Initiative of the European Union, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO)
Education EU Aid Volunteer – Concern Worldwide Sierra Leone
Junior
1 position
Location:
Apprenticeship: Concern Worldwide, 55 Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2, Ireland
Overseas Placement: Concern Worldwide, 23A, Cantonment Road, King Harman Road, P.O. Box 248 Freetown
Closing date:
06/09/2016
Concern Worldwide is looking for talented people with a relevant technical skillset who are committed to long-term service in the humanitarian / development sector who can demonstrate an outstanding ability to adapt to difficult circumstances, remain positive, motivated and productive.
In this placement the EU Aid Volunteer will support the development, implementation and documentation of the Safe Learning Model in Sierra Leone, to address school-related gender-based violence. This will include working closely with the Safe Learning Model researchers and supporting activities to improve child well-being.
Successful EU Aid Volunteers working with Concern Worldwide will benefit from:
- Experience of Volunteering in a large international NGO through a 3 month apprenticeship based in Concern’s Head Office in Dublin
- Hands-on learning in a 12 month field placement in the Concern Sierra Leone country programme
- Opportunity for continuous self–development with the help of a mentor, line manager & self-assessment tools
Description
Concern has worked in Sierra Leone since 1996. At the time, Sierra Leone was still in the midst of an 11-year civil war, and Concern’s approach focused primarily on emergency response and meeting basic needs. Following the end of the war in 2002, the nature of Concern’s work in the country has shifted towards longer-term development projects, with a focus on livelihoods and agriculture, primary education, health, and water and sanitation.
Concern currently works in 3 out of the nation’s 14 districts, namely Western Area/Freetown, Tonkolili, and Bo. In Western Area, Concern works in the areas of health, water and sanitation (WASH), and emergency response. In Tonkolili, Concern implements an integrated programme targeted at overall poverty reduction, made up of a variety of projects encompassing health, agriculture, gender, and education. In Bo District, Concern implements the Innovations for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (“Innovations”), a health programme which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Cross-cutting themes of learning and knowledge management, governance and empowerment, HIV and gender mainstreaming, as well as accountability. Ebola Response and longer term recovery programming was added to the portfolio in 2014.
Concern’s Sierra Leone team is comprised of 201 national and 21 international staff across the three programme locations.
Tasks
Whilst at headquarters with Concern Worldwide
- To develop a strong understanding of Concern’s approach to and experience in education programming, based on our Global Education Strategy.
- To develop a strong understanding of global best practice in the prevention of and response to school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) and improving child well-being.
- To support the education adviser team in the development of guidance materials for field offices in the area of SRGBV and child well-being.
- To support the production of relevant programme, advocacy and communications materials.
- Develop a good understanding of the EU Aid Volunteer competency framework.
- Develop a good understanding of Concern’s values and ways of working.
- Design an EU Aid Volunteer communication project plan for implementation throughout the course of the apprenticeship and deployment period.
Whilst deployed to Concern Worldwide Sierra Leone
- To develop a strong understanding of the field-level context for education programming and SRGBV work across education, health and protection programmes.
- To support the education coordinator in planning and implementing the Safe Learning Model, bringing in learning from global best practice.
- To deliver training sessions and provide mentoring to education staff as they implement safe learning interventions, particularly in the areas of child well-being.
- To support the research design for the Safe Learning Model, working closely with the research partners and education team to document processes and develop research plans.
- To coordinate the development of a well-being index for Sierra Leone in collaboration with the research partners
- To document learning from the design stage of the Safe Learning Model and disseminate this learning within Concern and externally
- To develop a communications strategy that facilitates the education team to document and share learning from all stages of the Safe Learning Model internally and externally, with an emphasis on national-level influence and learning.
- To support the production of relevant programme, advocacy and communication materials.
Key Performance Indicators
- Materials for training sessions on child well-being and SRGBV.
- Guidance notes on how to develop a child well-being index.
- Tools for designing, implementing and monitoring Concern’s Safe Learning Model in Sierra Leone.
- Summary document on the Safe Learning Model in Sierra Leone, including research design, for external audiences.
- Advocacy and learning materials for Concern Sierra Leone.
- Briefings, reports and presentations as agreed with line manager.
- Demonstrate behaviours in line with the EU Aid Volunteer competency framework and Concern’s values.
Required competences
EU Aid Volunteers will be expected to progress against the EU Aid Volunteer Competency
Framework throughout the course of their EU Aid Volunteer placement with Concern. The EU Aid
Volunteer transversal competencies are:
- Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships
- Volunteering mind-set
- Managing oneself in a pressured and changing environment
- Achieving Results
- Understanding the humanitarian context of the EU Aid Volunteers initiative and applying humanitarian principles
- Operating safely and securely at all times
- Managing projects in humanitarian contexts
- Communication and advocacy
Technical competence in line with the EUAV competency framework for this position:
- Gender Issues and Child Protection
Demonstrated ability in the following core competencies
- Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships
- Managing One-self in a pressured and changing environment
- Achieving Results
Selection criteria
Applications are made directly within the sending organisation, please check out the how to applysection.
Essential:
- Masters level graduate in Education/Social Sciences
- Up to 5 years of relevant experience in implementation of education programmes mainly in developed, developing and underdeveloped countries
- A minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in primary education in a developed, developing or humanitarian setting
- A minimum of 6 months of relevant experience working in a developing or humanitarian setting
- Excellent spoken and written English
- Spoken and written French to a minimum B2 level on the Common European Framework of References for Languages
Desirable:
- Proven experience teaching at primary or secondary school level or child protection experience
- Proven experience of designing and implementing an innovative communications project
- Proven experience of working in Africa, especially in West African context
- Research experience in the fields of education, child protection and SRGBV
- High level computer literacy with extensive knowledge of Excel and SPSS and any other database packages
- Proven experience/knowledge of Digital Data Gathering (DDG)
Conditions of service
Learning Opportunities:
An exciting and structured learning and development plan will be developed for each EU Aid Volunteer. This will include; self-assessment, structured learning and development plan reviews, on line learning, peer to peer support, a two week EU run workshop and networking and learning opportunities across consortium. EU Aid Volunteers will also have an assigned Mentor for the entirety of their volunteer placement with Concern. This is combined with line management in country from an experienced humanitarian professional.
Working and Living Conditions
Job location:
Concern Head office Dublin, Ireland
Concern Sierra Leone
Concern Head office Dublin, Ireland
Concern Sierra Leone
Contract:
EU Aid Volunteer Agreement
EU Aid Volunteer Agreement
Volunteer Allowance:
In line with EU Aid Volunteer daily allowances:
In line with EU Aid Volunteer daily allowances:
- Whilst in Dublin €651.91 per month
- Whilst in Sierra Leone €598.12 per month
Accommodation:
Accommodation in Dublin whilst on apprenticeship and when deployed in Sierra Leone will be provided by Concern.
Accommodation in Dublin whilst on apprenticeship and when deployed in Sierra Leone will be provided by Concern.
At the end of volunteer placement an allowance of €1200 will be provided as a resettlement allowance.
Travel:
A return flight will be provided to Sierra Leone from the EU Aid Volunteers home country. In addition a return flight will be provided for use, at the earliest, 9 months into the volunteer placement.
A return flight will be provided to Sierra Leone from the EU Aid Volunteers home country. In addition a return flight will be provided for use, at the earliest, 9 months into the volunteer placement.
The cost of pre-departure preparations; insurance, medical clearance and vaccinations will be provided.
Line Management and Mentoring:
Line Manager whilst deployed - National Education Coordinator - Sierra Leone
Mentor - Senior Education Adviser – Dublin
HOW TO APPLY:
Selection process
Shortlisting and Interviews:
To apply for this position please go to http://www.concern.net/jobs.
Please note that only complete applications can be considered.
Full applications require the following completed documentation to be submitted through thehttp://www.concern.net/job page:
- Cover Letter
- Completed EUAV application form (below)
- CV in Europass Format (available to download from the EUAV portal)
- Completed self- assessment questionnaire self-assessment_questionnaire_sel.xlsx
All applications should be submitted by midnight on 06/09/2016
Candidates who are selected in the initial shortlist will be required to undertake an online Sonru interview from the 14/09/2016.
Interview Process:
Candidates who progress to the final interview stage will be required to be available for a video interview between 29/09/2016 - 06/10/2016.
EU Aid Volunteers training centre:
Please note that the final stage of the recruitment process for this position will be a mandatory ten day training. This training will take place in either October or November 2016, in Pisa, Italy. Candidates who are shortlisted will need to be available to attend the mandatory training. In preparation for this the shortlisted candidates will be required to undertake 30 hours of e learning prior to attending the face-to-face training. Costs for travel and accommodation for attending the training in Italy for those shortlisted to this stage in the recruitment process will be provided. The final selection will then take place after successful completion of the online and face-to-face training.
Candidates are required to be able to start the apprenticeship for this position in November 2016.
Expected date decision on outcome:
08/11/2016
Timetable
Date of training:
EU run training will take place in either October or November 2016
Apprenticeship Placement:
3 month apprenticeship to start November 2016 based in Concern's head office in Dublin, Ireland
Pre-deployment preparation and induction:
This will include Concern organisation induction, structured probationary period, security training, pre-departure medical and vaccinations.
Deployment:
12 month deployment to Concern Worldwide Sierra Leone expected from end February 2017
Post-deployment activities:
EU Aid Volunteers will be able to attend a resettlement course when finishing their placement with Concern. They will also be expected to present on their experience as an EU Aid Volunteer with Concern at the end of their placement.
Related Documents:
