Technical Advisor, Strategic Learning Advisor (SLA)-USAID Assessing Quality Basic Education (AQBE) project

JOB DESCRIPTION

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work in Afghanistan is accomplished through programs of emergency response, agriculture/livelihoods, education, and WASH.

**This position is contingent upon donor funding and approval

Job Summary:

CRS is seeking a Strategic Learning Advisor (SLA) for the anticipated USAID Assessing Quality Basic Education (AQBE) project. The purpose of this five-year, up to $79.25 million project is to improve safe, equitable access to quality learning for primary and secondary school aged girls and boys. The project’s goal will be achieved through four result areas: 1) Improved delivery of quality instruction in foundational skills and delivery of support for student well-being by educators; 2) Reinforced community school management and family engagement to sustain access to safe public and community-based education; 3) Increased transition rate of community-based education (CBE) students into public schools; and 4) Sustained secondary education engagement and learning opportunities for adolescent girls.

The SLA will promote coordination, collaboration, and continuous learning across AQBE project activities. The SLA will ensure active, intentional, and adaptive learning within and across project activities, as well as knowledge sharing and application, activity-based capacity strengthening, evidence and data use as well as collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA). The SLA will develop and manage a system that captures, analyzes, and disseminates learning, and will take the lead in collecting best practices and lessons learned while organizing relevant reviews of program activities. The advisor will also ensure robust coordination with local partners, consortium members, university researchers, the donor, and a third-party evaluator. The SLA should have demonstrated experience in knowledge management, organizational learning, and capacity strengthening.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Design and manage the project learning and adaptation strategy, system, and tools with a focus on promoting knowledge acquisition, management, documentation, and dissemination.
• Provide technical solutions for strategic planning and how best to apply program design and implementation standards, best practices, partnership principles, tools, and M&E while ensuring high-quality implementation.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives in CLA for staff and partners by developing learning and training strategies.
• Contribute to knowledge management and learning by collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating strategic initiatives, assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices as well as researching and writing reports.
• Participate in CLA forums to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in CLA that effectively engage partners, donors, and other stakeholders. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach for integrating gender, psychosocial well-being, and local leadership.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Required Languages – English

Travel – Travel throughout Afghanistan

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Country Representative,Head of Programming, Regional and HQ MEAL Advisors, Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party- Technical, MEAL Manager

External: Donor representatives, partner organizations, university researchers, other development actors

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in communications, economics, education, statistics, biostatistics, or other relevant area required.
• Minimum of five years relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of three years working for programming interventions in learning and coordination.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts in learning and coordination. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience on innovative learning practice including Internal Change Management for CLA, evaluative thinking and adaptive management.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation, including applying data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer