Country Director

For over 40 years, Action Education (formerly Aide et Action), Education Development International Association, has been ensuring access to quality education for the most vulnerable and marginalised populations, particularly children, girls, and women, so that they can all control their own development and contribute to a more peaceful and sustainable world.

Because access to quality education makes it possible to combat poverty and disease, limit climate change, and build peace in a sustainable world, we promote lifelong learning. We therefore pay particular attention to early childhood education and care, access to and quality of education at primary and secondary levels, as well as vocational training and social inclusion.

By basing our work on the values of dignity, inclusion, and integrity, as well as on the principles of transparency, accountability, and solidarity, and thanks to the support of our 51,500 donors, we are currently running over 80 projects in 16 countries (in Africa, Asia and Europe) for almost 1.5 million children, young people, and adults.

Since 2006, we have been actively working in Laos to enhance educational opportunities, particularly in remote and underserved communities. Our initiatives focus on improving pre-primary and primary education, promoting gender equality, and providing training in entrepreneurship and job skills. With a dedicated team of 10 staff members and an annual operating budget of approximately 500,000 euros, we collaborate closely with local authorities and communities to implement impactful programs.

Looking ahead, Action Education aims to expand its reach by developing innovative educational models and strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders in the education sector. While financial constraints pose challenges, we remain steadfast in our commitment to empowering individuals through education and contributing to the broader development goals of Laos.

Position Overview

The Country Director provides strategic leadership and develops action plans that further the mission of Action Education and meet the evolving conditions in Lao. S/he has overall responsibility for ensuring adequate program funding is available at all times and for the technical and operational excellence in the delivery of all activities to achieve the objectives established in the country strategic paper.

The Country Director represents Action Education in Lao and advocates on behalf of its development agenda building institutional relationships and promoting community-driven initiatives/approaches with local partners and government agencies, especially with the Ministry of Education.

Missions

Reporting to the International Director of Programs and Technical Resources (IDPTR), the Country Director contributes to the implementation of Action Education’s mandate and strategy in his/her area of responsibility. He/she contributes to optimizing the quality and impact of activities in the Laos Country Program.

Main responsibilities

Management Team

• Leads the operations of the Country Management Team (CMT);
• Ensures the effective development, financing and implementation of a financially sound and credible Action Education Program
• Maintains an awareness of matters relevant to the IDPTR and CMT and ensures that reports and information of interest are brought to the attention of IDPTR and CMT members;
• Maintains an effective working relationship with all other IDPTR and CMT members to ensure that there is effective coordination of all activities in support of organization objectives.

Programme strategy and Implementation

• Leads the development and review of the Country Strategic Paper and ensures proper CSP 2025-29 implementation
• Leads annual country programme planning and provides overall management and implementations to ensure high quality delivery;
• Initiates specific project concepts with specific focus on community-driven approaches;
• Signs off the development, review, and update of the program operational action plan of the country to ensure the adaptation to the change circumstances and alignment to the global Strategic Plan 25 – 29

Program development and new business development

• Ensures strategic engagement and partnership-building and fundraising with relevant corporate, national and international stakeholders on education and related issues in the country and the region;
• Initiates concept and/or project design in response to different call for proposals;
• Contributes to the implementation of regional and global fundraising strategies;
• Represents Action Education to different forums and keeps abreast of trends in education for advocacy/collaboration and promotes organizational niche/thematic at national and regional levels;
• Promotes policy dialogs with key stakeholders in education which impact long-term changes;
• Maintains regular contact with partners and donors to keep them aware of the progress and to seek feedbacks for continuous improvement;
• Develops and maintains excellent working relationship and strategic partnerships with relevant institutions and individuals in the country;
• Helps contribute donor mapping to identify potential donors aligning with our programmes;

Finance management

• Steers the annual country budget development on the principles of 80% of country budget for project and 20% for structure costs, with the Human Resource cost is less than 40%;
• Ensures the effective implementation of the budget in consistent program delivery;
• Signs off the purchase, ensuring the best value of money underlining in the procurement policy.

People Management and Organizational Development

• Promotes a culture in the offices that reflects empowerment of staff, matrix working oversight, drive for continuous innovation, high performance with strong commitment and passion for Action Education’s vision, mission, core values and high accountability;
• Leads, develops, and motivates staff in the fluid working environment with flexibility of direct reporting and functional lines but maintains effective delivery of programme results;
• Provides orientation to new staff at regional and country offices to help them understand about the country programme and its activities when required;
• Facilitates knowledge exchange with other countries
• Involves in the recruitment and selection of staff in the country
• Be responsible for the administration of all hosted staff located in the country office.

Monitoring and Evaluation, Reporting

 Regularly works with regional function managers/officers to review the data and statistics to facilitate the continuous improvement;

• Manages evaluations, ensuring the effective and efficient use of evaluation resources, timely implementation of evaluation process and submission of reports according to deadlines, ensuring that that proper evaluation processes are followed;
• Develops and/or reviews and signs off project and/or program reports to headquarter, donors, and government.