Education Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Expert contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Expert contracts.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote the survival, protection, and development of children. As the world's leading provider of vaccines to developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, quality water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence and abuse and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, and Governments. The Republic of Congo is one of the pilot partner countries of the Global Partnership for Education selected to test the new operational model of the GPE 2025 Strategy. It has, in fact, a strategic plan for the development of its education system, namely the Education and Training Sector Strategy 2021-2030 adopted by the Government and endorsed by Education Partners in December 2020. This Strategic Plan has identified priority reforms whose coordinated implementation is likely to bring about the desired change in the Congolese education system. However, given the various constraints, a choice and prioritization of reforms is necessary. Thus, the country has undertaken the General States of Education since 2022. This exercise is fully in line with the new strategic line adopted by GPE through its new operating model.
To this end, the GPE Board decided to grant the Republic of Congo a new financial allocation as a contribution to the transformation and development of its education system. To benefit from this new allocation, the country will, in accordance with GPE's new operational model, submit a grant request whose development process includes several prerequisites to be achieved with the support of its Local Education Partners. In view of the volume of work represented by this exercise as well as the rather tight deadlines set out in the roadmap, UNICEF in its capacity as coordinating agency considered it necessary and more effective to recruit an expert to accompany the Technical Working Group and the LEG, in production, under the technical coordination of the MEPPSA, analytical reports that will support the preparation of the Partnership Pact (PP) as well as the effective coordination of actors and partners in the education system.

Under the direct supervision of the EPAD Programme Manager of the UNICEF Congo Country Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: He will accompany the drafting, with the Technical Working Group (TWG), of documents relating to the Partnership Compact preparation process according to GPE's guiding principles contained in its new operational model. To this end, it will be able to use the database made available with the TWG to produce analyses that will identify the favorable factors likely to lead to change in the Congolese education system. These analyses will have to be validated by the GLPE.

Specifically, it will involve: • Support the technical work of analysis of the enabling factors on the basis of available data and studies as well as exchanges within the TWG, then discussions within the LEG. • Produce and share with TWG and GLPE in-depth additional analyses when needed. • Promote a good understanding of the notion of system transformation and accompany the reflection with a view to a strategic prioritization towards this goal. • Animate and facilitate exchanges and discussions between stakeholders by ensuring a good understanding of the actors involved and their involvement. • Write a draft PP based on the standard document defined by GPE. • Advise the representatives of the ministries concerned and indicate to the TFPs the technical support to be mobilized based on available resources (ongoing programs, consultants mobilized in relevant fields, etc.). • Report results to TWGs and LEGs. • Support the coordinating agency in its role to improve sectoral dialogue. • Ensure communication between the different coordination groups (organization of meetings and exchanges) The UNV expert will work closely with the Technical Working Group and partners to validate certain analyses. In addition, all the work will be supervised by the GLPE and validated by the Ministries in charge of Education.

In addition to the above, UNV will: • Strengthen knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading UNV materials, external publications and actively participating in UNV activities, such as getting involved in International Volunteer Day (IVD) commemorative activities on 5 December. • Become familiar with and develop any form of traditional and/or local volunteering at the level of the host country. • Reflect the type and nature of the voluntary actions they undertake, including their participation in substantive reflections. • Contribute to the writing of articles on field experiences to be submitted for UNV publication/website, newsletter, and press notes, etc. • Contribute to the Hosting Programme for newly arrived United Nations Volunteers in the country of assignment.

*Results/expected outputs:

At the end of this service, the UNV expert will have to produce a final report in two stages: • A report on the identification and analysis of enabling factors. • A report on the determination of change management and sectoral animation • A final consolidated report of two reports incorporating comments and inputs from all parties. • The elaboration of the Partnership Pact • It will also produce the quarterly meeting reports of the LEG.

• Good command of theories of change and experience in change management; • Strong writing skills; • Knowledge of education issues in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries and especially in the Republic of Congo; • Proven experience in supporting the development and implementation of education policies; • Proven experience in dialogue and sectoral facilitation. • Experience with GPE processes. • Experience in facilitating restitution workshops in the presence of informed audiences, including senior national officials.

• Diversity and inclusion: treat all people with dignity and respect; shows respect and sensitivity to gender, cultural and religious differences; challenges prejudice, prejudice and intolerance in the workplace; encourages diversity wherever possible.

• Integrity: maintains high ethical standards; adopts clear ethical positions; keeps promises; immediately resolves untrustworthy or dishonest behavior; resists pressure in decision-making from internal and external sources; does not abuse power or authority.

• Commitment: demonstrates commitment to UNICEF's mission and to the wider UN system; demonstrates UNICEF's values in day-to-day activities and behaviours; seeks new challenges, missions and responsibilities; promotes the cause of UNICEF.

• Communication: Speaks fluently; clearly expresses opinions, information and key points of an argument; presents information competently and confidently; responds quickly to an audience's needs and reactions and comments; credibility of projects; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience; presents information in a well-structured and logical manner.

• Teamwork: shows respect for the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy; listens, supports and cares for others; consults with others and shares information and expertise; builds team spirit and reconciles conflict; adapts to the team and integrates well.

• Results-seeking: sets high standards for work quality; monitors and maintains work quality; works systematically, methodically and orderly; consistently achieves project objectives; focuses on the needs and satisfaction of internal and external partners; accepts and approaches demanding goals with enthusiasm

• UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on all types of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will therefore be subject to a rigorous reference and background check.

Have at least 15 years of professional experience in the processing and analysis of complex survey data (contextual data and performance data); Have at least 15 years' professional experience in writing evaluation reports on the education system;

Area of expertise requirement: • Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation • Project management • Partnership management • Excellent computer skills – ability to use various computer programmes.

An entry visa is required for anyone travelling with or without the United Nations and must be obtained prior to arrival in the country. Furnished and unfurnished homes are available between $500 and $700 per month. The national currency is the CFA franc (1 US $ = 596,162 FCFA, May 2023 rate). Commercial banks exist. VISA credit cards are accepted at select hotels and department stores. The current situation in Congo is relatively calm and at an intermediate (L2) UN security level. UNV will be based in Brazzaville but will conduct field missions in the UNICEF areas of intervention (Pointe Noire, Likouala, Lékoumou and Sanga).

Initial contract is issued upon arrival for the period indicated above. The contract can be extended depending on continuation of mandate, availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectancy of renewal of the assignment.

A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), which is composed of a Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three).

The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, rental charges (water, electricity and gas), utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA is calculated by applying the Post Adjustment Index (MAP) to the base VLA rate of US$ 1,587 ($EU). The Basic VLA applies to all countries. This method is thus established to ensure that the International United Nations Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station.

UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements).

UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit and for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment.

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.