Background:

The OVC – Church Coordination Office (OVC-CCO) Bamenda seeks the services of qualified candidates to fill the position of Early Childhood Development Specialist (ECD Specialist) in a USAID-funded project “The Key Interventions to Develop Systems and Services for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (KIDSS – Cameroon).

The ECD Specialist will work as a team member of the OVC-CCO Bamenda and the entire KIDSS project, reporting to the Community Lead-Field Office (CLFO).  

Specific Responsibilities:

A. Development of Early Childhood Development curriculum for Health and Social Service Workers

• Lead the development of the curriculum to support the integration of Early Childhood Development into the continuum of prevention, care and treatment; undertake a situational analysis and review of experience in Cameroon.
• Support CoP and other team members to sensitize GRC leaders to ECD concepts to gain their support; this sensitization will include topics such as child development, ECD planning processes, and integrated approaches to ECD with the aim of incorporating ECD into policy
• Lead training of trainers; supervise and support implementation and assure quality of training of target health and social service workers
• Provide on-going support to the quality implementation of ECD activities

B. Development of Early Childhood Development curriculum for Parents (Positive Parenting)

• Collaborate with other partners to adapt a positive parenting program for Cameroon. The training program will explicitly include a module on the importance of fathers in ECD, providing training on how to involve fathers, as well as biological parents if the child does not reside with his living parents, through home visits.
• Design and lead training of trainers; supervise and support implementation and assure quality of training of parents
• Provide on-going support to the quality implementation of positive parenting activities

C. M&E and Reporting:

• Support the M&E Specialist to identify appropriate indicators to measure outputs and impact of ECD and positive parenting activities, including degree of integration into existing systems
• Support data collection efforts related to ECD and positive parenting activities, ensuring quality data and reporting of partners
• Prepare monthly reports of activities and progress

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 5 years of experience in early childhood development, with experience in training and curriculum development
• Strong background in psychology, social sciences, public health, or related field
• Fluency in speaking, reading and writing in English and French.
• Strong Computer and ICT skills. Skills on Epi Info will be a plus.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Interested persons should send their complete applications files including a detailed resume, three referees and a motivation letter by email to the following address: jobsalertbamenda@gmail.com

NB: Include the Job position on the subject line.

Dateline for submission of applications is Friday 5th September 2014 at 12 noon.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

No phone calls and personal contacts will be entertained.