Based in the Expertise France office in Nairobi, with regular travels inside Africa and occasional travels to France, the Team Leader will be in charge of the overall supervision and coordination to achieve the project objectives in an efficient and effective manner.

The Team Leader will provide direct line management to the Expertise France operational team within the Project Management Unit (PMU), including the Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) team (composed of a TAF Coordinator and a TAF Assistant), the Project Assistant, and the Outreach/Communications Officer. The Team Leader will also exercise a functional coordination role over the Deputy Team Leader (DAAD), who coordinates Component 2, and the Deputy Team Leader (Team Belgium), who coordinates Component 3. While these Deputy Team Leaders remain under the hierarchical authority of their respective agencies, they will work under the functional coordination of the Team Leader to ensure the overall coherence, alignment, and effective implementation of the Action. The Team Leader will also work closely with the EF Administrative and Financial Support Team, including the Finance Officer, Grants Officer, and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Coordinator.

Finally, the Team leader on behalf of Expertise France will ensure the consolidated monitoring of the activities and budget implemented by the IPs, in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and the respective contractual responsibilities of each partner. He/she will also be responsible for overseeing the project's budget, ensuring that financial resources are allocated efficiently and transparently; as well as for the overall monitoring and evaluation process.

Under the supervision of the Head of the Education, Higher Education and Research Unit at Expertise France headquarters in Paris, the Team Leader will lead the operationalization of the strategic direction set out in the Description of the Action and agreed through the project governance bodies. The Team Leader will oversee implementation, technical quality, team management, stakeholder relations and coherence between Components 2 and 3, as well as coordination with Component 1 and other relevant EU and Team Europe initiatives.

Key responsibilities: 

Strategic management and oversight:

• Lead the operationalization of the project’s strategic direction, as defined in the Description of the Action and further agreed through the project governance bodies.

• Organize and facilitate the committees established in the governance in the DoA and in the Partnership Agreement.

• Align project activities with EU policies, the African Union's Continental Education Strategy, the SDGs, Global Gateway and other relevant frameworks for education policy development in Africa.

• Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are in place, with support from the M&E Coordinator.

• Ensure regular reporting to the partners and the EU on project progress, challenges, and key achievements.

• Ensure coherence and complementarity between Components 2 and 3, and facilitate coordination with Component 1 and other relevant EU and Team Europe initiatives.

• Lead the project inception phase, including the operational set-up of the PMU, the clarification of roles and coordination arrangements, and the consolidation of the initial work plan, budget and implementation procedures.

Team management and coordination:

• Lead, manage, and guide the Project Management Unit (PMU), through a direct (EF) or a functional link (Implementing Partners).

• Foster team cohesion through regular and ad hoc meetings.

• Set goals, objectives, and deliverables for team members under his direct management.

• Oversee the recruitment of short- and long-term experts

Stakeholder engagement and accountability:

• Coordinate between different teams and stakeholders to ensure alignment.

• Facilitate dialogue and coordination with various teams primarily with liaison officers and project coordinator.

• Represent Expertise France and, where duly mandated, the consortium in strategic dialogue with the EU, relevant public authorities and institutional partners, and escalate major strategic, contractual or partnership issues to Expertise France headquarters and the appropriate governance bodies.

• Address stakeholders feedback and integrates it into project strategies.

Planning and monitoring of project activities:

• Develop consolidated work plans and annual budgets.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the M&E, communication and Knowledge Management strategies, in coordination with the respective specialists.

• Ensure programming, financial, and administrative compliance with EU and Expertise France procedures.

• Identify potential risks and implements mitigation strategies.

• Develop contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges and ensure project continuity.

• Monitor compliance with regulatory and organizational policies.

• Manage the allocation of resources (personnel, finances, materials).

• Ensure the efficient use of project assets.

• Ensure that project procedures are developed, regularly reviewed and consistently applied.

• Supervise implementation of the project information management system.

• Ensure that agreed measures for safety and security are in place and adhered to by all staff, in coordination with the Operations Security Department.