Education Project Officer (EPO)

 Position Summary / Purpose: Education Project Officer 

The Education Project Officer is responsible for supporting the day-to-day planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of a specific education project within the assigned project site, Zey Woreda, Kemashi Zone, Be. Gu region. Working under the supervision of the Zonal Project Coordinator, the role ensures that project activities are delivered on time, within scope, and in full compliance with the approved project document, donor requirements, and Imagine1Day’s organizational policies, standards, and procedures.

The position provides hands-on technical and operational support at the field level, including needs assessment, activity implementation, monitoring visits, data collection, education supply distribution, and documentation. The Education Project Officer plays a key role in ensuring that project interventions meet required quality standards and are effectively integrated with cross-cutting priorities such as gender equality, child protection, disability inclusion, safeguarding, and accountability to affected populations.

Overall, the Education Project Officer contributes to the achievement of project results by supporting evidence-based, inclusive, and accountable education interventions that improve equitable access to safe and quality education for targeted children and communities

The Position Holder is Expected to Discharge the Following Key Responsibilities

1. Program / Project Design and Planning

• Support the Zonal Program Coordinator and Regional Education Program Coordinator in the planning and design of education projects in line with identified education needs, community priorities, and Imagine1day’s strategic objective of increasing equitable access to basic education.
• Participate in education needs assessments, baseline studies, and situational analyses within assigned program areas.
• Contribute contextual information, field data, and technical inputs to project proposals, concept notes, and implementation plans.
• Support the identification of education-related challenges and opportunities and propose practical, evidence-based intervention approaches.

 2. Program Implementation and Oversight

• Lead and ensure day-to-day implementation of education program activities in assigned woredas/zones in accordance with approved work plans, project documents, and quality standards.
• Ensure education activities are implemented on time, at the required quality, and in compliance with Imagine1day policies and donor requirements.
• Facilitate and supervise education interventions, including formal education support, Accelerated Education Programs (AEP), Accelerated School Readiness /ASR/ teacher, school leaders, cluster supervisors & PTAs training, and community engagement activities in the project area.
• Ensure education interventions are well coordinated and integrated with other sectors such as child protection and community mobilization at the field level.

1. Program Implementation Follow-up and Monitoring

• Conduct weekly field visits to support and monitor education activities, verify progress, and assess quality against agreed indicators and standards.
• Collect, compile, and report program data and field findings to support monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) processes.
• Identify implementation gaps, challenges, and risks and report them promptly to the Zonal Program Coordinator and Regional Education Program Coordinator with proposed corrective actions.
• Support close follow-up actions to address monitoring findings and improve program performance and quality.

 4. Program Supply Management and Documentation

• Support the planning, receipt, storage, and distribution of education supplies and materials in line with approved distribution plans and organizational supply chain guidelines.
• Assist in preparing material distribution plans and managing distribution.
• Ensure timely, appropriate education material distribution and documentation through proper beneficiary lists, acknowledgement forms/minutes, and distribution records (pictures, models (19 & 20) are completed and filed.
• Ensure proper handling, accountability, and documentation of education supplies at the field level.

1. Financial and Compliance Management

• Support budget implementation by tracking education-related expenditures against approved work plans and budgets in the field.
• Ensure program activities are implemented in compliance with donor agreements, organizational financial procedures, and internal controls.
• Assist in collecting supporting documents for financial reporting, liquidation, and audit purposes.
• Flag potential financial or compliance risks to the Regional Education Program Coordinator on time.

1. Partnership and Coordination

• Establish healthy working relationships and coordination with relevant government education offices, school leaders, and community structures at zonal and woreda levels.
• Participate in education coordination meetings, technical working groups, and stakeholder consultations as assigned.
• Support alignment of education activities with government policies, standards, and regional education priorities.
• Serve as a field-level focal person for education-related information and communication in assigned areas.

1. Gender Equality, Protection, and Inclusion (GEDSI)

• Support the integration of gender equality, disability inclusion, and child protection principles across education program activities in both formal and non-formal intervention support.
• Promote in the project area the inclusive education practices that improve access and participation for girls, children with disabilities, displaced children, and other marginalized groups.
• Ensure safeguarding, child protection, and accountability to affected populations (AAP) principles are applied during program implementation.
• Report any safeguarding, protection, or inclusion-related concerns in line with organizational procedures.

1. Human Resource Management and Capacity Building

• Provide technical support and on-the-job coaching to facilitators, School leaders,  teachers, PTAs, and community volunteers involved in education activities.
• Support the delivery of training, workshops, and refresher sessions for education personnel at community and school levels.
• Participate in supervision, mentoring, and performance monitoring of education facilitators.
• Contribute to building a collaborative, accountable, and results-oriented team culture at the field level.

 9. Reporting and Documentation

• Prepare and submit timely and accurate activity reports, field visit reports, and monitoring updates to the Zonal Coordinator and Regional Education Program Coordinator.
• Contribute to periodic program reports (monthly, quarterly, and annual) by providing quality field-level data, narratives, and documentation.
• Maintain proper filing and documentation of education program records, including attendance sheets, monitoring tools, training reports, and distribution documents.
• Support ad-hoc reporting and information requests from supervisors, donors, or government counterparts.