Position Title: Education Consultant, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Start Date: As soon as possible

Location: Kinshasa, with occasional travel to Eastern DRC

Contract: 40-60 days, full time consultancy

Background

War Child Canada is a registered Canadian charity based in Toronto that works with war-affected communities to help children reclaim their childhood through access to education, opportunity and justice. War Child Canada has worked in communities in conflict and post-conflict zones since 1999. All work is implemented in direct partnership with local communities, local NGOs and other stakeholders using a child-centered approach. War Child Canada also works in Afghanistan, Iraq, Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan and Jordan.

Context

War Child Canada is operational in the Uvira district of South Kivu with programming that focuses on increasing access to education, particularly for conflict affected girls. War Child Canada has been active in South Kivu since 2007 working in both education and the prevention and response to sexual and gender based violence. War Child Canada in the DRC is entering a new phase of work which will see a scale up of its innovate approach to reaching hard to reach conflict affected girls and boys in remote settings. This will see substantive engagement with the Ministry of Education in Kinshasa to support this expansion of secondary education accelerated learning provision, for conflict affected girls and boys who have previously been unable to complete their secondary education.

We are looking for a Consultant to initiate a secondary phase of pilot work which will work closely with the Ministry of Primary, Secondary, and Professional Education and Ministry of Social Affairs to develop and implement a national roll- out plan of Interactive Radio Instruction across the DRC, ensuring that children in conflict-prone environment have increased access to quality education.

Position summary:

This consultancy will be focused on the national roll-out of War Child Canada’s interactive radio instruction (IRI) methodology, previously pilot-tested in South Kivu. The methodology provides radio-based education classes for out of school children in rural areas, focused on lower secondary. As the pilot was successful, the consultant will work with relevant officials to embed the methodology in national approaches to education.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

Establish a dedicated IRI committee with MEPSP and MoSA in Kinshasa

Initial meetings with MEPSP, MoSA and other education stakeholders
(Nationally and Provincially) to introduce the methodology and determine
steps needed for national roll-out
Develop an implementation plan for national rollout including initial province selection
Facilitate follow-up meetings with IRI committee to finalize work plan and indicators and track initial progress
Build capacity of key officials both in Kinshasa and at provincial level
Conduct information sessions to introduce broad cross section of officials and stakeholders to IRI and the piloted methodology
Facilitate a Training of Trainers led by Master Trainers (IRI methodology, child protection, participative teaching methods)

Qualifications

Experience and Knowledge

Substantial experience of education in emergency contexts, preferably including secondary education and experience of working successfully with government Ministries and a range of education bodies.
Experience in curriculum revision and development
Experience in participatory approaches to education
Previous experience in DRC is desirable.

Skills and abilities

Fluency in written and verbal English and French.
Effective time-management skills with the ability to multi-task and manage multiple time-sensitive priorities.
Self-starter, able to work with a high degree of initiative and highly resilient
Team oriented with strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with individuals from a range of backgrounds.
Strong writing and project management skills.
Able to work sensitively in challenging and insecure environments.

Fee:

Commensurate with experience and qualifications. Please propose your fee and associated travel expenses.

Travel:

This position will be based in Kinshasa. Occasional travel to South Kivu (Bukavu and Uvira) will be required.

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Scope of Work:

Education Consultant, DRC

1. Background Information

Three-hundred girls from conflict-affected communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are back in school due to Phase One of an innovative Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) pilot project, implemented over the past two years by War Child Canada. An external evaluation of the model found that IRI students performed as well or better than formal school students on a proctored test, scoring higher in subjects of French, history and geography. IRI students also sat ministry-approved exams and achieved an overall 80% pass rate, an exceptional accomplishment given that the students had been out of school for an average of 1-3 years before joining the program. Retention of students past primary school, especially girls, remains low in the DRC due to obstacles such as early forced marriage, domestic chores, child labour, long distance to schools, and poverty. This program increases access to education and allows students to catch up on lower secondary education in ten months.

This new phase of pilot work will work closely with the Ministry of Primary, Secondary, and Professional Education and Ministry of Social Affairs to develop and implement a national roll-out plan of IRI across the DRC, ensuring that children in conflict-prone environment have increased access to quality education. While IRI is traditionally used to supplement formal education within schools, War Child Canada’s pioneering approach has adapted IRI for distance accelerated education. As noted in the external evaluation, “this model is a well-adapted strategy to recover young people who completed primary school, but have not had the chance to continue.” Students gather in their communities five days a week to participate in the lessons. Classes are facilitated by Education Assistants who have completed training in IRI teaching methodology, child protection, and facilitation techniques. Community Education Committees, comprised of engaged community members, provide ongoing classroom support, promote children’s right to education and aid in the monitoring and evaluation of classes. This community-driven approach creates a supportive environment where students can thrive in their academic endeavors and fully participate in IRI.

2. Scope of Work:

1. Initial orientation to the project

Document review of all documentation, evaluation and reports from phase one of this project
Key informant interviews with key staff and stakeholders at the provincial level

2. Establish a dedicated IRI committee with MEPSP and MoSA in Kinshasa

Initial meetings with Ministry of Primary, Secondary, and Professional Education, Ministry of Social Affairs, and other education stakeholders (Nationally and Provincially)
Ongoing meetings with IRI committee in order to develop an implementation plan for national roll out including initial province of focus

3. Build capacity of key Ministry officials in Kinshasa and at provincial level

Identification of key education stakeholders and provincial focal points
Conduct information sessions to introduce ministry officials and staff to IRI
Training of Trainers led by Master Trainers (IRI methodology, child protection, participative teaching methods)

4. Complete formal registration of IRI program through MoSA and MEPSP.

complete registration of War Child Canada’s IRI program

5. Other

Look into developing an audio program to orient educations or IRI methodology and effective teaching methods (possible coordination with Cordaid)
Compile all IRI lessons plans and guides into one booklet (Hire book editors, printing houses after the completion of this work.)

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