Deadline: 22 November, 2021

Location: Lilongwe, Malawi

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is seeking to fill the role of Education Specialist.

Across 190 countries and territories, UNICEF works for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support as part of the education team and in partnership with counterparts and partners
• Develop, review and finalise communication materials, reports, briefs, concept notes, proposals and other related outputs with a focus on ECE
• Strengthen the programmatic links between ECD and ECE interventions
• Plan and collaborate with internal colleagues and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and weaknesses in programme management
• Identify lessons learnt and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits and surveys, and exchange information with stakeholders
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), confirming compliance with organisational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity
• Prepare regular and mandated programme reports for management, donors and partners
• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and country office partners and donors on interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches on education and related issues
• Arrange/coordinate availability of technical experts with regional office/headquarters
• Participate in education programme meetings including programme development and contingency planning
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders, global partners, donors, and academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and to reinforce cooperation
• Prepare communication and information materials for country office programme advocacy
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate interagency (UNCT) discussions on education and related issues
• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results
• Research, benchmark, and implement best practices in education management
• Assess, institutionalise and share best practices and knowledge learnt

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Education, Early Childhood Development or Social Sciences
• Five years, minimum, of relevant professional experience in education and/or early childhood education (ECE)
• Experience of having worked in the field of curriculum development, teacher training for pre-primary and primary education (highly desirable)
• Strong coordination skills required to facilitate strategic inter-ministerial collaboration to bring ECE agenda forward
• Solid conceptual understanding of national government ECD policies, plans and strategies
• Strong analytical skills relating to the analysis of national budgets and expenditure for ECE advocacy
• Background and/or familiarity with emergency will be an asset
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal skills
• Nationality of Malawi

To apply and for more information, click here.

Photo source: GPE