Overview
The Learning and Scaling Lead will support the Country Lead in developing and implementing a learning, scaling, and evidence synthesis agenda to translate programme evidence into operational insights and actionable policy recommendations for foundational learning outcomes in Sierra Leone.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the Country Lead to provide recommendations to MBSSE leadership on policy decisions and reforms related to foundational learning and early childhood education outcomes.
- Contribute to sector planning and reviews of Foundational Learning and ECCE outcomes.
- Document lessons related to workforce development, service delivery models, inclusion practices, supervision systems, and quality assurance mechanisms.
- Support development of transition and institutionalization plans.
- Draft policy briefs, learning notes, and strategic recommendations.
- Support the Country Lead to interpret and apply evidence in planning and decision-making processes.
- Contribute evidence inputs to national policy discussions and technical working groups.
- Provide technical inputs to MBSSE directors and other partners when designing or implementing foundational learning and ECCE policies and programmes.
- Promote piloting and testing of innovative approaches.
- Contribute to translating global research into practical policy guidance.
- Conduct analyses of scale potential, cost drivers, implementation models, and sustainability options.
- Support the Country Lead to identify barriers and enablers to scaling successful interventions.
- Convene stakeholders from government, civil society, donors, research institutions, and implementing partners.
- Support the design and scaling of activities under the Foundational Learning Compact.
- Ensure programmes are cost-effective, scalable and sustainable.
- Facilitate continued learning about data and evidence use in foundational learning and ECCE interventions, including annual review of progress.
- Promote a culture of data-driven improvement.
- Lead the collection, synthesis, and interpretation of implementation evidence.
- Collaborate with Monitoring, Evaluation and Research partners to analyze quantitative and qualitative data.
- Identify emerging lessons, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.
- Act as a focal point for all partners supporting foundational learning.
- Contribute to ensuring alignment of donor-funded programmes with national priorities engaging on cross-sector evidence and collaborative action.
- Contribute to ensuring reforms are evidence-based, reduce duplication, lead to impact, and implemented in line with policies.
- Build the capacity of government counterparts to use data and evidence in routine decision-making moving the system towards learning outcomes.
Required Experience
Minimum of 7 years experience in Education, skills-for-employment, development and/or policy programs. Experience working with national and/or provincial governments, preferably within the education, skills-for-employment or broader development sectors. Experience in education and/or skills-for-employment policy and systems strengthening, including pathways for program scale-up and sustainability. Desired: Experience should ideally include evidence generation, policy analysis, system reform or scaling innovative practices. Experience with innovative financing mechanisms (particularly outcomes funds), performance management frameworks or large donor-funded programs is an asset. Experience working in the Early Childhood sector and familiarity with ECCE data and indicators. Proven track record of producing high-quality analytical reports, policy briefs and evidence-based recommendations.
Qualifications
Required Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Public Policy, Education, Business, Economics, Political Science, Finance or similar. Desired Master’s degree in International Development, Public Policy, Education, Business, Economics, Political Science, Finance or similar.
