps, challenge s, and opportunities in inclusive education programming across the program and will also advise on opportunities for strengthening Pathways internal organizational culture as it relates to building inclusive mindsets, practices, and processes.

Child Protection: Level 2
The responsibilities of the program employee may require contact with children or young people.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

The key responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

1. In close consultation with the Lead Inclusion Adviser, provide technical inputs in updating and enhancing the existing Inclusion Strategy and action plan, and support the integration of the intersecting issues of gender, disability, ethnicity, geographic isolation, conflict, poverty, and other areas impacting access to quality education for all in the BARMM
2. In close consultation with the Lead Inclusion Adviser and working alongside other Program Managers, Specialists, Officers, and Staff, drive the implementation of inclusion activities in the institutions and learning sites and provide technical guidance and support on inclusion in targeted inclusion activities identified in the annual inclusion workplan
3. Assist in preparing quality activity designs of activities that are linked to the program goals, end-of-program outcomes, and annual inclusion workplan
4. Provide support to the drafting of annual inclusion workplan, six-monthly progress reports, and monthly management dashboard
5. Lead in organising activities, particularly related to inclusion, which may include coordinating and liaising with program partners and stakeholders, technical support in managing the day-to-day operations of activities/program, documentation of the proceedings, budgeting, drafting of activity accomplishment reports, and developing Program Activity Plans (PAP)
6. Support the mapping of key and indirect stakeholders in inclusion in the BARMM more broadly, mindful of the Program’s multi-partiality, and the work around inclusive education in the BARMM transcending education and involving whole of government and whole of society responses
7. With technical guidance from the Lead Inclusion Adviser, support the MEARL team in its monitoring activities, which may include providing technical support to surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and gathering of data and information, to ensure relevant and accurate reporting of inclusion activity outputs and outcomes including encoding these to the Pathways Information Management System
8. Support the program’s Sustainable Business Reporting as may be assigned by Senior Management
9. Under the guidance of the Lead Inclusion Adviser, undertake Inclusion ‘health checks’ bi-annually to ensure that the program is effectively practicing inclusive development in its programming and business processes and building on learning for continuous improvement
10. Provide support in implementing all inclusive education capacity building trainings and workshops for Pathways staff, MBHTE, BARMM agencies, CSO partners, and community organisations
11. Ensuring that all activities and projects identified as part of the annual inclusion workplan will be based on “Do No Harm” and other ethical standards, principles, and core values of Pathways program
12. Continuous environmental scanning and analysis of the socio-economic-political situation in the BARMM and related or adjacent areas for periodical review of the senior management team
13. Other duties as may reasonably be required by the Lead Inclusion Adviser or Senior Management consistent with the incumbent’s qualifications and experience

Required Qualifications: The Inclusion Specialist should possess the following qualifications, experience, skills and competencies:

1. Qualifications in education, political science, human rights, social work, early childhood care and development, teaching, disability studies, development studies, Islamic studies, public administration, and other relevant areas in humanities and the social sciences are desirable
2. Evidence of professional development and training in inclusive education primarily and inclusive development more generally, complemented by related experience and competencies in the following: social development, community development, humanitarian work, human rights, teaching, and indigenous studies
3. Strong understanding and experience working on inclusive development in Mindanao, preferably in the BARMM, and including working with sectors experiencing disadvantage such as people with disabilities, people living in geographically isolated areas, Indigenous Communities, displaced families, and other sectors
4. Demonstrated experience in providing technical assistance and capacity building services to government, non-government organisation, and community partners in an inclusive and culturally sensitive way
5. An understanding of the development, education, and social inclusion and exclusion challenges in Bangsamoro that impact access to quality early grade education
6. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and respectfully in a cross-cultural setting
7. Excellent written and verbal communication, liaison, facilitation, and interpersonal skills; and fluent in English (written and oral). Ability to speak at least one Mindanao language highly desirable
8. A basic, understanding of Islamic education, child protection issues, Indigenous People’s Education, alternative learning modalities, universal design principles, and associated inclusive education competency areas would be an asset
9. Demonstrated ability to think and work politically
10. A team player, inclusive, collaborative, focused, flexible, insightful, peace builder, and a problem solver

Applications close on 08 January 2023.

Important Note:
Along with their CV (maximum 4 pages), interested applicants must submit a written response (2-4 pages only) addressing their suitability for the role as per the qualifications enumerated above.