Education Officer

Introduction

Within the framework of the project funded by the Commission for International Adoptions (CAI), the Education Officer, based in South Wollo (Dessie), will work closely with three IDP camps—Gerado, Degan, and Degan China—in addition to Kombolcha City and other selected woredas. The officer will contribute to the implementation of education, child protection, child rights, and inclusive education activities in line with the approved project document.

The Education Officer will be responsible for supporting the establishment and functioning of Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS), facilitating the identification and referral of vulnerable children through established referral mechanisms, and promoting inclusive education. This includes supporting children’s reintegration into their families, where appropriate, and their re-enrollment and retention in school. The officer will also coordinate gender-based violence (GBV) prevention activities, work closely with frontline workers and community protection structures, and support vulnerable caregivers to strengthen children’s protection, well-being, and access to education.

Organization

CIFA is an international NGO with over 40 years of experience in protecting vulnerable children and youth. Active in Ethiopia for more than 20 years, CIFA promotes access to quality education, child protection, gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and inclusive livelihoods. Through its integrated approach, CIFA has developed strong expertise in managing multi-sectoral projects, linking institutional support with grassroots socio-economic inclusion across Addis Ababa, Amhara, Dire Dawa, Harari, and Oromia.

Project

Root Of Future: 18-month CAI-funded project is a multi-regional and multi-country initiative designed to intervene deeply in three core interconnected sectors: Child Protection, Education, and Preventing Irregular Migration. Operating simultaneously in Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, and Dessie (Amhara), the project aims to strengthen local protection mechanisms, enhance access to inclusive education, and mitigate the root causes of irregular migration by fostering sustainable socio-economic alternatives and raising community awareness.

Position

Education Officer

Duration Contract

Annual contract, renewable subject to performance and project needs  contract with a 60- working days probation period and the possibility of extension until October 2027

Location

Dessie (South Wollo )

Key Tasks

1. Education and Inclusive Education

• Implement education and inclusive education activities in targeted IDP camps, schools, Kombolcha City, and other selected woredas, in line with the approved project document.
• Work closely with schools, teachers, school administrators, and education authorities to improve children’s access to quality, safe, and inclusive education.
• Identify out-of-school children and children at risk of dropping out, and support their enrolment, re-enrolment, attendance, and retention in school.
• Promote the inclusion of children with disabilities and other vulnerable children in formal and non-formal education opportunities.
• Monitor children’s educational progress and coordinate appropriate support for children facing barriers to education.

2. Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS)

• Support the establishment, organization, and functioning of Child-Friendly Spaces in targeted IDP camps and communities.
• Organize age-appropriate, inclusive, and child-centered recreational, educational, psychosocial, and awareness-raising activities.
• Ensure that Child-Friendly Spaces operate in accordance with child safeguarding standards and established protection procedures.
• Monitor children’s participation and identify those requiring additional protection, psychosocial, or educational support.

3. Child Protection and Referral Mechanisms

• Identify children at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation, family separation, school dropout, and other protection concerns.
• Facilitate timely and confidential referrals of vulnerable children to appropriate child protection, health, psychosocial, education, and other specialized services through established referral mechanisms.
• Follow up on referred cases in coordination with authorized service providers, ensuring confidentiality, informed consent or appropriate assent, and the best interests of the child.
• Support family tracing and reunification or reintegration processes in coordination with relevant authorities and specialized service providers, where appropriate.
• Strengthen collaboration with community-based child protection structures to improve the identification, reporting, and response to child protection concerns.

4. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention

• Support awareness-raising activities on gender equality, child rights, GBV prevention, and available reporting and response mechanisms.
• Promote safe and inclusive learning environments for girls, boys, and other vulnerable children.
• Work with schools, community leaders, frontline workers, and protection structures to prevent GBV and harmful practices affecting children.
• Ensure that GBV-related concerns are handled confidentially and referred to qualified service providers in accordance with established survivor-centred procedures.

5. Community Engagement and Caregiver Support

• Engage parents, caregivers, community leaders, and local authorities in promoting children’s rights, education, safety, and well-being.
• Support awareness sessions on positive parenting, child protection, school attendance, inclusive education, and the prevention of violence against children.
• Identify vulnerable caregivers who require support and facilitate access to available project assistance and relevant social services.
• Strengthen community participation in identifying and addressing barriers to children’s education and protection.

6. Coordination and Capacity Building

• Coordinate with education offices, schools, social affairs offices, child protection actors, IDP camp representatives, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support capacity-building activities for teachers, frontline workers, community protection structures, and other relevant stakeholders on child protection, inclusive education, referral mechanisms, and safeguarding.
• Participate in coordination meetings, field visits, and joint monitoring activities to ensure effective implementation of project interventions.
• Maintain effective working relationships with local authorities and implementing partners across the targeted areas.

7. Monitoring, Reporting, and Documentation

• Monitor the implementation and quality of education, child protection, CFS, and inclusive education activities against the approved work plan and project indicators.
• Collect, verify, and document activity data, beneficiary information, and progress against agreed targets while maintaining confidentiality and data protection.
• Prepare regular activity reports, success stories, case-related follow-up updates where authorized, and other documentation required by the project.
• Contribute to the collection of monitoring data and evidence for project reporting, learning, and accountability.
• Identify implementation challenges and recommend practical solutions to improve activity quality and achievement of project objectives.

8. Safeguarding and Compliance

• Adhere to CIFA’s safeguarding and child protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), code of conduct, and other relevant organizational policies.
• Ensure that all activities are conducted in a safe, inclusive, non-discriminatory, and child-sensitive manner.
• Report safeguarding concerns through established organizational reporting channels and ensure that children’s information and case records are handled securely.
• Perform other relevant duties assigned by the line manager in support of the project’s objectives

Remuneration

The employee’s Gross Salary will be € 520.67 [Five hundred twenty euros and sixty‑seven cents  Only] based on the salary scale of the Organization (Grade 4 -Step 1) and will be paid at the end of each month to the employee’s bank account.

This gross salary included monthly transport allowance, 11% pension fund as per the law of the Country. Medical and life insurance are also provided as additional benefits under CIFA’s policy.u

Qualifications & Requirements

Education and Professional Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Educational Planning and Management, Special Needs Education, Social Work, Psychology, Child Development, Community Development, or a related field. A relevant master’s degree is an advantage.
•  At least 3 years of relevant work experience in education, inclusive education, child protection, or community-based programming, preferably in humanitarian or development contexts.

Technical Skills and Competencies

•  Experience working with internally displaced persons (IDPs), out-of-school children, vulnerable children, and affected communities is an advantage.
•  Experience establishing, managing, or facilitating activities in Child-Friendly Spaces or similar child-centered settings are an asset.
• Good understanding of child rights, child protection principles, inclusive education, school enrolment and retention, psychosocial support, and referral mechanisms for vulnerable children.
• Knowledge of child safeguarding, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and safe referral procedures.
•  Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with schools, education authorities, local government offices, community structures, frontline workers, and humanitarian or development partners.
• Ability to collect and manage activity data, monitor project indicators, prepare activity reports, and document implementation progress accurately.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, with the ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.

Language and Other Requirements

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and familiarity with digital data collection and reporting tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English. Knowledge of Amharic is required, and knowledge of relevant local languages used in South Wollo and surrounding areas is an advantage.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly to targeted IDP camps, schools, Kombolcha City, and other project intervention woredas.
• Commitment to child protection, safeguarding, gender equality, inclusion, confidentiality, accountability, and CIFA’s code of conduct and organizational policies.