Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity, with a focus on vulnerable and under-served populations.  Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

EDC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Project Description

USAID’s Tisamale Mabuku Project (TMP) activates the role of communities and civil society in the management and utilization of National Reading Program (NRP) Teaching and Learning Materials (TLM) and works with Ministry of Education (MoE) system stakeholders at all levels to strengthen TLM provision and use through community engagement, social accountability and collaborative governance. EDC and its team of Malawian civil society partners work with school community management groups, including School Management Committees (SMCs), Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), and Mothers Groups (MGs), district-based MoE staff and Civil Society organizations to co-create sustainable solutions for improved TLM management, replenishment, and use that are owned by participants and reflect local contexts.

Job Description

The Public Sector TLM Senior Technical Specialist will drive efforts under Intermediate Result 1 (IR 1:“Strengthen GoR policy and capacity to forecast, plan, procure, and distribute TLMs.”)

This role involves , bringing together government counterparts to strengthen Rwanda’s TLM market system and building strategic relationships with the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), the Rwanda Education Board (REB), the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), and other key GoR entities to  enhance REB’s capacity to effectively forecast, plan, procure, and distribute textbooks and supplementary Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) that are affordable and accessible to schools and communities, contributing to a more resilient TLM ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities:

IR 1 Leadership and Coordination

• In collaboration with other IR Leads, develop, manage and implement the IR 1 plan of activities and ensure alignment with MINEDUC and REB’s priorities.
• Develop, coordinate, and execute a multi-faceted strategy to improve REB’s capacity to forecast, plan, procure, and distribute TLMs in schools and communities.
• Implement series of activities with REB and other public sector agencies that strengthens the TLM Market System.
• Liaise and engage available Technical Advisors to help guide and advice on specific content areas of IR 1.
• Identify, manage, and work closely with expert consultants to address specialized areas related to increasing REB’s capacity to forecast, plan, procure, and distribute TLMs.

Policy Assessment and Development

• Collaborate with REB and MINEDUC and system stakeholders to assess current TLM-related policies, identify gaps and practical improvements, and recommend adjustments for policy improvement or development.
• Facilitate a collaborative approach that brings together TLM actors from public and private sector, NGOs, and other stakeholders from the TLM Market System to align priorities and support policy assessment and development.

Capacity Building and Training

• Implement a capacity building plan for REB that leads to measurable results and includes trainings as well as other innovative approaches to capacity strengthening.
• Identify and organize/facilitate targeted training opportunities for REB on critical topics, including forecasting, planning, procurement, and distribution of TLMs.
• In collaboration with REB, identify the strengths and areas of improvement in current planning, procurement and distribution processes, workflow and systems and develop and implement a capacity building approach for REB that leads to measurable improvements in their capacity in TLM forecasting, planning, procurement, and distribution.
• In collaboration with REB, identify and develop the necessary tools to support REB’s capacity building in TLM forecasting, planning, and procurement.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build on existing platforms within public and private sector to engage, public sector actors, private publishers, booksellers, printers, NGOs, and other relevant actors to foster collaboration and address identified priorities within the TLM Market.
• Serve as a link between GoR and private sector stakeholders to develop a unified approach to TLM standards, procurement, and distribution.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor the progress of IR 1 activities and prepare external reports, ensuring alignment with project objectives and donor expectations.
• Document IR 1 outcomes, best practices, and lessons learned and facilitate results sharing with public sector stakeholders.

Supervisory responsibilities

• Supervise and guide the work of government-embedded staff to ensure alignment with project objectives and agreed priorities.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education, Public Administration, Project Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in Education, preferably in education systems, policy development, or government capacity-building programs.
• Strong understanding of Rwanda’s TLM market system, and government agency structures such as REB, MINEDUC, etc.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing project activities and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to engage with diverse stakeholders including government officials and private sector representatives.
• Proficiency in data-driven planning, forecasting, and report writing.
• Excellent writing skills.

Desired Skills:

• Knowledge of TLM Market System and system actors
• Familiarity with GoR’s education policies.
• Experience in implementing USAID-funded projects or similar donor-funded initiatives, including familiarity with project cycles and dynamics as well as donor rules and regulations.

Language:

• Fluent in verbal and written English and Kinyarwanda

Additional Information

Job closing date: January 6, 2025

EDC is committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits.

Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified.  No phone calls, please.