SAHEL EDUCATION COORDINATOR

To lead in providing technical support for the effective delivery of education programmes and policy advocacy to ensure universal access to free, public and transformative quality education in the Central Sahel region (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger). The role will position transformative education as an effective enabler to fight inequality and injustice, It will facilitate effective linkages between country programmes and campaigns in Central Sahel, the WAF Platform and Oxfam’s global campaigns to fight for access to quality education as a right in itself and as a means to fight inequality. In addition, the purpose of the role will be to facilitate linkages and strategic partnerships to achieve gender justice, good governance and inclusive democracies as well as just economies and climate justice in ways that address Oxfam’s country, regional and global campaign ambitions.

Key Responsibilities

Risk Management

Education Programme and Campaigns Planning and implementation

• Contribute to strategic direction of Central Sahel country teams on program design, planning and implementation of activities in relation to education policies and financing, aiming at free, quality, inclusive public education for all.

Support the provision of technical support to staff and partners in the Central Sahel region on education in fragile contexts, Gender Transformative Education, advocacy for increased public financing of basic education and TVET linked to green solutions and climate change adaptation as well as the links between progressive taxation and to progressive financing for education to achieve SDG4.

• Support the development of annual work plans for education policy advocacy and campaigns that address the common priorities of Oxfam country programmes in the Central Sahel region and relevant regional and global campaigns.
• Coordinate effectively and timely implementation of Sahel-wide education advocacy and campaigns.
• Strengthen the links between the Gender, Rights and Justice campaign and the work done in relation to the Gender Transformative Education approaches developed by the Oxfam Education Community of Practice and Influencing (ECPI).
• Support the development of regional and global influencing and campaigns strategies, contributing to regional and global campaigns – Education for/into Gender rights and Justice, Even it Up (EiU) campaigns.
• Provide technical support to country teams and partners to understand and use the ECPI change pathways on Gender Justice, Accountable Governance, Just economies and Climate Justice.
• Support research and the development of thinking, learning and knowledge approaches that support women’s and young people’s empowerment, promoting free access to quality education and training, including for populations affected by crisis and conflict.

Networking, partnership, and capacity building

• Lead in designing and providing technical support to staff and national and regional partners’ capacity development, alliance building and networks.
• Be the “go-to person” on issues related to the Education Community of Practice and Influencing (ECPI) in the Sahel region**.**
• Facilitate networking, learning and sharing between members of ECPI in the Central Sahel region.
• Lead in updating the membership data base in Central Sahel and knowledge of ECPI members on significant developments relevant to education.
• Identify, assess, establish, and sustain partnerships with like-minded organisations whose complementary capacities add value to Oxfam’s strategies, and programme quality and impact in the Central Sahel.
• Support the identification and development of strategies to improve upon on education partners’ thematic, organizational and advocacy competencies.
• Initiate and/or strengthen networks to which Oxfam is a member in the Central Sahel region.
• Convene, identify and participate in relevant national, regional and continental events on education.

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Master’s degree in a relevant field plus at least 5 years of working experience in education programming and policy advocacy.
• Understanding of, and demonstrable commitment to, Transformative Education and its participatory methodologies.
• Proven experience of strategic programme planning and management, and coordination of complex projects and multi-country programmes in fragile contexts.
• Demonstrable understanding of advocacy and influencing, particularly directed at Governments and inter-governmental institutions.
• Proven experience on conducting effective advocacy and influencing
• Proven experience of facilitating networking and partnership with managing contracts and programme/contract finances.
• Proven ability to analyse and communicate complex information to a wide audience.
• Excellent written and oral communication, reporting, facilitation and representation skills with ability to represent Oxfam at a strategic level and in high-profile environments.
• Experience in providing advisory support to both senior managers and project staff and well-developed ability to facilitate learning and knowledge management.
• Fluent in written and spoken French, and a working knowledge of English.

Desirable

• Proven working experience in, and knowledge of Africa
• Knowledge and / or experience of common Oxfam norms objects, standards and tools.

Key Behavioural Competencies (based on Oxfam’s Leadership Model)

Competencies

Description

Decisiveness

We are comfortable to make transparent decisions and to adapt decision making modes to the context and needs.

Influencing

We have the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders in a way that leads to increased impact for the organisation We spot opportunities to influence effectively and where there are no opportunities we have the ability to create them in a respectful and impactful manner.

Humility

We put ‘we’ before ‘me’ and place an emphasis on the power of the collective, nurture the team and play to the strengths of each individual. We are not concerned with hierarchical power, and we engage with, trust and value the knowledge and expertise of others across all levels of the organization.

Relationship Building

We understand the importance of building relationship, within and outside the organization. We have the ability to engage with traditional and non-traditional stakeholders in ways that lead to increased impact for the organisation.

Listening

We are good listeners who can see where deeper levels of thoughts and tacit assumptions differ. Our messages to others are clear, and consider different preferences.

Mutual Accountability

We can explain our decisions and how we have taken them based on our organizational values. We are ready to be held to account for what we do and how we behave, as we are also holding others to account in a consistent manner.

Agility, Complexity, and Ambiguity

We scan the environment, anticipate changes, are comfortable with lack of clarity and deal with a large number of elements interacting in diverse and unpredictable ways.

Systems Thinking

We view problems as parts of an overall system and in their relation to the whole system, rather than reacting to a specific part, outcome or event in isolation. We focus on cyclical rather than linear cause and effect. By consistently practicing systems thinking we are aware of and manage well unintended consequences of organisational decisions and actions.

Strategic Thinking and Judgment

We use judgment, weighing risk against the imperative to act. We make decisions consistent with organizational strategies and values.

Vision Setting

We have the ability to identify and lead visionary initiatives that are beneficial for our organization and we set high-level direction through a visioning process that engages the organization and diverse external stakeholders.

Self-Awareness

We are able to develop a high degree of self-awareness around our own strengths and weaknesses and our impact on others. Our self-awareness enables us to moderate and self-regulate our behaviors to control and channel our impulses for good purposes.

Enabling

We all work to effectively empower and enable others to deliver the organizations goals through creating conditions of success. We passionately invest in others by developing their careers, not only their skills for the job. We provide freedom; demonstrate belief and trust provide appropriate support. We give more freedom and demonstrate belief and trust, underpinned with appropriate support.

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