ECD Facilitator - Mkalles

Background:  

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. IRC reaches over a million children annually with education and child protection programs in 25 countries around the world.

In response to the influx of Syrian refugees to Lebanon in mid-2012, IRC opened a country office and launched humanitarian assistance programming. IRC operates throughout Lebanon, with the main office in Beirut and field offices in Qobayat, Zahle, Tripoli, Tyre and Mount Lebanon. IRC’s programs assist Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese in host communities across multiple sectors: education, livelihoods, protection, women's protection and empowerment and child protection in close coordination with the Lebanese Government and broader Humanitarian Community.

High-quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs provide the foundation for children’s future academic success, health, prosperity and wellbeing. A large body of scientific evidence emphasizes the need for increased investment in early childhood, particularly for children experiencing conflict, crisis and displacement; these children are extremely vulnerable to the long-lasting effects that prolonged stress has on the developing brain.

In December 2017, Sesame Workshop and the IRC were awarded the MacArthur Foundation’s inaugural 100&Change grant to make real progress toward solving a critical problem of our time. With the extraordinary investment of $100 million, our partnership will transform the language, early reading, math, and social-emotional skills of a generation of children ages 0-8 affected by the Syrian war. Focusing on children in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria over the next five years, the inclusive plan combines the depth of in-person services, reaching 1.5 million children, with the breadth of mass media, reaching 9.4 million children. For more information, please visit: http://refugee.sesameinternational.org/.  

Job Overview/Summary:

The ECD facilitator will be facilitating the delivery of the low-contact ECD content to children aged 0 to 10-12, at the IRC Livelihood Center in Mkalless, that is part of IRC Economic Recovery and Development sector. The ECD will also perform other associated duties as assigned by the ECD Officer, thereby providing a safe, secure, stimulating environment in which each child achieves his or her full potential.

Major Responsibilities:

• Ensure the high quality of the delivery of the child-facing low-contact ECD content.
• Ensure full supervision of the children from the moment they arrive until they leave.
• Responsible for keeping track of children’s attendance.
• Ensure that children feel comfortable, safe and respected.
• Continuously monitor and evaluate the children’s progress and welfare.
• Maintain a well-organized child-friendly safe environment for the children, with readily accessible resources

• Encourage caregivers’ involvement and act as the liaison between them and the ECD Officer.
• Demonstrate and encourage inclusive work practices.
• Oversee the use and secure storage of all resources and equipment every day, and report any damage of the space or the equipment to the ECD Officer.
• Ensure all games and equipment are accounted for every day.
• Attend meetings and trainings as directed by the ECD Officer
• Perform any other relevant task as directed by the ECD Officer

Key Working Relationships:

• Position directly reports to: ECD Officer in Mount Lebanon

Job Requirements:  

•  
• Good understanding of the ECD context, including nurturing care, child-centered approaches, inclusive and active learning methods, and willingness to continuously update his/her skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience working with children and particularly vulnerable children
• Demonstrated understanding of child safeguarding policies
• Interpersonal qualities: team player, flexible, network-builder, able to handle pressure well, work well in a cross-cultural setting, positive role model and demonstrate conflict-solving behaviors.
• Fluency in written and spoken Arabic.
• Basic written and spoken English.
• Commitment to and understanding of the International Rescue Committee’s standards, aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches.

Preferred:

• Prior experience supervising and interacting with children between the ages of 0 and 8
• Experience working at community level
• Prior experience in a similar position with a local or international NGO
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Working Environment:  

The position is based in the IRC Livelihoods Center in Mkalless, Mount Lebanon.

WOMEN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY