Job Opportunity for Technical Associate at Care India in Delhi

POSITION/DESIGNATION

Technical Associate 

GRADE/LEVEL

G

PROJECT/UNIT

Project “CARE SOAR SCALE UP, INDIA”

PROJECT DURATION

June, 2022-July 2023

POSITION DURATION 

August 2022- July 2023

REPORTS TO

Head- Girls’ Education Program 

LOCATION

New Delhi

TRAVEL

60% inter-state travel

ABOUT US

CARE is a not-for-profit organization that builds capacity of communities to ensure empowerment for marginalized women and girls. Our sustainable and holistic interventions in Health, Livelihood, Education and Disaster Relief & Resilience, provide innovative solutions to deep-rooted development problems. Along with access to the international confederation of expertise, we integrate internal knowledge and strong network of partnerships to deliver outcomes at scale to varied stakeholders.

During FY 2018-19, CARE India directly reached out to 37.2 million people through 43 projects across 14 states, covering more than 80+ districts. We are part of the CARE International Confederation, working in 100 countries for a world where people live with dignity and security.

CARE India seeks a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security.

Our goal is to ensure that women and girls from the most marginalized communities are empowered, live in dignity and their households have secure and resilient lives. CARE India aims to accomplish this goal by working with 50 million people to help them have quality health, education, livelihoods and overcome the effects of disasters.

PROJECT DETAILS 

In 2004, the government of India launched a national program called Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya 1 (KGBV), a centrally sponsored scheme of residential schools) developed to provide access to education for marginalized girls across regions where female literacy rates were well below the national average. As the largest state of India (16.17 % of India’s population), Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of KGBVs, with 746 KGBVs that reach approximately 78,532 girls. KGBVs are among the most significant institutions in India for addressing the multiple issues faced by girls. In the context of the pandemic, effective systemic functioning of KGBVs has become essential to address the diverse learning needs of marginalized girls. In an important evaluation of its KGBV plan, conducted in 4 states in 2015, India identified significant gaps in the system, including the need to (1) strengthen safety measures in KGBVs, (2) offer a bridge course and career guidance 2 for dropout girls, and (3) provide empowerment of girls. At the same time, India’s national education policy emphasizes the importance of building “21st Century” skills (critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, curiosity, communication) in children, particularly girls. In recent years, India state governments began adding grades 8-12 to KGBVs, and Uttar Pradesh has opened 54 upgraded KGBVs so far, aiming to open 100 upgraded KGBV by 2022-23. Through these newly upgraded schools, girls ages 11-18 years will gain the opportunity to complete their secondary school education.

CARE India, known as “CARE India Solutions for Sustainable Development”3 or “CISSD,” has been working to improve education across multiple India states over decades, including Bihar, Gujarat, Odisha, and Haryana, in addition to Uttar Pradesh, strengthening KGBVs and enhancing education for girls from the most marginalized communities. Our work here is the foundation for one of CARE’s key models, the Strengthening Opportunities for Adolescent Resilience (SOAR) program, leveraging 25+ years of enhancing systems and helping adolescents to complete their education. Key focus areas for CISSD’s education work around KGBVs have been: 

• Teacher development on subjects for grades 6-8,  
• Implementation of a bridge curriculum for drop out girls enrolled in KGBVs,
• Building leadership and 21st century skills in adolescent girls, 
• Developing a manual on effective management of KGBVs and training of wardens 
• Establishing a monitoring and review mechanism including the use of safety audits in KGBVs, and 
• Working with state and federal government education officials on curriculum reform and teacher training

Specific Objectives:

CISSD aims to provide its technical support for the development of vision and strategy as well as implementation support for the upgradation of KGBV especially when they are being upgraded from grade 8-12th. . NEP-2020 highlights to address the diverse learning needs of all children especially of girls and equipping them with 21st century skills. With this vision, CISSD plans to set up a Technical Support Unit4 (TSU – 2 experts) within the education department (SSA), of Uttar Pradesh to work in close partnership with a key governing body, the State Council on Education Research and Training5 (“SCERT”), to facilitate vision building, acceptance of the model, capacity building, and setting up a monitoring system. Besides, in UP, CARE’s SOAR model is also being upscaled in other states as well in close collaboration with the state education department. 

JOB SUMMARY

The Technical Associate will mainly be responsible for leading the capacity building initiatives for key stakeholders like SCERT/SRG, KGBV teachers, and project team. S/he will provide support in developing the content around 21st century skills for adolescent girls. S/he would require to frequently visit the CARE India intervention states and KGBVs to provide high quality requisite support. S/he will also provide support for developing monthly updates, quarterly reports (for donor and government) and project documentation. 

S/he is also responsible for upholding organizational core values, program management and achieving results in a defined geographical area.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Continuous and comprehensive capacity building program for SCERT/SRG and project team around CARE’s SOAR model: 

• Be responsible for designing agenda for capacity building initiatives in close coordination with project team and technical team around SOAR 
• Take lead in identifying the need and facilitating capacity building programs for SCERT, KGBV teachers and project team with support from project team. 
• Support technical team in developing GEP resource pool around SOAR by building their capacity around different thematic areas of SOAR
• Ensure pretest/post-test tools are developed and executed by the project team for all training programs including project teams
• Provide inputs in program reviews and support in framing strategy for better outcome.

Material Development

• Ensure GEP has developed all resource materials around SOAR and its productization 
• Support in designing and printing of the relevant developed materials 
• Identify relevant organizations and resource persons that may develop/guide development/validate materials prepared within the project.  
• Develop/Procure learning material on select themes
• Contribute to the development of manuals; provide feedback on material developed by resource persons/organizations as required.
• Coordinate material development with consultants. 

Documentation 

• Ensure documentation of training at all levels.
• Undertake field visits and provide insights on strategy and implementation
• Ensure timely feedback on reports and other documents prepared by team members

Research/Baseline/endline

• Ensure all SOAR projects conduct baseline/endline and any other research as committed in the project in a timely manner and with quality 
• Support project teams in conducting basely/endline 
• Ensure baseline/endline reports are developed and shared with relevant stakeholders in a timely manner 

Others

• Identify advocacy issues and provide support at district, state and national level
• Provide support in proposal development for scaling the SOAR model 
• Contribute towards the overall strategy development of the program
• Coordinate government and donors visit as and when required 
• Providing requisite support towards monitoring quality of project activities
• Responsible for completing any other project activity as instructed from time to time by the Project manager/Regional Program Director/Director Programme

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Head- Girls’ Education Program and Senior Technical Specialist – Education 

Project Manager located in states 

Finance and Procurement Team 

IMU 

QUALIFICATION & EXPERIENCE

Essential 

• A postgraduate in Education, Psychology, Social Work or Social Sciences, Gender Studies from any recognized university.
• Experience/Knowledge on national programs on Girls Education and Gender related issues 
• Prior experiences of designing content and conducting training on Gender, 21st Century skills, Social Emotional Learning etc.
• Must possess excellent English and Hindi language skills
• Good facilitation skill for organizing training programs 

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Understanding of the structure and functioning of the KGBV and other girls’ education programs by Government 
• Leadership and collaboration skills
• Strong Content development skills 
• Strong Capacity Building skills in Gender, Girl’s education, 21st century skills etc.
• Documentation skills
• Strong communication in English and Hindi communication skills, both verbal and written
• Computer skills