BRAC International
Founded in Bangladesh in 1972 as a small relief effort, BRAC is now one of the largest development organizations in the world, reaching over 100 million people living in poverty every year. In 2009, BRAC International was set up as a nonprofit foundation in the Netherlands to govern and manage BRAC’s programs outside of Bangladesh. BRAC International currently operates in six countries in Africa (Liberia, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda) and three countries in Asia (Afghanistan, Myanmar, and the Philippines). Our interventions aim to achieve large scale, positive changes through economic and social programmes that enable men and women to realise their potential.

About BRAC Sierra Leone
BRAC Sierra Leone is a legally registered branch of BRAC International. Since its inception in 2008, BRAC Sierra Leone has implemented various programs in youth empowerment, agriculture, health, emergency response and microfinance. In 2017, BRAC Sierra Leone was awarded the ‘Best NGO for Women’s Empowerment’ by the Council of Chief Executives, a leading association of business leaders in Sierra Leone that is committed to sustainable economic growth and human development. Currently BRAC Sierra Leone is following an integrated approach to development across 12 districts of Sierra Leone.

About BRAC’s Early Childhood Development Technical Assistance in Sierra Leone
BRAC has championed the importance of early childhood development for decades. Since the 1990s, BRAC’s pre-primary programs have reached millions of children in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Liberia, the Philippines, Tanzania, and Uganda. Building on this experience, BRAC developed the Play Lab model for quality, playful early childhood development in 2015 in partnership with the LEGO Foundation. Through the Play Lab project, BRAC has worked closely with governments in Bangladesh, Uganda, and Tanzania to strengthen national approaches to play-based learning in early childhood development.

Through this project, BRAC will work in collaboration with Right To Play, a Canadian International NGO that works with partners to integrate play-based learning into policy, curriculum and pedagogy. This project will use a technical assistance model to support Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) as it begins to implement its newly-approved Integrated ECD policy and build the education system back better in light of COVID-19. Together, BRAC and Right To Play will support the MBSSE in providing high-quality, play-based early childhood development and primary education to children aged 3-12. BRAC will support the MBSSE in developing quality, playful early childhood development services, while Right To Play will work at the primary level in order to provide a strong foundation in play-based learning starting in early childhood and extending throughout their early school experience.

Position: Early Childhood Development (ECD) Coordinator

Duty Station: Country Office - Freetown

Contract duration: Full Time

Job Summary
The Early Childhood Development (ECD) Coordinator will be responsible for supporting the ECD Technical Advisor(s) in the day-to-day management of the play-based early childhood development technical assistance pilot in Sierra Leone throughout 2022 and into early 2023, with the possibility of supporting a longer-term partnership pending success of the technical assistance pilot and further fundraising efforts.

Pending agreement with the MBSSE during the project’s inception phase, BRAC’s activities will likely include piloting, testing, and iterating on targeted support in areas like teaching, learning and play material development, classroom spatial design, and pre-service and in-service teacher training to strengthen play-based learning in the government’s early childhood development approaches. The ECD Coordinator’s responsibilities will include providing project management support to the project’s ECD Technical Advisor(s) to ensure that BRAC’s activities keep to scheduled timelines and budgets while maintaining a high level of quality and reflect deep stakeholder engagement.

We anticipate that the ECD Coordinator will report to the ECD Technical Advisor(s) and be based in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Major Responsibility

Assist the ECD Technical Advisor(s) in building overall technical capacity within the MBSSE, teaching colleges and teacher training institutes and at selected school sites; this process may include developing and implementing teacher and community trainings related to play based learning, materials development, and the design of safe, engaging indoor and outdoor play spaces

Coordinate and support ECD Technical Advisor(s) to ensure multi-layered stakeholder engagement promoting play based learning

Liaise closely with primary partner, the MBSSE and other stakeholders to facilitate strong, clear and sustainable links between ECD and primary play based learning

As determined by the ECD Technical Advisor(s) and Country Office leadership, represent the project and BRAC Sierra Leone in relevant coordination groups on ECD and primary education

Contribute to project reporting processes and document success stories, case studies, best practices and lessons learned

Work with other team members in Sierra Leone and internationally, sharing consistent and clear updates and reporting on progress and challenges

In coordination with the MBSSE, regularly organize and facilitate selected site visits to support teachers and school leaders and monitor programme deliverables

Safeguard Responsibilities

Ensure the safety of team members from any harm, abuse, neglect, harassment and exploitation to achieve the programme’s goals on safeguarding implementation. Act as a key source of support, guidance and expertise on safeguarding for establishing a safe working environment.

Practice, promote and endorse the issues of safeguarding policy among team members and ensure the implementation of safeguarding standards in every course of action.

Follow the safeguarding reporting procedure in case any reportable incident takes place, encourage others to do so.

Educational Requirements:

Required Qualifications/Person Specifications (Experience, Knowledge and skills)
Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Care and Development, Education Management, Sociology, Social Work, Development Studies and Community Development or related field preferred

At least 5 years’ experience working for NGOs in education, early childhood development, child protection or related programs in Sierra Leone, required

Experience delivering training for project staff and teachers required

Demonstrated experience in project management

Experience in financial and administrative management, strongly preferred

Demonstrated skills in writing, editing and reporting

Experience supporting multi-stakeholder engagements and networks

Strong written and oral English language

Experience teaching early childhood, preferred

Skills and Competencies
Strong strategic and creative thinking.

Demonstrated ability to take a strategic view across a large complex program

Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills

Excellent interpersonal and networking skills

Strong writing, editing and reporting skills

Excellent detail orientation and time management skills

Good knowledge of financial and administrative management

Personal commitment, drive for results,efficiency and flexibility

Proficiency in the use of MS Office

Ability to mobilize and influence different audiences and communities

Able to capacity build and develop others

Commitment to the organizational vision, mission and values

Willingness and ability to travel regularly throughout Sierra Leone

Additional notes
The responsibilities provided in this job description are not exhaustive and may be reviewed/revised from time to time by BRAC Management.

In execution of these job responsibilities, the ECD Coordinator will work very closely with and report to the ECD Technical Advisor (daily). The ECD Coordinator will also work closely with the Country Director, Fundraising Manager, Head of Finance and other program and support staff.

The job holder may take-on any other tasks as mutually agreed by the supervisor.

Employment type: Regular

If you feel you are the right match for the above mentioned position, please follow the application instructions accordingly:

Candidates need to send a letter of interest indicating the title of position applied for, updated CV, current and expected salary through email to:

recruitment.sierraleone@brac.net

OR by hand to our head office 43 Freetown Road, Lumley, Freetown.

Only complete applications will be accepted and short listed candidates will be contacted.

Application deadline: 5th January, 2022

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