- Are you passionate about ICT and data systems management and have a desire to improve the lives of people in Timor-Leste using IT based approaches?
- We are looking for Adviser to provide technical support and advice to Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) to institutionalise as appropriate the digital platform (eskola.tl).
- Join the Australia Timor-Leste Partnership for Human Development (PHD) on a 12 - month contract (with possible extension), locally engaged position, based in Dili, Timor-Leste.
About the Program
The Australia Timor-Leste Partnership for Human Development (PHD) supports the Government of Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030 and reflects Australia’s commitment to work in partnership with Timor-Leste to invest in improved wellbeing for Timor-Leste’s people. PHD aims to deliver lasting impact on the program goal: ‘people in Timor-Leste are healthier, better-educated and better able to contribute to Timor-Leste’s development’. Through PHD, Australia supports the Timor-Leste government to deliver higher quality and inclusive services in primary health, basic education and social protection.
PHD’s education sector has supported the establishment of systems to improve teaching and learning at school level since 2016. It supports the Ministry of Education (MoE) Apoiu Lideransa Mentoria no Aprendizajen (ALMA) program to facilitate instructional leadership, empower school leaders to coach and mentor teachers based on assessed needs. ALMA work has been enabled by a tablet-based application system - eskola.tl. An independent assessment of eskola.tl was undertaken in late 2023 to assess relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of the platform in meeting MoE requirements, to inform its integration into MoE systems. This integration process will be critical to the long-term sustainability of the program.
Abt Associates Australia is the implementation partner for PHD, contracted since May 2016 until May 2026.
About the Opportunity
The Adviser – ICT Systems will work together with the Ministry of Education (MoE) to institutionalise as appropriate the digital platform (eskola.tl) currently utilised by the ALMA program.
The Adviser will draw on the detailed findings and recommendations from the eskola.tl 2023 assessment, design and facilitate a series of discussions between the MoE (including Municipal Education Offices as appropriate) and Catalpa International to plan and support the transition of key eskola.tl functions into government systems, including tablet management drawing in PHD, the Australian Embassy, the World Bank (which also supports ALMA and broader Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) support to MoE), INFORDEPE, TIC Timor and Telemor as appropriate.
The Adviser – ICT Systems will be responsible for:
Institutionalisation of Eskola.tl
- Facilitating MoE, PHD and Catalpa International discussions to identify key eskola.tl functions to be transitioned into government systems, noting that government resource constraints may necessitate prioritisation of only those components most critical to ALMA school leadership functions.
- Participating actively in the Regular Education Technology working group activities with MoE-ICT Department, PHD and Catalpa and in the Transition Technical Working Group (TWG) meetings to advise and support ALMA institutionalisation activities.
- Facilitating a decision with MoE on whether and how eskola.tl functions should be integrated into the EMIS or continue to be used as stand-alone system.
- Working in collaboration with MoE, PHD and Catalpa identify key system upgrades needed to enable or enhance priority functions identified by MoE, subject to available resourcing.
- Working with Specialist – Education Development to draft policy clauses to mandate and govern the use of eskola.tl or integrated eskola.tl functions, possibly through a planned Decree Law on the ALMA program.
- Integrating operational guidance on core eskola.tl functions into the ALMA Operations Manual (draft is currently being finalised and will likely be annexed to the Decree Law).
- Working in collaboration with Catalpa, identifying and advising on arrangements for server hosting and management, based on MoE preferences and technical and financial feasibility.
- Facilitating discussions and decisions on intellectual property (IP) arrangements, in-sourcing versus outsourcing of ongoing technical (software engineering) support, considering MoE preferences and financial and technical feasibility.
- Identifying capacity development needs to enable MoE (or TIC) staff to manage eskola.tl, and development of a phased capacity development plan for all relevant national and municipal actors.
- Identifying any additional personnel requirements for MoE, TIC or INFORDEPE to effectively manage and maintain the system.
Tablet Management
- Working in collaboration with MoE and Catalpa to develop and maintain a procurement, maintenance, software and asset management plan to ensure administrative management arrangements for server, tablet and helpdesk management.
- Working with MoE to develop a protocol for tablet management and monitoring, including monthly reporting to the relevant Director on tablet use and maintenance issues.
- Organising replacement or repair of tablets in a timely manner based on processes in place in close coordination with MoE.
- Supporting MoE staff to become more proficient at using all aspects of the Eskola tl platform, to know its full capacity and be able to support different user needs (ie National, Municipal and School).
- Building a Help Desk support function for users. Communicate with users regularly to remind them of the functions and resources available and encourage use. Tailor messages to user needs and interests.
- Liaise and coordinate with managers and DNSIT on the development of an ALMA page on the MoE website.
Other
- Promoting responsiveness to diversity and ensuring that cross cutting areas of the program such as Gender, Disability, Child Protection are embedded in all program activities.
- Supporting and carrying out other specific duties required by the program.
About You
- A degree in Information and Communication Technology or considerable relevant ICT experience.
- Experience and technically proficient in the use of Information Management Systems, platforms, or data warehouses.
- Good understanding of relevant GoTL policies, systems and structures, particularly those related to ICT systems and services.
- Willingness and capacity to support and mentor the transfer of required knowledge and skills to government actors.
- Interpersonal skills with ability to work in challenging contexts with a range of stakeholders.
- Proficiency in Tetum and English language is required with ability to produce high quality program reporting.
- Proficiency in Portuguese language is desirable.
Further Information & How to Apply
Please apply online through the careers page of the Abt Associates website via the following link https://egpy.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com
Please attach a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document, addressing how you meet the requirements of this role.
For further information please email the PHD People & Culture team via [email protected]. Please insert the job title in the email subject heading.
Closing date: Thursday 25 April 2024 (11pm Dili, Timor-Leste time)
