Eritrea: Education Specialist – based in Asmara, Eritrea

Finn Church Aid (FCA) is Finland’s largest organisation for development cooperation and second largest provider of humanitarian assistance. FCA is a founding member of the international aid alliance of churches, ACT Alliance. We seek positive change by supporting the most vulnerable people in fragile contexts. We specialize in supporting local communities’ right to peace, livelihoods and quality education.

FCA has been present in Eritrea since 2015 by implementing Right to Quality Education programme with strong advocacy component. FCA’s official partner in Eritrea is National Commission for Higher Education (NCHE) and FCA Eritrea Country Office (ECO) implements activities in the Eritrea Institute of Technology, College of Education and in the Asmara Community College of Education. In addition to that, ECO supports the work with Youth and Students, innovation work as well as pedagogical work in other colleges and partner institutions.

In the FCA programme Right to Quality Education, FCA’s Education Specialist is working within Asmara Community College of Education (ACCE) to build institutional capacity to deliver quality education. Programme’s main objective is to improve quality education through teacher education and catalyse educational innovations.

Responsibilities:

The Education Specialist will report to the country director who is based in the Head Office but partly present in the programme country. Education Specialist will ensure that FCA’s Global Strategy is followed, support FCA’s Country Strategy in order to achieve the strategic objectives and guarantee quality impact in FCA’s Right to Education Tasks in Asmara Community College of Education. She/He will represent the Country Director when necessary. Also her/his main duties include:

• Run Right to Education activities in ACCE including: Support the education programmes, ensure the internationalization of the degrees, support curriculum development, support the teaching staff, ensure quality teaching.
• Improving capacity to conduct participatory action research in the partner institutions.
• Support Education activities and the Teacher Without Boarders Experts on their work in ACCE.
• Support an environment within FCA which results in strong partnerships and innovations.
• Assure diversification of the funding base and ensure accountability for all donor relations.
• Responsibility for maintaining and developing active collaboration with country’s government parties and international community; including donors.
• Support the pilot trainings in pedagogy in other institutions and support FCA initiatives on journalism and media training.
• Supporting EIT College of Education Master’s Programmes.
• Run possible projects on inclusive education.

Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree, preferably in Education
• Language: Excellent written and oral English, experience on supporting academic writing skills
• Minimum 5 years of work experience as teacher or lecturer, preferably on higher education
• International experience from a developing country, preferably with experience in Africa. Ability to work in a multicultural setting.
• Proven ability to conceptualize, perform and direct technical assignments
• Good communication, coordination, management and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently on delegated tasks and through own initiative in varying conditions; ability to be resourceful and flexible in a limited resource environment

A fixed-term contract for this position will be made until 31.12.2018 with four months’ probation period, starting as soon as possible. The compensation is based on FCA Compensation System and depends on prior work experience. The position is a no-family post.

For more information please contact Country Director Mr. Ikali Karvinen, ikali.karvinen (at) kua.fi. Please apply by using this link no later than 15 December. Applicants will be short-listed and contacted for an interview on a progressive basis. Suitable candidate may be recruited before the end of application time.

The application deadline has been extended until 15 December. Applications received in the first application round (deadline 30^th November) will also be considered.