Learning and Scaling Lead, Sierra Leone

Organizational Context

The Education Outcomes Fund (EOF), hosted by UNOPS, is a global initiative dedicated to transforming education and skills financing and delivery. It partners with governments, donors, and implementers to enhance education system effectiveness, equity, and accountability. EOF operates through an Outcomes Partnership model, linking funding to measurable results to drive real improvements in learning and employment, particularly for disadvantaged children and youth.

Job Purpose

The Learning and Scaling Lead in Sierra Leone will support the Country Lead in developing and implementing a comprehensive learning, scaling, and evidence synthesis agenda. This role is crucial for improving foundational learning outcomes, including literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills, as prioritized by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education. The position will translate program evidence into actionable insights and policy recommendations, contributing to system-wide coherence, instructional quality, and effective data utilization to ensure all children achieve minimum proficiency.

Responsibilities

This role involves strengthening government systems and institutionalization by providing policy recommendations to the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) on foundational learning and early childhood education. Responsibilities include contributing to sector planning, documenting lessons learned from service delivery models and quality assurance, and developing transition and institutionalization plans. The position will also draft policy briefs and learning notes, and support the interpretation and application of evidence in planning and decision-making. Technical advisory duties include providing inputs to MBSSE directors and partners on policy and program design, promoting innovative approaches, and analyzing scale potential and cost drivers. Programme design and implementation involve supporting the scaling of activities, ensuring cost-effectiveness, and facilitating data-driven improvement. Partner coordination includes acting as a focal point for foundational learning partners and ensuring alignment with national priorities. Capacity development focuses on building government counterparts' ability to use data and evidence for routine decision-making.

Work Experience

A minimum of 7 years of experience is required in education, skills-for-employment, development, and/or policy programs, with experience working with national or provincial governments. Experience in education policy, systems strengthening, program scale-up, and sustainability is essential. Desired experience includes evidence generation, policy analysis, system reform, scaling innovative practices, and familiarity with innovative financing mechanisms or performance management frameworks.

Skills

Problem Solving, Project Delivery, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Planning, Time Management, Results Oriented.

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