Job Title: National Programme Lead
Role Location: Abuja Nigeria, with National / Regional travel
Reporting: Project Director
Programme: PLANE (PARTNERSHIP FOR LEARNING FOR ALL IN NIGERIAN)

Project Background
DAI Global UK
DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.
We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. We work with a wide range of clients, including national and local governments, bilateral and multilateral donors, private corporations, and philanthropies.
DAI celebrated 50 years of development in 2020 and has worked in over 150 countries, bringing effective transformative change to the forefront on international development.
Project Overview
Nigeria PLANE is a 7 year, £95m programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and represents one window of intervention in a broader package of investment intended to enable a more inclusive and effective basic education system. It seeks to do this through improvements made in teaching and learning with a focus on foundational skills in reading, writing and mathematics.
It has four primary outputs: (i) Teaching & Learning: Evidence-based teaching and learning approaches & materials in use, in better managed performance focused schools and teaching colleges; (ii) Governance of state systems: Improved planning, personnel management and public financial management practices; (iii) Governance of non-state systems: Improved management and performance of the non-state sector; and (iv) Use of Evidence and Communication: Effective generation, communication and use of evidence to inform citizen engagement and improve service delivery. PLANE will work in Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa, the South-West, South-East, and the federal capital territory.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The National Programme Lead will be responsible for the following functions:
Programme Leadership:

• Provide overall leadership of the programme, ensuring a “one-PLANE” approach through technical coordination across PLANE’s outputs underpinned by a single programme strategy that is aligned with the expectations of FCDO and government stakeholders.
• Strengthen PLANE’s approach for system strengthening and work with the team to ensure that PLANE’s approach effectively integrates into state and non-state education systems and results in systemic change.
• Act as the face of the programme to external stakeholders, including media and the public.
• Act as key contact with the client on technical delivery of the programme.

Government Engagement

• Engage with senior decision-makers in the Federal, State and Non-State sectors on securing buy-in on PLANE’s reform agenda and scaling up PLANE’s approach in other LGAs.
• Ensure the programme develops and retains networks with key organisations and individuals.

Technical Oversight

• Work closely with the Programme’s Place Leads, Output Leads and Technical Advisors to ensure a shared understanding of PLANE’s vision and mission. Engage with PLANE’s Technical Director and Advisors to ensure that PLANE’s annual work plan has;

• Manage technical repivots and adaptations to PLANE’s strategy based on emerging risks, opportunities, lessons learned or client requests.
• Engage with Technical Advisors on general best practice in relation to outputs and activities.

Results & Reporting:

• Responsible for the technical results of the programme
• Review and sign-off all quarterly and annual reports prior to submission.
• Oversee a process that ensures the technical quality of all work submitted by PLANE is to a high standard.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• A Master’s Degree, preferably in Education, Public Policy and/or Economics.
• At least 10 years of experience in the development sector, preferably with FCDO-funded programmes.
• Demonstrated understanding of Nigeria’s education sector
• Experience of working with government and donor counterparts
• Experience of managing large multi-component long term development programmes with budgets in excess of £10 million
• Knowledge of management of change and organisation development in the public sector

Qualified candidates should apply on or before the 13th of October 2024.

Applications from women, people with disabilities and young people who meet the above qualifications are encouraged to apply.

DAI will only contact candidates that are successful at this pre-qualification stage.
More information about DAI can be found on the DAI website; www.dai.com