Early Childhood Development Finance and Funding - Pretoria, South Africa - Ilifa Labantwana

Description

ECD Finance and Funding Systems Technical Assistant


Location:
Pretoria

Background

Ilifa Labantwana is committed to quality early childhood development (ECD) for all children that supports caregivers, creates sustainable livelihoods for women, and builds an equitable and prosperous South Africa for all.

We work towards a South Africa where everyone recognises their contribution to children reaching their full potential.

We use our deep understanding of Government and technical expertise; alongside evidence, collaboration, and advocacy to strengthen the early childhood development ecosystem.

Purpose

Ilifa Labantwana is recruiting an ECD Finance and Funding Systems Technical Assistant to be seconded to the Department of Basic Education (DBE).

The Technical Assistant will lead strategy development and planning for the financing of ECD, as well as the design of financing and payment mechanisms.

They will also provide technical support for the design, implementation and monitoring of new and existing projects relating to ECD funding and financing.

The Technical Assistant will need to work both collaboratively and independently and display initiative in a complex public sector environment where accomplishments contribute directly to improved access to quality ECD services.

Responsibilities:

• ECD Financing: Design the funding model required to deliver the ECD essential package. Describe approaches to target funds to support equitable access to ECD services, as well as suitable financing mechanisms for the sector. Assist on other projects related to funding or financing systems for ECD.
• Budget Analysis and Planning: Input into relevant planning and budget documents as required in collaboration with the National Treasury. Ensure that improvement projects and systems being designed within the DBE are costed. Review and analyse budget allocations for ECD to identify trends and understand the causes of any underspending. Develop processes to support provinces that are not spending optimally.
• Project Management, Monitoring and Reporting: Provide technical support for the design, implementation and monitoring of new and existing projects. Monitor commitments and obligations between stakeholders. Assess and report on progress against project deliverables.
• Stakeholder Coordination and Planning: Coordinate and manage project stakeholder engagements. Arrange, coordinate and deliver on provincial and district training when required.

Attend meetings and develop presentations on behalf of the Chief Directorate.

• Capacity Building and change management: Create opportunities for transfer of skills and knowledge to DBE staff and support the adoption of ECD financing initiatives nationally.

Requirements:

Qualifications and experience

• Degree in economics, finance, statistics, development, early childhood development, education or systems development.
• Minimum of 5 years relevant work experience in research institutions, system development institutions, finance institutions, or NGOs working in the ECD sector.
• Good understanding of at least one of the areas of the essential package of Early Childhood

Development.

• Good understanding of public finance including policy, legislation and knowledge of government budget cycles and processes.
• Sound data analysis and interpretation skills, with strong competency in MS Excel, and Stata or

R.

Competences and personal qualities

• Demonstrable ability to manage multiple stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills
• Excellent writing and presentation skills
• Innovative and adaptative
• Able to work independently and prioritise workload
• Collaborative and engaging manner of working with colleagues and partners
• Approaches work with humility, integrity and tenacity, demonstrating an awareness of South

Africa's fractured history.


Role Details:

• Level: Senior
• Duration: 2 year contract

Ilifa Labantwana strives to be a diverse and equitable organisation. Preference will be given to

Closing date: 30 June 2023


Job Type:
Contract

Contract length: 24 months


Salary:
Up to R600,000.00 per year


Ability to commute/relocate:

• Pretoria, Gauteng: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (required)

Education:

• Bachelors (required)

Experience:

- relevant work: 5 years (required)

Application Deadline: 2023/06/30