Education & Early Childhood Development Advisor

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Education & Early Childhood Development Advisor (Education and Skills / EECD) will lead the design and implementation of inclusive programme strategies that ensure access to quality education for all children, with a specific focus on girls and children with disabilities who remain underserved. The role requires demonstrated experience in delivering high-quality education programmes, applying evidence-based approaches, and aligning with national education priorities in Tanzania.

S/he will design and roll out inclusive education tools, facilitate capacity strengthening, and build strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to promote equitable learning outcomes and child wellbeing. The Advisor will also ensure alignment with the refreshed EECD Framework by contributing to standardised programme quality, strengthened programme design, improved measurement and accountability, enhanced learning and adaptation, and stronger resource mobilisation and positioning across education and early childhood interventions.

Working closely with project leads (Grants and Sponsorship), government institutions (MoEST, PO-RALG, LGAs), and partners, the Advisor will support integration of inclusion throughout the programme cycle. This includes building capacity of staff, government officials, and school leaders, while ensuring continuous quality improvement and transformative change within the education sector.

DIMENSION OF THE ROLE

• Leads the design, testing, and implementation of inclusive education and EECD strategies, tools, and approaches aligned with national priorities and organisational frameworks.
• Builds and maintains strong collaboration with government (MoEST, PO-RALG), partners, and internal teams, while strengthening capacities of staff, educators, and stakeholders to deliver inclusive, high-quality education.
• Review and ensure that core instruments, tools and modules are sensitive to social inclusion principles;
• Document the process, results, lessons learned, and key recommendations of inclusive education.
• Ensures programmes meet quality standards through application of the EECD framework and indicators, supports monitoring and learning, and strengthens positioning for funding through evidence-based results and impact.
• The position reports to the Head of Policy, Strategy & Quality

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• Master’s degree in Education or Early Childhood Education.
• At least 8 years’ experience working on gender transformative and social inclusion education sector programming
• Demonstrated track record of promoting inclusive education including familiarity with best practices and tools to improve learning outcomes for learners
• Experience supporting government counterparts or other implementation partners to mainstream inclusion in education programs
• Experience with 2-3 donors implementing programmes
• Experience in development education programmes and projects, including translating design into solid implementation with sound results;
• Experience in planning and facilitating training/workshops on education project design and reviews;
• Experience in writing/ contributing significantly to successful grant proposals;
• Fluent written and spoken English language skills required.
• Experience with rights-based approaches to education
• Experience managing staff, including demonstrated experience in staff training, coaching and mentoring
• This position requires high computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.
• Ability to multitask and work under pressure with minimal supervision

Desirable:

• Experience working with children and understanding their special needs.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.

Skills

• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proficient computer skills in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work under multidisciplinary and multicultural environment
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Strong public speaking skills.
• Demonstrated versatility, and integrity
• Fluent spoken and written English and Kiswahili
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Good problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent negotiation and networking skills with media and relevant stakeholders

Link to the full role profile Education & Early Childhood Development Advisor JD.docx

Location: Dar es Salaam

Reports to: Head of Policy, Strategy & Quality

Grade: 16

Closing Date: 15th July, 2026

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.