Short description
The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) is seeking a
Programme Manager for the Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF). The CSEF
provides funding, builds capacity and facilitates cross-country and
cross-regional learning for up to 55 national civil society coalitions engaging
in education sector advocacy in Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the
Middle East. This is a complex and high-profile programme, requiring
significant skills and expertise in strategic management, budget management,
monitoring and evaluation, cross-country coordination, working with partners,
and donor liaison, preferably in relation to civil society advocacy and/or the
education sector.
Introduction
The Global Campaign for Education (GCE), founded in 1999, is
a global civil society movement working to end the education crisis. GCE
members brings together civil society organisations, NGOs, teacher unions,
child rights activists, parents' associations, young people and community
organisations, who work together in coalition in nearly 100 countries. GCE
promotes education as a basic human right, and mobilises the public to put
pressure on governments and the international community to fulfil their
promises to provide free, compulsory, high quality public education for all.
GCE is driven by the conviction that quality education for
all is achievable, and that civil society and citizen action to put pressure on
governments and hold them to account is critical to creating and maintaining
the necessary political will. The costs of inaction on the continuing global
education crisis are immense; we believe that in an increasingly
knowledge-based economy, denial of the right to education is an injustice that
will translate into growing inequality, poverty and deprivation. The Global
Campaign for Education commits itself to achieve its mission with objectivity,
tra nsparency and accountability and to follow democratic norms and processes
in all its plans and actions. Visit http://www.campaignforeducation.org
to learn more.
GCE provides core support to its members' work on education
advocacy in Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East through the
Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF), a large-scale initiative to foster the
growth and influence of citizens in education policy development,
implementation and monitoring. Managed by GCE in partnership with regional
networks, and with the collaboration of INGO allies, the CSEF supports national
coalitions of civil society organizations in around 50 countries. This support
includes channelling funds; providing tools, training and support to build
capacity for policy and advocacy activities; and facilitating cross-country and
cross-regional collaboration, learning and communication. Through CSEF, civil
society coalitions are strengthening their participation in national education
sector planning and policy processes; building greater public awareness of and
engagement in education issues; improving the quality of their research, policy
and lobbying; and working together across countries and regions to share
learning and engage with international processes. The CSEF is funded by the
Global Partnership for Education (GPE), a multi-donor trust fund, with UNESCO
supervising the funds on behalf of the GPE Board. The CSEF Global Oversight
Committee, a sub-group of the GCE Board, is responsible for monitoring
performance on behalf of the GCE movement, and makes key strategic decisions.
GCE is currently recruiting a Programme Manager for the
CSEF, who will work closely with a small team in the GCE secretariat and report
to GCE's Global Coordinator.
Job purpose: To manage programmatic aspects of the
Civil Society Education Fund on behalf of GCE and in close liaison with
regional CSEF implementation partners, including strategic planning; budget
oversight; responsibility for a complex, multi-partner implementation plan;
monitoring and reporting; and liaison with UNESCO.
Reporting to: GCE Global Coordinator
Line reports: CSEF Programme Officer
Key working relationships: This role requires
engagement with all GCE staff, with particularly strong links to the Networks
and Learning Manager, who manages the capacity-building, collaboration and
learning work funded through CSEF, and the Finance Manager & CSEF
Accountant, who oversees all financial transfers within CSEF and ensures
compliance with the programme's financial management guidelines.
Location: Global Campaign for Education Headquarters
- Johannesburg, South Africa
Salary: R545,610, plus is" month cheque (pro-rata)
and package including pension, health and relocation.
Contract Length: Fixed term contract to March 2015.
Extension is dependent on future funding.
Duties and responsibilities:
The overall responsibility is to manage the CSEF programme
at global level, within the terms of the funding agreement and GCE procedures,
ensuring strong impact at every level. The specific responsibilities are to:
·Work with the
GCE Finance Manager and the CSEF Networks and Learning Manager to ensure that
implementation of CSEF, in terms of programs, advocacy, content and finance, is
in line with the agreed strategic direction.
·Develop and
oversee CSEF global implementation plans and budgets in line with the approved
proposal and in consultation with key GCE colleagues and the eight regional
implementing partner organizations.
·Establish strong
working relationships and regular communication with regional implementing
partners and participate actively in regional planning and oversight.
