JOB DETAILS:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
Background/IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. The IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education and power.
The IRC was registered in Uganda in mid-1998 and implements activities in the sectors of Health, Economic Recovery and Development, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Protection and Rule of Law and Education, supporting refugees and vulnerable host community members. IRC Uganda has a head office in Kampala, with field offices in Arua, Kampala Urban, Kiryandongo, Lamwo and Yumbe.

Job Overview/Summary:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has received a $10 million grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to implement a three-year project titled ‘Kulea Watoto’ – meaning ‘nurturing children.’ Kulea Watoto is an initiative aimed at improving early childhood development and transforming livelihoods of refugees and host communities in Uganda by providing nurturing care and early childhood learning opportunities, and to build their own skills to generate income for their families. The project will use a unique two-generation approach to reach out to young children under five years of age and their caregivers in Yumbe, Kyegegwa and Kampala districts, implemented in partnership with four local partners – the AfriChild Centre, Madrasa Early Childhood Program, Kabarole Research and Resource Centre and Literacy and Adult Basic Education (LABE). To achieve this, the project will offer learning sessions for parents and caregivers on responsive caregiving and provision of early learning opportunities, improved links to children’s services in local communities, livelihoods training, and start-up funding for promising business ideas, and more.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) and caregiving is a core organizational priority at the IRC with links to Health, Education, Child Protection, and Nutrition as detailed by the Nurturing care framework. Through Kulea Watoto program, IRC and the partners seek to meaningfully implement an integrated program that will strengthen the ECD service provision in the target locations/settlements.

To support these efforts, IRC’s ECD Kulea Watoto team is looking for ECD Assistant to enable ECD activity implementation at field level in Kyaka II refugee settlement and surrounding host community. The desired candidate will have strong experience in community mobilization and sensitization, implementing ECD activities in the refugee settlement setting and understand well the importance of early childhood development and responsive caregiving.

The position will report to the ECD Officer and with strong links to the Kulea Watoto project team and implementing partners, collaborate with the IRC Play Matters project team to ensure excellent integration. This role will focus on daily and weekly implementation of ECD activities involving mobilization and sensitization, training, mentorship, documentation, reporting and routine monitoring and or follow-up of activity implementation.

Major Responsibilities:
Technical implementation of project activities:
• Support in identification, selection, and registration of target clients and formation of ECCD groups.
• Work closely with community project structures (VHTs, Care groups, etc.) to mobilize the target clients and target groups to engage in responsive care giving and early learning opportunities.

• Lead on daily and weekly basis the implementation of set activities in line with the approved workplan and report to the ERD Officer or Manager.
• Support parents and caregivers (HH or group level) to provide responsive caregiving and early learning to children under the age of 5 years old.

• Lead the development of ECCD improvement plans with ECCD providers/caregivers [individuals] and volunteers.
• Lead the provision of essential materials to parent groups and ECCD providers.
• Deliver training to parents and or caregivers (at HH or group level) on responsive caregiving and early learning.

• Identify ECCD services within the target locations/zones and support the linkage of target clients (parents/household’s groups) to ECCD services.
• Supervise the ECD Infrastructure improvement activities and ensure improvement in learning outcomes at the ECD Centres/childcare spaces.

• Lead the establishment of supervised care groups in collaboration with implementing partners.
• Conduct the training and support management committees of ECD schools in providing ECCD services including feeding programs.
• Oversee the implementation of the actions by Community ECD Groups (clustered groups).

• Support the mobilization and sensitization of ECD local committees on seed fund disbursement.
• Supervise the utilization of the ECD seed grants in line with the approved plans·
• Training of ECD Center Management Committees.
• Develop and deliver play and supervised care groups at ECD Centers.
• Coach, guide and mentor ECD caregivers to ensure quality teaching and learning.

• Undertake daily field visit to support care group volunteers and VHTs on community-based parenting programs in responsive caregiving.
• Undertake activities as delegated by the supervisor.
Coordination, representation, and partner/stakeholder relationships:
• Ensure close collaboration with the field-based team members (Play matters project staff, KRC project staff) and consistency in protocols, information, and reporting systems in line with ECD and livelihoods integration.
• Participate to coordination efforts at project location/zonal level by ensuring weekly and monthly coordination meetings between Kulea Watoto ECD team and KRC field project staff.

• Work with partner staff and collaborate with them in client identification and selection, and delivery of project activities including integration of ECD and livelihoods, refining of technical approaches and alignment to ensure achievement of desired outcomes.
• Make referrals to the appropriate actors where necessary.
• Maintain respectful and constructive relations with partner organisations, local authorities, and humanitarian actors.
• Attend zonal and sector working group coordination meetings at the settlement and sub counties of operation whenever required and provide detailed reports as required.
Monitoring, reporting and communication responsibilities.
• Monitoring ECCD performance/progress and documenting best practices, lessons learned and success stories in line with the agreed templates and formats.
• Prepare weekly and monthly program reports, and compile lessons learnt to inform continuous project implementation and submit to the ECD officer or manager.
• Collect relevant data during project implementation and provide regular reports.
• Monitor client payment processes at participating Money Transfer Agents’ locations,
• Participate in the collection of data, during assessments and post-distribution surveys as and when required including design of required tools by providing technical input.
• Participate in the verification exercise, research or MEAL whenever needed.

Other duties
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable implementation of the IRC programs.
• Raise Purchase requests as and when required. Participate in regular team meetings and supervision sessions.
• Ensure that all materials are ready for info sessions before the activity.
• Work constructively within the team and take the initiative on new tasks.
• Promptly report concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to perform in their positions successfully.

Minimum Qualifications:
Required qualification and skill:
• Suitable candidates must have a bachelors’ degree or at least a diploma in Early Childhood Development, Arts or science in education, special needs education, or related field with additional certificate or diploma in Early Childhood Development, child protection, and project planning and management.
• Should have at least two (02) years’ working experience with humanitarian organizations.
• Previous experience in classroom teaching in Early Childhood Development (ECD) or lower primary would be an added advantage.
Additional requirements.
• Suitable candidates should have at least 2 years’ experience or more in riding a motorcycle with a valid riding permit or equivalent. And ability to speak the local languages-Lutoro, Kinyabwisha or Kiswahili, and have experience or local environment awareness.

Personal qualities:
• Works well and have experience working in refugee contexts, host communities and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
• Knowledge in implementing community/center based early childhood parenting programs, knowledgeable in computer applications, Ms-word, excel, teams, outlook/mail.
• Ability to ride a motorbike and hold a valid riding permit. (Hard Copy will be required if invited for Interviews)

Language Skills:
• Fluency in English Language both written and spoken is required.
• Ability to speak the local language - Lutoro is desired.
• Additional ability to speak Swahili, Kinyabwisha, French is an added advantage.
Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity
We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity in our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request reasonable accommodation.

Professional Standards
IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
NB: This advert will close on 22nd January 2025.

Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.