Deadline: 10 December, 2021

Location: Gambella, Ethiopia

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has opened applications for 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

• Support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the education programmes
• Help supervisor set priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans
• Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery
• Participate in strategic programme discussion on the planning of education programmes
• Formulate, design and prepare programme proposals for the sector, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s strategic plans and country programme and coherence/integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies and implementation plans for the sector using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM)
• Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval
• Work closely and collaboratively with internal colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonisation of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated
• 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
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits and surveys, and exchange information with stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems, and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution
• 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/HQ
• 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
• 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, ensuring organisational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting
• 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
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures
• Organise and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Education, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, or a related technical field
• First university degree in a relevant field combined with two additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the above requirement
• Five years, minimum, of relevant professional experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency will be a plus
• Fluency in English
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language will be a plus

To apply and for more information, click here.

Photo source: Simon Berry