E-Learning Technical Advisor Consultant
Spark works with local partners to catalyze sustainable collective action and improve livelihoods in communities through a community activation process accompanied by a microgrant.

We are hiring an E-Learning Technical Advisor Consultant
About Spark Microgrants
Since its founding in 2010, Spark Microgrants has built up the civic and economic power of rural communities facing poverty in East Africa and West Africa. Spark Microgrants has created a unique Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP) which creates space for residents to design a village graduation plan, make collective decisions, and receive funds directly to fuel the local economy. This is accomplished through an inclusive facilitated series of weekly village meetings over the course of eighteen months where families sit and plan together for their own future, a seed grant of $8,000, and funding for a technical advisor per village.
Spark is slated to grow three-fold in 2022 and has demand from national governments and the World Bank to replicate across geographies if FCAP evaluation results are encouraging. Over the next five years, 1.1 million residents across 1,500 villages stand to benefit from engagement in the FCAP. Studies have shown that families engaged in the FCAP see a 25%+ increase in household assets and income-earning potential in year one. Families are slated to launch 3,300+ new poverty alleviation projects through the Every Village Initiative. 90,000 new families will contribute to village savings, providing increased capital for business loans and allow for vulnerable families to manage unforeseen challenges. The total cost per household is $152, making this a remarkably low-cost, high-yield program.

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In order to support this growth, Spark Microgrants is looking to move away from its current model of training, which is entirely face-to-face, and invest in 50% face-to-face and 50% online training. Through this investment, Spark Microgrants will reduce the monetary and human cost currently associated with training new partners and villagers, removing barriers to scale, whilst maintaining the high quality of delivery of the FCAP. It is in this regard that Spark has engaged outsourced partners to build online courses and provide infrastructure to make these accessible to users through web and mobile applications.
Spark is seeking a consultant for a short-term assignment to oversee the development and delivery of the initial online courses and hosting platform. The consultant will also be expected to build the capacity of Spark staff in general pedagogy and digital pedagogy. This scope is based on our understanding of the current need but has the potential to lead to a longer-term, more permanent engagement, depending on the success of this initial contract.

Scope Of Work
The scope of work includes:
• Reviewing the proposed roadmap and methodology submitted by technical providers to design, create and author FCAP online courses.
• Reviewing the FCAP content and making recommendations as to what is converted into online courses with a view to simplifying the FCAP, in line with good general and digital pedagogical rules.
• Assessing the hosting platform/Learning Management System (LMS), and possible mobile app, for its user interface (UI) and user experience (UX), keeping in mind any special needs of FCAP rural users.
• Providing advice to Spark on any relevant technical standards that should be observed.
• Advising on training and onboarding Spark and partner trainers to author online FCAP courses.
• Delivering in-person capacity-building workshops on general and digital pedagogy.
• Advising the Spark Design team and management on annual budget allocations by identifying priorities for revisions and additions to online course content in line with the future expansion of FCAP to new geographies.
• Supporting Spark in the management of contracts with partners and providers to implement agreed scopes.
The consultant is not expected to produce any online course content.

Duration Of The Assignment
The scope will be implemented over a period of six months with the possibility of an extension.

Application Details
Expressions of interest are invited from individuals, or teams, whether associated with an organization or otherwise.
The following skills and experiences are essential for all applicants:
• Experience in conducting and/or managing similar or comparable assignments within low-income settings.
• An understanding of the technical situations and barriers faced by individuals living in rural African communities.
• An understanding of virtual learning or virtual training web/mobile applications.
• A deep understanding of digital pedagogies.

Interested parties should submit a proposal to Spark Microgrants to include:
• CVs of relevant parties.
• A brief cover letter (no more than two pages) demonstrating how they meet the criteria above.
• One example of previous work that demonstrates the skills or experience relevant to this assignment.
• Confirmation of day rate expected to be charged for this project.


Submission Procedure
To apply, interested parties should submit a proposal of Expression of Interest to Spark Microgrants with the required information below:
• Attach a brief cover letter (no more than two pages) demonstrating how you meet the criteria above
• Your proposal should have a draft work plan and an associated budget to include the daily rates of all individuals involved and a description of the roles they each play within the team.
• Include CVs for all individuals listed in the proposal
• Your proposal should have one example of previous work that demonstrates the skills or experience relevant to this assignment.
• Include an associated budget indicating the daily rates expected to be charged for this project of all individuals involved and a description of the roles they each play within the team.
• Please send completed expressions of interest to salome@sparkmicrogrants.org copying musoni@sparkmicrogrants.org by 30 September
Expressions of interest that meet the essential criteria will be requested to submit a more detailed work plan.

Equal Opportunity
Spark Microgrants provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals. Employment decisions at Spark are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Spark does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by the law. Spark will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship to daily operations.