Job Title: Community Engagement Officer
Organization: Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS)
City Kampala,
Country Uganda
Category Mangement
Reports to: Education Manager
About PEAS:
PEAS is a fast growing UK-based charity (www.peas.org.uk) with a mission to ‘unlock the potential of Africa by delivering equal access to affordable, quality secondary education’. We currently have a network of 22 schools across Uganda and Zambia, educating around 8,000 students. The role will be based in our Ugandan office and work closely within across the all Programme and Operations Departments.
At PEAS we are passionate about providing quality education and we are building our network of schools to be one of the best in Uganda. You can be part of our journey in improving the life chances of the next generation of children from low-income families by obtaining access to a good education through the PEAS network.
Job Summary: The Community Engagement Officer will primarily lead the implementation of effective Community Engagement across PEAS schools network. The Job holder will ensure that PEAS effectively engages communities (from local communities up to district level) prior to the launch of new PEAS schools and to ensure that existing PEAS schools are involving communities and school stakeholders with the aim of improving education standards.
The effective functioning for this role will ensure that all PEAS schools are fully enrolled, that attendance and retention levels are high, that parents/guardians are able to support students to learn and that PEAS schools are both supported by the local community and support the local community to thrive. The Community Engagement Officer will also be responsible for ensuring that all PEAS schools have well-functioning governance systems (PTAs and Boards of Governors [BoG]).
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Community Engagement:
Review and refine the existing PEAS Community Engagement Plan in line with the PEAS mission.
Create a framework for implementation of community engagement plan in PEAS operating areas.
Lead the implementation of the PEAS Community Engagement Plan prior to the launch of new schools and at existing schools
Ensure positive relationships are built with local leaders and government officials (up to District level)
Support and train PEAS schools to develop and implement individual community engagement action plans.
Ensure that PEAS school leaders engage communities effectively in order to support student educational outcomes
Work with PEAS school leaders to engage local community leaders to identify and encourage the enrolment and retention of marginalized girls.
Ensure availability of Information Education and C communications (IEC) CEP materials and that they adhere to PEAS key messaging
Support school leaders in preparation for school launch/opening ceremonies.
2. Enrolment, Attendance, Retention:
Work closely with school leaders to support marketing of PEAS schools in primary school and other institutions within catchment areas
Work with school leaders to support them in the delivery of community engagement activities that promote enrolment, attendance and retention at PEAS schools (such as holding community meetings, engaging local media, implementing SMS messaging campaigns and utilizing radio
Ensure that all communications from PEAS and PEAS schools to local communities adheres to official PEAS key messaging
Use the data generated (with support from M&E) to develop effective community engagement and student retention strategies
Support school leaders to use the data to identify students (including marginalized girls) at risk of dropping out and to implement strategies to prevent drop out
Liaise with M&E department to identify trends in school enrolment, attendance and retention patterns and develop network-wide support strategies
Work with local leaders and school community stakeholders to promote the value of education for all children, especially marginalized girls
3. Governance and community participation
Oversee the establishment and registration of PTAs and BoGs at each school
Ensure that school leaders are maximizing the impact and effectiveness of BoGs and PTAs including supporting schools with the delivery of induction and on-going training of these governance groups
Ensure that BoGs and PTAs are playing an appropriate role in monitoring school outcomes) and supporting and holding school leaders to account for implementing school Improvement Plan targets.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
· The Candidate should possess a bachelor degree (development studies, social work, education).
· A postgraduate qualification in community development work is an added advantage.
· At least three (3) years’ experience in community development work preferably in the NGO sector or a busy environment.
· Experience of working with marginalized children in particular the Girl child
· Experience of stake holders management
· Experience improving education outcomes for young people through community engagement would be desirable
· Experience training others in community engagement methods
· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
· Analytical and self-drive in dealing with job requirements.
· Commitment to and passion for education.
· Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple deadlines
· Ability to work under minimum supervision
· Computer literacy skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills
· Ability to build relationships with a wide range of people
· A commitment to the PEAS values
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified candidates should send their applications with a cover letter (paying particular attention to the Person Specification), curriculum vitae, a brief writing sample (unedited by others), and contact information for two professional references to:
The Human Resource Manager.
PEAS Uganda
P.O. Box 23308, Kampala
Plot 2881, Block 216, Ntinda Kisaasi,
Mumbejja Road. Opposite Ndere Centre.
Kampala. Uganda
Or send your application via Email: ugandarecruitment@peas.org.uk,
For further details on vacancies at PEAS visit our website: www.peas.org.uk
NB: Only complete applications will be reviewed, and only qualified candidates will be shortlisted and contacted by email.
PEAS is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its recruitment practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool. ‘PEAS has a strict child protection policy. All staff are expected to abide by this.’
Deadline: 2nd October 2013 at 17.00 (5pm GMT)
