Job Description

The District Coordinator will be responsible to provide technical support to district and block ICDS stakeholders, develop capacities of government stakeholders and lead the implementation of the model panchayat ECD interventions in two blocks of Muzaffarpur district. The position will be required to work closely with communities, using a human-centred design approach to map challenges related to advancing ECD outcomes and a participatory community-led approach to identifying solutions and approaches to improve ECD outcomes for children in the 0-6 years age group.  

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to ICDS and health functionaries on ECD at district and block levels. Technical support will prioritise ECD and responsive care for children in the first 1000 days, aligned with the key elements of the nurturing care framework.
• Using a human-centred design approach, facilitate dialogue with key stakeholders (parents, community institutions, gram panchayat members, anganwadi workers and anganwadi helpers,
• ASHA and ANM’s) to identify key challenges in improving ECD services and using a participatory, stakeholder led process, identify possible solutions to the development of childfriendly ‘model’ panchayats. 
• Develop processes to disseminate key messages on responsive care and ECD through existing community institutions (eg women SHGs), supporting members of these institutions to emerge as
• ‘ECD champions’.
• Design training programmes for key stakeholders to advance ECD outcomes at the community and institution (Anganwadi/ Health Centre) levels.
• Support the community in developing low-cost resources to enhance child development and early stimulation/ learning.
• Provide regular hand holding support to all the stakeholders of ECD intervention in the model Panchayats.
• Facilitate capacity building activities for ICDS block level officers, Supervisors and support AWW’s training on the first 1000 days and ECD/ ECCE interventions. 
• Build the capacity of other team members and volunteers working at the block / sector / AWC level as master trainers, and actively mentor and guide them to resolve issues at those levels.
• Liaise with ICDS and Health officials at the district/block level to strengthen overall understanding of ECD among communities.

The Aga Khan Development Network is an international group of private, non-denominational development agencies and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities. Visit us at www.akdn.org

The Aga Khan Foundation is committed to the principles of equal opportunity and will strive to ensure that all job applicants, staff and volunteers, do not suffer negative discrimination on the basis of their religion, race, caste, color, nationality, social class, sex, place of birth, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, HIV status, age etc. or any combination of these. 

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and Skills Required

• Ambitious, energetic, innovative, solution-oriented, creative and hard-working professional committed to improving lives among India’s most marginalized communities. Must share a sense of urgency about development and needs to be comfortable in dealing with ambiguity
• Bachelor’s degree in education, social sciences, public policy or relevant fields. Must have knowledge of ECD, and any certification in ECD / ECCE is desirable. 
• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience within the development sector, especially in implementing and/or managing ECD programmes in partnership with government. 
• Strong understanding of caregiving practices in communities, especially in rural areas. Willingness to work closely with rural communities, following a participatory approach.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Hindi. Verbal communication in local dialects spoken by communities in the district may be desirable.
• Strong facilitation skills and in the design and implementation of learning and development strategies with ability to engage in coaching conversations with team members and building a strong team. 
• Good understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks for ECD programmes, with experience in assessments and/or data collection. Proficiency in MS PowerPoint, Word and Excel is desirable.
• Excellent time management skills with demonstrated ability to prioritize.
• Excellent interpersonal and team skills. 
• Must be willing to travel to project locations in rural areas. The programme will require significant travel within the district, and possibly to other districts occasionally. Please apply on the given link by the 25^{th of} November 2022 https://forms.gle/4Nt8LmkMZmwKCfEN9

Desired Candidate Profile

Graduation - BSW

Organization Details

• Organization Name:Aga Khan Rural Support Programme
• About Organization:AKRSP(I) exists to enable the empowerment of rural communities and groups, particularly the under-privileged and women, to take control over their lives and manage their environment, to create a better and more equitable society
  
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