Education Specialist (Education Technology), NOC, Fixed Term, New Delhi, India, Post No. 122682 (This position is for Indian Nationals only)

Contract

This is a NO-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-3 contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

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

And we never give up.

Click here to learn more about what makes us proud working for UNICEF!

How can you make a difference?

India has many challenges to attaining the sustainable development goals. These challenges range from the provision of basic needs such as clean energy, clean water, adequate and appropriate nutrition, health services, and enhancing access to education, livelihoods, economic opportunities; and broad societal goals such as removal of poverty, gender equality, peace and improved governance, and environmental sustainability. These challenges are obviously significant but fortunately new and improved technologies, combined with innovative delivery models, offer opportunities to address many of these challenges in a scalable manner, particularly in India, which is increasingly seen as a global hub for innovation. Working with public, private sectors and academia, UNICEF can leverage suitable public policy and investments that can help with the process in terms of generation of solutions and then deploying them at scale.

Demand for technology solutions to support the delivery of programme results and improve delivery of education services especially for the most marginalised has increased exponentially over the last two years. Programme teams and State Offices have worked on developing various initiatives including blended learning, UNilearn, 21st century skills such as coding and career guidance portal scaled up to 10 states, and strengthen system capacity and planning for educational technology under the National Education Policy and the National Digital Education Archtecture. The success of these initiatives has garnered sufficient support among government and partners to begin to scale these initiatives towards their intended target reach. In view of the need to scale these and other initiatives, the Education Programmes requires specific Education Technology (EdTech) technical capacity to build on and scale up EdTech solutions, to enhance learning opportunities among students, training of teachers and teacher educators to work effectively in these new modalities, and monitor the delivery of education services

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to programme development and planning

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

4. Networking and partnership building

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Support to programme development and planning

• Support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the education programmes with a focus on EdTech solutions to ensure that current and comprehensive data on education issues is available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy, advocacy, intervention and development efforts on education programmes.
• Help supervisor set priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans on digital learning as it relations to achieve programme results. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery on EdTech and related digital enhanced learning.
• 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 with a focus on UNICEF EdTech strategy 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 harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Plan and collaborate with internal colleagues and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector on education programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and weaknesses in programme management.
• Identify lessons learned 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 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 organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity, ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• 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 to support programme management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Arrange/coordinate availability of technical experts with Regional Office/HQ to ensure timely and appropriate support throughout the programming process.
• Participate in education programme meetings including programme development and contingency planning to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for programmatic and management use.

Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders, partners, donors, and academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results on education programmes.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund raising for education programmes focusing on EdTech solutions.
• Build and strengthen relationships with counterparts to implement and utilize Digital Public Goods
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions on education and related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of programmes/projects ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• 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.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in education techology. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned with a focus on sustainability and equity.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results on education and related programmes/projects.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

An advanced university degree is required in computer science, software engineering, information technology management, business administration or another relevant technical field.

*A first-level university degree in a relevant field combined with seven years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

Minimum of five years of professional experience in information technology management and business operations in a large international organization and/or corporation is required.

Desired Experience:

• In a UN or multi-lateral organization is an asset.
• In supporting and coordinating project activities across a large organization and with international partners.
• In standard project management methodologies – ie. PMP, Prince2, Agile, etc.
• Identifying, designing and implementing solutions for large-scale projects with technical components – including supervising external vendors and software developers; responsibility for business analysis, budgets, contracts, project management and procurement, etc;
• Experience in Open Source, mobile and emerging technology applied to UNICEF programme areas is extremely desirable.
• With ICT hardware, mobile-phone, and web-based technologies in India, particularly designing or deploying technology solutions appropriate for difficult-to-reach areas Preferably have a hybrid background combining technology skills, understanding of business/programme partner goals, and project management competency. Ability to interact diplomatically with high-level officials, as well as experience working directly with community level partners. Skills in Business Analysis and technical project management in ICT-led innovations.
• Working with education or other development programmes.

Language:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

Remarks:

• This position is based in New Delhi (India). The vacancy is open to internal and external candidates.
• Selected applicants will have an initial two (2) year fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.