The context:
Globally, millions of children and young people are not in education due to poverty, conflict, gender disparities and disability. This poses a major challenge to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to provide inclusive and equitable quality education for all. UNESCO estimates that over 244 million children were not in education in 2022, with the largest proportion being in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite Rwanda’s significant progress towards universal education, barriers such as poverty, long distances to schools, early pregnancies and limited support for children with disabilities persist, affecting access to education, retention and learning outcomes. At ADEPE, we promote inclusive education by identifying and supporting out-of-school children and young people, engaging with their families and communities, and advocating for systems that ensure every child can access and complete a quality education.

About ADEPE:

ADEPE (Action pour le Développement du Peuple) is a legally recognized non- governmental and non-profit organization registered in Rwanda since 2002. It operates nationwide, striving to create an inclusive society in which women, young people and children are empowered to become self-reliant and enjoy equal opportunities. ADEPE focuses on improving the quality of life for vulnerable groups through programs that promote social protection, human rights, and sustainable development.
Education is central to ADEPE’s mission. ADEPE identifies and supports out-of-school children and youth by addressing barriers to education, mobilizing families and communities, and strengthening school environments for inclusion and retention. It provides scholastic support for vulnerable learners, promotes early childhood development through community-based and market-based ECD centers, and equips parents and caregivers to foster holistic development. These efforts ensure that every child, especially the most marginalized, has access to quality education and opportunities to thrive.

About the LIFT Project in Rwanda:

The Learning and Inclusion for Transformation (LIFT) program is a Ministry of Education initiative funded by the UK Government through FCDO. The program aims to improve foundational learning outcomes in English and Mathematics in Rwanda’s primary schools. Specifically, LIFT targets adolescents aged 12-17, supporting their reintegration into school or facilitating alternative educational pathways. This includes providing functional literacy and numeracy programs, life skills, and vocational pathways for youth aged 15-18. The first phase of the project covers 7 districts: Gasabo, Kirehe, Gisagara, Rusizi, Karongi, Ngororero, and Gakenke Districts. ADEPE has been selected as the anchor organization in Gakenke and Rusizi districts, where it plays a critical role in identifying out-of-school children and youth (OOSCY), mobilizing families and communities, strengthening school systems, and implementing tailored interventions that promote inclusion, retention, and holistic wellbeing for all learners. These efforts include addressing barriers that keep children out of school, providing scholastic materials and psychosocial support, and creating an enabling environment for quality learning. ADEPE also prioritizes early childhood development by supporting ECD centers and empowering parents and caregivers to provide nurturing care, ensuring children are prepared for school and lifelong learning. Through these initiatives, ADEPE contributes significantly to building an inclusive education system where no child is left behind.

About the role:

Specifically, we are looking for an exceptional Project Manager to join our team in Gakenke District-Rwanda. The Project Manager will lead the LIFT project in Gakenke District and ensure its successful implementation. You’ll oversee the end-to-end delivery of the project, ensuring measurable improvements in learning outcomes, strong coordination with government and district stakeholders, and a sustainable, inclusive approach for reaching the most marginalized learners to achieve significant literacy and numeracy learning outcomes for targeted beneficiaries.

The Project Manager, LIFT, will:

• Lead the implementation of the LIFT OOSCY program in Gakenke District, ensuring project milestones, budgets, and timelines are met
• Deliver project reports on time, including monthly progress reports and quarterly impact reports, with clear data insights aligned to LIFT project goals
• Serve as the designated Safeguarding Lead for the LIFT program, ensuring compliance with all Rising and donor safeguarding policies at the country level
• Ensure project materials are delivered to the right schools on time, ensuring accurate tracking and feedback loops for quality assurance
• Coordinate RisingFaster catch-up interventions in literacy and numeracy, with strong focus on tracking learning progress and reintegration outcomes
• Build and maintain high-level relationships with stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, LIFT partners, and district education leaders
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding and child protection policies, through monthly reviews and spot checks
• Provide capacity-building to mentors and teachers through training, coaching, and support in implementing Individual Learning Plans (ILPs)
• Support strong community engagement and retention efforts through school-based mentoring and peer learning models
• Conduct follow-up evaluations and monitoring to ensure the trained beneficiaries apply skills learned in training

Location and reporting:

This is a full-time fixed-term position based in Gakenke District. The Project Manager, LIFT, will report to the Programs Manager, ADEPE Rwanda.

Application deadline:

Application deadline is 5 th September 2025. The target start date for this role is September 2025.

Requirements:

Qualifications and Experience:

• 3-5 years of project management experience, preferably in education but open to other related sectors.
• Proven track record of managing projects from concept to completion, with strong skills in planning, budgeting, and timely delivery of complex projects
• Experience working with multi-stakeholder partnerships, particularly in collaboration with government entities, NGOs, or educational institutions
• Experience with monitoring, evaluation, and reporting to meet donor requirements, with attention to detail in financial tracking and compliance
• Bachelor’s degree in education, Inclusive and Special Needs, Project Management, or related field.

About You:

• You are a skilled communicator, adept at building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government officials, education institutions, and local communities
• You leverage data to drive decisions, continually analyzing what’s working and where improvements can be made to ensure maximum impact
• You have a passion for educational impact and are motivated by the opportunity to bring AI innovation to underserved communities
• You are proactive and adaptable, comfortable working in an environment where priorities may shift as the project evolves
• You set high standards for yourself and the team, promoting accountability, quality, and professionalism
• You are an organized, detail-oriented leader, with a knack for balancing big- picture goals with day-to-day project tracking
• You excel in problem-solving, finding creative solutions to overcome challenges, and continuously seeking ways to improve project processes
• You thrive in a collaborative, cross-functional environment and are willing to go above and beyond to ensure project success
• You are culturally sensitive, empathetic, and respectful of the communities in which you work, demonstrating a deep understanding of Rwanda’s educational and operational contexts

Anyone interested in one of the positions should submit his/her application in one PDF file to the following address: adepe.info@gmail.com with a copy to jeanneadepe@gmail.com no later than 5/09/2025 at 5:00 PM.

The application must include:

• A letter of application addressed to the Executive Director of ADEPE (one page)
• CV (maximum 2 pages)
• Motivation letter
• Degree and Related Certificates

ADEPE has a zero tolerance to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of its entire staff, partners and beneficiaries. Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is everyone’s responsibility and all staff with partners are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct, that enshrines principles of PSEA, at all times (both during work hours and outside work hours).

ADEPE requires its staff and partners to treat all people with dignity and respect, actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation and human trafficking everywhere and at all times. Familiarization with, and adherence to, the Code of Conduct is an essential requirement of all staff, in addition to related mandatory training. All staff and partners must ensure that they understand and act in accordance with this clause.