Job Title: Development Education Officer 

Company: Gorta T/A Self Help Africa (SHA) 
Department: Development Education 
Location: Role Location – Leinster (remote and/or hybrid – 2 days per week in the office – working arrangements available). 
Contract type: Permanent, full time 
Salary: €37,000-€40,000 
Reports to: Development Education Coordinator

About Self Help Africa

Self Help Africa is an international development organisation that works through agriculture and Agri-enterprise development to end hunger and extreme poverty. 

In 2021, Self Help Africa merged with United Purpose, doubling our size. The organisation works in 15 programme countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and its 2023 budget is in excess of €50m.

In early 2023 we launched a new five-year organisation strategy, which defines shared mission as the alleviation of hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community-led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches, so that people can have access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment and incomes, while sustaining natural resources.

Our wider organisation also includes social enterprise subsidiaries Partner Africa, which provides ethical auditing and consultancy services, TruTrade, an innovative trading platform in East Africa, and CUMO, Malawi’s largest micro-finance provider. 

Our three core values are: 

• Impact: We are accountable, ambitious and committed to systemic change. 
• Innovation: We are agile, creative and enterprising in an ever-changing world. 
• Community: We are inclusive, honest and have integrity in our relationships.

Job Purpose:

Self Help Africa (SHA) is seeking to recruit a Development Education (DE) officer to support the implementation of its Irish Aid funded Development Education programme within the formal and informal education sectors and with communities across Ireland. 

SHA is one of the leading implementers of Development Education activities in Irish schools for over 20 years. Our DE programme seeks to increase understanding of global inequality, climate justice,  gender inequality  and ethical trade. 

The organisation delivers Development Education  workshops, in the primary, post primary and adult and community education sectors. We provide teacher training initiatives and social justice modules at Higher Education Institutes.

Self Help Africa’s Development Education team present at public engagement events, create exhibitions for public display. SHA run the Irish Aid sponsored Science for Development Award at the BTYSTE exhibition and organise a schools visit to one of our programme countries in Africa each year.  

The successful candidate will work with the programme coordinator and a network of school workshop facilitators to deliver workshops and other school and community-based activities. The role will require administration and report writing skills. 

The successful candidate should have a full driving licence and access to a car as the role will necessitate travel. We envisage 60% of the working week will be spent in educational settings.

Key Responsibilities:

In conjunction with the Development Education Coordinator:

• Generate and facilitate SHA’s DE programme of workshop delivery.
• Engage learners in critical analysis of the root causes of global inequality using active methodologies, assisting learners to become responsible and active global citizens.
• Create workshop resource tools and materials, linked to SHA country teams programme work.
• Design educational events that help to raise the profile of SHA and DE in Ireland.
• Promote and develop the SHA Science for Development Award at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition.
• Ensure the database of school networks is maintained and updated regularly
• Present at conferences and seminars, contribute to well established sectoral DE network working groups.
• Assist in the preparation of funding applications, results- based frameworks and monitoring and evaluation reports.
• Maintain and build on relationships with teacher training colleges to promote DE in Initial Teacher Training.
• Any other duties within the scope of the job description as designated by the Development Education Coordinator.

Key Relationships:

Internal

• Development Education Coordinator – Line Manager
• Communications and Programme teams
• Public Engagement Director

External

• School networks and teachers
• Higher Education Institutes
• Other DE service providers
• Partnership collaborators

Knowledge, Experience and Other Requirements:

Essential

• Primary degree in International Development and or Education, PGCE or a related discipline
• Minimum of 3 years classroom experience in the primary or post-primary education system
• Working knowledge of sustainable development, environmental issues and human rights
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong planning and organisational skills
• Strong IT skills including Word, Excel, Microsoft office, Salesforce
• Experienced team player
• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Self Help Africa
• Clean Driving Licence and use of a car
• Garda Vetting is required for this role

Competencies:

• Managing yourself – Holds an awareness of own abilities and areas for development; adapts and uses abilities to work well with others and to help achieve objectives.
• Communicating and working with others – Uses the most appropriate channel to share information with others both inside and outside Self Help Africa; adapts the message to meet the communication needs of the audience.
• Delivering results – Systematically develops plans towards achieving Self Help Africa’s objectives and commitments; uses appropriate techniques to help achieve agreed objectives.
• Creativity and innovation – Seek out, develops and successfully implements new ideas that further the aims of Self Help Africa and those we work with; builds on proven approaches and learns from reflective thinking how to improve.
• Influence, advocacy and networking – Engages with others inside and outside the organisation to promote the interests of Self Help Africa and those we work with; gathers and shares a wider knowledge of issues relevant to Self Help Africa’s work.
• Change – Responds positively and constructively to change; manages or takes part in change processes in a way that is appropriate to role in the organisation.

How to Apply:

To apply for this role, please complete the application form and upload your CV outlining your suitability for the role via the careers page on our website.

Website link: https://selfhelpafrica.org/ie/development-education-officer-3/

Please note that only applications submitted through our website will be considered for this role.

Any candidate offered a job with Self Help Africa will be expected to sign Self Help Africa’s Safeguarding Policies and Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

Specific roles may require Police/DBS/Garda vetting.

Self Help Africa is an Equal Opportunities Employer.