Job Title: Technical Advisor II - School Feeding, Food for Education, Sierra Leone, Kabala
Requisition Number: I2675 Position Type: Full Time
Location: Sierra Leone, Kabala
Reports to: Director of the School Feeding Directorate; with dotted line relationships with the Country Representative of Catholic Relief Services and the Food for Education Chief of Party
Start Date: 1st December 2015
Note: This position is contingent on donor funding.
About CRS: Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Since 2012, CRS Sierra Leone in line with the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to support basic education for all, has been implementing the Food for Education (FFE) program -
”All Pikin for Learn”. Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); “All Pikin for Learn” is an integrated education program -with school feeding and literacy as major components- designed to improve the quality and relevance of education, encourage complete cycle of primary education for vulnerable and marginalized children, especially girls; and increase community involvement in education.
”All Pikin for Learn”. Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); “All Pikin for Learn” is an integrated education program -with school feeding and literacy as major components- designed to improve the quality and relevance of education, encourage complete cycle of primary education for vulnerable and marginalized children, especially girls; and increase community involvement in education.
The three-year program implemented in five vulnerable chiefdoms of Koinadugu District namely; Sulima, Mongo, Neini, Neya and Dembelia Sinkunia started in October 2012 and is benefitting nearly 30,000 pupils in 192 primary schools. The program is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology together with local and international partners.
Since January 2015, the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MEST), declared its intention to undertake a National Home Grown School Feeding Program to serve as a safety net and a means of ensuring human capital development. The initiative seeks to target approximately 1,200,000 (one million two hundred thousand) primary school going children across the country in government, government assisted and community schools.
Catholic Relief Services and the World Food Programme are in the fore front of supporting the government in this initiative. CRS is seeking a School Feeding Technical Adviser to be seconded to the office of the Director of the School Feeding Directorate that is being established in Freetown.
JOB SUMMARY
The School Feeding Technical Adviser shall provide technical guidance to the Director of the School Feeding Directorate and team for the smooth planning and roll out of the national School Feeding (SF) program.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Capacity Building
• Undertake training needs assessment of all technical staff in the School Feeding Directorate and propose training according to need.
• Identify trainers and facilitate the training of the Assistant Directors in the basic concepts of school feeding, Food Programming and Management
• Play a lead role in the hiring of commodity and supply chain management staff and ensure that they adequately trained.
• Lead Knowledge management on SF issues ensuring documentation and dissemination of lessons learned in the implementation and draw on best practices to improve the program.
• Supports the identification of sources of funding and negotiating agreements with donors and partners
• Strengthen strategic programme opportunities and come up with innovative ways of adapting same to existing context.
• Support and accompany the Director and team in Preparing programme implementation briefs, bi-annual and annual reports, and other working documents and reports, as required.
• Facilitate the training and mentoring of technical personnel within key line ministries, notably MEST, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health in sustainably linking local agriculture production, nutrition security, and educational outcomes with the school feeding programme.
• Support the preparation of a National SF Logical framework and benchmark planned results through a baseline study.
• Identify trainers and facilitate the training of the Assistant Directors in the basic concepts of school feeding, Food Programming and Management
• Play a lead role in the hiring of commodity and supply chain management staff and ensure that they adequately trained.
• Lead Knowledge management on SF issues ensuring documentation and dissemination of lessons learned in the implementation and draw on best practices to improve the program.
• Supports the identification of sources of funding and negotiating agreements with donors and partners
• Strengthen strategic programme opportunities and come up with innovative ways of adapting same to existing context.
• Support and accompany the Director and team in Preparing programme implementation briefs, bi-annual and annual reports, and other working documents and reports, as required.
• Facilitate the training and mentoring of technical personnel within key line ministries, notably MEST, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health in sustainably linking local agriculture production, nutrition security, and educational outcomes with the school feeding programme.
• Support the preparation of a National SF Logical framework and benchmark planned results through a baseline study.
Policy Formulation and Implementation
• As a matter of priority, support the review and validation of the Draft National School Feeding Policy to serve as a legal framework for the National School Feeding implementation.
• Ensure compliance with international best practices, policies, criteria and procedures with respect to food aid
• Ensure that implementation of the SF programme is done in line with the National SF policy and other pertinent national policies.
• Lead the development of Commodity Management policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Guidance Manuals.
• Have an expert’s view of the national policy environment relating to School Feeding, Social safety nets (food), nutrition and Education and assiduously work to ensure inclusion of School Feeding into pertinent national policies.
• Ensure compliance with international best practices, policies, criteria and procedures with respect to food aid
• Ensure that implementation of the SF programme is done in line with the National SF policy and other pertinent national policies.
• Lead the development of Commodity Management policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Guidance Manuals.
• Have an expert’s view of the national policy environment relating to School Feeding, Social safety nets (food), nutrition and Education and assiduously work to ensure inclusion of School Feeding into pertinent national policies.
Coordination
• Ensure coordination with pertinent Ministries, Agencies, NGOs and stakeholders to access complementary inputs for implementing the School Feeding program.
• Support the development of detailed and costed work plan for the directorate in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders especially the School Feeding Steering Committee.
• Support the development of detailed and costed work plan for the directorate in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders especially the School Feeding Steering Committee.
Representation
• Represent the National SF programme in meetings, Education Development Partners meeting and other relevant for a and provide meaningful inputs to promote the SF programme.
• Maintain effective working relationships with NGOs, WFP, local authorities, implementing partners and other civil society players
• Maintain effective working relationships with NGOs, WFP, local authorities, implementing partners and other civil society players
Agency-Wide Competencies (For All CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
Key Working Relationships
Internal: The Director of the SF Directorate, Deputy Directors in the 14 districts of Sierra Leone, CRS Country Representative, Chief of Party
External: Minister of Education Science and Technology and senior staff of the Ministry
External: Minister of Education Science and Technology and senior staff of the Ministry
Supervisory Responsibility
• None
• None
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Business Administration, Operations Management or equivalent experience.
• At least 10 years’ experience in Administration, Commodity Management or Logistics Management
• Three years’ experience in Title II commodities management as a Senior Manager.
• Experience and skill with Food Aid programs especially Title II.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and independently to meet strict deadlines.
• Willingness to travel to remote parts of the country with basic amenities.
• Excellent knowledge of computer word-processing and spreadsheet programs
• At least 10 years’ experience in Administration, Commodity Management or Logistics Management
• Three years’ experience in Title II commodities management as a Senior Manager.
• Experience and skill with Food Aid programs especially Title II.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and independently to meet strict deadlines.
• Willingness to travel to remote parts of the country with basic amenities.
• Excellent knowledge of computer word-processing and spreadsheet programs
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
EOE
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