·Develop and
implement an effective CSEF monitoring and evaluation strategy, maintaining
active oversight of programme implementation at all levels and adjusting
programme activities accordingly so as to maximise impact on CSEF objectives.
·Act swiftly to
resolve any emerging concerns in CSEF implementation at regional or global
level, working with the Global Coordinator, Global Oversight Committee, GCE
colleagues and / or regional partners, as required.
·Manage reporting
to UNESCO in line with the funding agreement requirements, working closely with
regional partners and the Finance Manager, and ensuring full accountability for
implementation of activities and the use of the funds.
·Work closely
with the CSEF Networks and Learning Manager to ensure the learning strategy is
fully integrated into CSEF plans, budgets and reports, and to ensure that
CSEF-funded activities are well captured and feed into future learning.
·Work with the
GCE Finance Manager to ensure efficient distribution of financial resources to
the relevant regional bodies and ensure sound financial managem ent of the
project as a whole.
·Oversee GCE's
budget for CSEF activities.
·Manage the CSEF
Programme Officer and, working with the Global Coordinator, coordinate the
input of GCE colleagues (policy, communications, etc) into the CSEF programme.
·Maintain regular
communication with the CSEF Global Oversight Committee, keeping it informed and
supporting it to fulfil its role.
·Develop a
sustainability plan for CSEF-funded activity, including lobbying GPE and other
key actors for continued funding for civil society advocacy in education.
·Ensure strong
communication about results to the GCE, CSEF and GPE networks, promoting the
visibility of CSEF.
·Contribute to
GCE's ongoing advocacy with the international community for greater space for
civil society engagement and participation in the education sector at national,
regional and global levels.
Person specification
Essential
·At least three
years experience of project management in Africa, Asia, Latin America and/or
the Middle East, preferably to include designing, managing and implementing
large-scale, multi-partner projects or programmes.
·Experience of
working with diverse partners, possibly in coalitions or networks, and
excellent interpersonal and networking skills; ability to work with partners
and allies across continents, as well as with colleagues in a small diverse
office team.
·Proven
experience of managing effective monitoring and evaluation systems
·Experience of
donor liaison and producing comprehensive donor reports.
·Experience of
financial responsibility and budget management of multi-country projects; a
strong understanding of budget and financial management processes including for
non-profit and social movement activities.
·Experience of
staff management, with a participatory and encouraging leadership style.
·Background in
and understanding of conducting, supporting and/or managing civil society
policy advocacy and campaigning, with a good understanding of the principles of
country ownership, transparency and accountability.
·Proven skills in
managing and facilitating large meetings.
·Excellent oral
and written communication skills in English, presentational skills, and an
understanding
of communication with different audiences, including donors,
INGOs and national and local CSOs.
·Ability to work
in at least one of GCE's other official languages (French, Spanish, Arabic,
Portuguese)
·Experience of
working on development issues at the international level.
·Ability to
prioritise a complex workload, meet tight deadlines and motivate others to do
the same.
·Strong
commitment to GCE's mission and objectives, and to equal opportunities.
·Ability and
willingness to travel internationally at least 10 times per year.
·Track record of
fundraising and proposal development.
Desirable
·Experience of
working with civil society campaigning networks and coalitions, and
understanding of the dynamics including communication, coordinated action and
campaigns, and cross-country learning.
·Experience of
managing teams, with a focus on results and transparency.
·Proven advocacy
and lobbying skills.
·Knowledge of
international aid architecture for education, and particularly the Global
Partnership for Education and UNESCO, at both global and national levels.
·Experience of
designing monitoring, evaluation & learning systems.
·Experience of
managing multi-million dollar grants from international donors.
Application guidelines
Please note that ONLY applications sent
in accordance with these instructions will be considered.
1.Please send
applications to jobs@campaignforeducation.org.
2.The title of your
email should include your name, the word 'application' and the name of the post
you are applying for (e.g. 'Obama application CSEF Programme Manager')
3.You should attach:
·your
CV / resume;
·a
cover letter explaining your suitability for the position;
·details
of two referees (we will not contact them without your permission).
4.Please indicate in
your email where you saw the post advertised.
We will notify shortlisted candidates within three weeks
of the closing date; please do not call in the meantime, as we cannot
respond to individual requests about this post.
Closing Date: 7 October 2013
