Project Coordinator – Inclusive Education in Emergencies (with Focus on Accelerated Learning)

 Background

The Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development (ECDD) is a non-governmental, non-partisan, and non-profit organization. ECDD committed to promoting the rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities through policy advocacy and the mainstreaming of disability inclusion in service delivery, development programs, and humanitarian actions, in partnership with other organizations. Established in 2005, ECDD is dedicated to fostering an inclusive Ethiopia where persons with disabilities in all their diversities exercise their human rights and have access to mainstream services and opportunities on an equal basis with others.

ECDD is implementing a project entitled “Supporting Access to Education Needs for Crisis Affected Communities in Machakel, Enemay and Sedea woredas of East Gojam Zone, Amhara Region” which is funded by UN OCHA. The specific interventions that ECDD focuses on are ensuring access to quality and inclusive education for crisis-affected children, especially children with disabilities and those who have missed out on schooling due to conflict, displacement, or other emergencies. The project includes Accelerated Learning Programs (ALPs) to support out-of-school children to catch up and reintegrate into the formal education system. The interventions are aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) strategy, and national frameworks for inclusive and accelerated learning in Ethiopia.

2. Purpose of the Role

The Project Coordinator will lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of inclusive Accelerated Learning Programs (ALPs) in crisis-affected communities, ensuring that the specific needs of children with disabilities are addressed. The role requires strong technical, coordination, and management capacities to deliver results in a complex humanitarian context.

3. Key Responsibilities

Program Planning and Implementation

• Lead the design and implementation of Accelerated Learning Programs that are inclusive, accessible, and adapted for children with disabilities.
• Oversee accessibility and inclusiveness of learning centers, teaching-learning processes including learning materials
• Ensure curriculum adaptation, learner assessment tools, and teaching methods are child and disability inclusive and aligned with the national ALP framework.

Capacity Building and Technical Support

• Facilitate training for ALP facilitators/teachers on inclusive pedagogy, disability awareness, child protection, and psychosocial support.
• Provide technical support for Implementing Partners to ensure teaching strategies accommodate different learning needs, including learners with intellectual disabilities.
• Support peer-to-peer learning and mentorship among facilitators.

Resource and Budget Management

• Monitor project budget and resources in collaboration with the finance team.
• Ensure efficient use of materials and timely procurement aligned with project plans.

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

• Coordinate with the Ministry of Education, Regional Education Bureau, Woreda Education Offices, Schools, and Community structures.
• Participate in Education Cluster and EiE coordination forums at the regional and national levels.
• Facilitate community mobilization and engagement, especially with caregivers of children with disabilities.

Child Protection and Safeguarding

• Ensure ALP centers are safe, protective, and gender sensitive.
• Enforce safeguarding and protection protocols, particularly for children with disabilities.
• Refer identified protection cases to appropriate services.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Develop and implement M&E plans, ensuring collection of disaggregated data (age, gender, disability).
• Organize field monitoring and ensure quality assurance of learning centers and teaching practices.
• Document progress, success stories, challenges, and lessons learned for donor and internal reporting.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

• Master’s degree in education, Special Needs Education, Development Studies, or related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience, with at least 2 years managing or coordinating Accelerated Learning Programs or EiE projects in crisis-affected communities.
• Strong understanding of inclusive education, disability rights, and gender-responsive programming.
• Experience working with ALP frameworks, non-formal education, or education catch-up models.
• Proven ability to manage diverse teams and coordinate with government and humanitarian stakeholders.
• Strong writing and reporting skills; fluency in English and local language(s).
• Proven commuter skills for effectively using email software and MS Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Experience in implementing UN-funded projects and understanding, preferably projects funded by UN OCHA.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Ethiopian inclusive education and ALP guidelines.
• Experience in curriculum adaptation and disability-inclusive assessment.
• Familiarity with donor reporting.
• Well-organized in terms of documentation to meet donor compliance/policies, priorities, and requirements.

Core Competencies

• Commitment to the realization of the rights of children with disabilities.
• Strong leadership, facilitation, and coordination skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving ability in complex and changing environments.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity, adaptability, integrity, and political neutrality.
• Willingness to travel to remote and high-risk locations as needed.
• Good interpersonal skills and emotional maturity to work with relevant stakeholders
• Demonstrated accountability and professional integrity in emergencies