Jordan/Egypt: Early Child Development Specialist H/F

Handicap International/Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an independent and impartial international solidarity organization, which intervenes in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflicts and disasters. Working alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, it acts and speaks out to meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. More info: www.hi.org

At Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion, we truely believe in the importance of inclusion and diversity within our organisation. This is why we are engaged to a disability policy to encourage the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities.

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CONTEXT:

HI’s Middle East Regional Programme (MEREP) coordinates missions in 5 different countries (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq). The programme is covering the full mandate of HI – emergency, mine action and development with a strong focus on continuum and resilience. The program has a total volume expected for 2023 of 15M Euros with 250 staff + 130 volunteers.

There are 5 main sectors of intervention: rehabilitation, education, early child development, BaNEREI (basic needs, economic recovery and economic inclusion) and armed violence

YOUR MISSION:

Under the responsibility of the Technical Head of Program of the Middle East Regional Program (MEREP), the Field Technical Specialist contributes within the 5 countries of the program to the implementation of the mandate and the 10-year strategy of Humanity & Inclusion in the field of early child development (ECD). He/she ensures optimal quality and impact of the projects implemented in the countries, through a delegation system with appropriate control mechanisms. He/she shares with all HI managers the responsibility of a sound management and successful functioning of the global organization, through paradigm changes.

HI MEREP has been engaging in early child development since 2017, first from newborn and child health perspective only and then within a multi-sector approach, in line with the WHO Nurturing Care Framework, involving also mainly parenting and early learning. HI currently implements 7 projects in Jordan, Egypt and Palestine, while seeking to develop interventions in Lebanon and possibly in Iraq.

The main goals of the position are:

• Support projects’ implementation and internal capacity building, with focus on mutual learning and harmonization of models and tools, whenever appropriate;
• Establish and lead the working group / CoP on the application of the Nurturing Care Framework for multi-sector programming within MEREP;
• Lead the design and implementation of need assessments, surveys, situation analyses and/or research studies in the field of ECD, in collaboration with the concerned country teams.
• Support definition of context appropriate pilot ECD models in HI interventions
• Advocate for inclusive ECD (inclusive = disability and developmental delay) with main ECD actors and stakeholders at country and regional level
• Support advocacy and support to ECD strategy at ministerial level and/or task force / working group level

Mission 1: Expertise: 

1.1 Contributes to the regional strategies in line with the global strategies: 

• a. Provides sectorial technical input to the StratOps of the Programmes within his/her scope and in ECD sector , in line with the global StraTech and ensure relevant follow up

1.2 Ensures technical support to projects in line with the global technical frameworks and standards in his/her sectorial scope: 

• a. Provides adequate technical guidance and support to Project Managers when relevant (adapt standards to PM’s tools, contribute to proposal writing and reporting) in line with strategies, standards and mandatory transversal approaches
• b. Ensures adequate support to multi sector responses within projects, in line with the other specialists
• c. Ensures a local sectorial watch, best practices to adopt within his/her sectorial scope
• d. Contributes to recruitment and briefing when relevant

1.3 Ensures technical learning from projects: 

• a. Contribute to projects’ capitalization and ensure technical learning from projects within his/her sectorial scope

1.4 Ensures the control & monitoring of the technical quality and the relevance of HI’s activities in the Programmes under his/her scope:

• b. Ensure regular technical quality control of projects and programmes and issue warnings and recommendations
• c. Monitor the implementation of audit recommendations, if applicable, in his/her sectorial scope

1.5 Ensures compliance of the technical proposition with nexus stakes

1.6 Contributes to the development of research and innovation projects in the region when relevant, in his/her sectorial scope:

• a. Suggest and steer technical innovation projects
• b. Identify the priorities of Research and Studies and steer R&S

1.7 Contributes to the Technical Divisions professional channel animation:

• a. Contribute to the global animation of the professional channels under his sectorial scope coming from the Technical Divisions (community of practice…)
• b. Animate a local talent pool in his sectorial scope (carry out technical interviews of candidates and produce recommendations, identify needs regarding trainings)

Mission 2. Influence: 

Contribute to the local external prestige and influence of HI’s expertise in his sectorial scope:

• a. Represent the technical expertise of HI throughout the local relevant networks
• b. Contribute to advocacy on specific themes in line with the global advocacy priorities
• c. Contribute to communication messages locally in line with the global communication priorities

Mission 3. Business Development: 

Ensure the development of major opportunities or new projects in the region under his sectorial scope: 

• a. Contributes to the context analysis in his sectorial scope
• b. Contributes to the design and writing of new projects in the region and when asked in other countries within the Geographic Division
• c. Identify & transform major opportunities in the region under his scope
• d. Contributes to the conception of major projects (multiple countries, one theme) or of new projects in the region
• e. Identify & develop local partnerships and/or consortium with NGOs, Institutions, Companies on technical priorities or important topics in the region under his sectorial scope

PROFILE:

• You hold a degree in at least one of the ECD domain (newborn and child health or early learning or family and child social work) and practical experience in at least two ECD domains
• You have 5 years of experience in ECD programs in low and middle income countries; international experience outside her/his home country is mandatory;
• You also have 1 year experience in project management and experience year experience in project management
• Experience in advocacy and strategy development at ministerial and/or working groups level
• Experience in establishing Community of Practice or alternative mechanisms for mutual learning
• Ability to travel in all MEREP countries
• Experience in early detection of developmental delays is an asset

LIVING CONDITIONS:

Living conditions in Jordan and Egypt are comfortable. Security conditions are very stable throughout Jordan and Egypt.

For Egypt:

• No major security concerns. No terrorist attacks targeting civilian since 2019. However, there has been forced disappearances of European citizens in the last years.
• Main risks are related to car accidents, pollution, climate and hygiene.
• Strong control by local authorities of organizations and individuals.
• Movements forbidden in Sinai and in border areas

CONDITIONS:

At HI, the conditions offered are up to your commitment and adapted to the context of your mission. https://hi.org/en/join-the-team

• 36 months International contract starting from 1st, December 2023
• The international contract provides social cover adapted to your situation:
• Unemployment insurance benefits for EU nationals
• Pension scheme
• Medical coverage with 50% of employee contribution
• Repatriation insurance paid by HI
• Salary from 2757 € gross/month upon experience
• Perdiem: 693,22€ net/month in Jordan or 542,99€ net/months in Egypt - paid in the field
• Paid leaves: 25 days per year;
• R&R: according to the level of the mission Level 1: 1 day per month
• Position:
• Open to families (more than 12 months) : package familial
• A child allowance of 100€ per month, per child (from the second child) paid in the field
• Contribution to school registration fees for children over 3 years
• Family-wide health coverage
• Payment for travel costs (air ticket & visa) and transport of your personal effects
• Housing: individual taken in charge by HI

If you are resident in the country: Local package

How to Apply: 

Only online by joining a CV and cover letter via the following link: http://www.jobs.net/j/JBILtMXn?idpartenaire=136

Applications will be processed on an ongoing basis, don’t wait for applying!

Only successful candidates will be contacted.