Education Specialist - Generation Unlimited (NO-C), Gaborone Botswana #00115968 (Open to Botswana 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.

For every child, education

How can you make a difference?

Background

UNICEF's fundamental mission is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential and lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Young people in Botswana and the rest of the world represent enormous opportunities to transform economic and social outcomes and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs). Therefore, they need to be equipped with 21st-century skills to help drive economic growth and social cohesion. Bridging the digital divide is an opportunity for all children and young people to have the skills that help them identify solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges. The country is grappling with high unemployment rates, as 39.7 per cent of young people are not in education, employment or training (NEET). In the previous years, UNICEF’s work focused on adolescents and young people focusing on skills development within the HIV sector and on learning through the formal education system at the secondary level.

Therefore, UNICEF will use the GenU programme to support Botswana's Government to address some of these challenges and become a knowledge-based economy espoused in its Vision 2036. Botswana has prioritized the young people’s agenda through new reforms in education, digital transformation and youth empowerment. It is expected that the GenU multi-stakeholder partnership will guide the country in accelerating progress on learning, training and linkages to employment and entrepreneurship through a coordinated approach. This, coupled with ongoing youth engagement initiatives, such as the U- Report platform's roll-out, will strengthen young people's participation in the initiative.

Generation Unlimited is a new partnership platform established to help adolescents and young people succeed. Generation Unlimited aims to make sure that every young person aged 10 – 24 is in some form of school, learning, training or employment by 2030. It brings together public and private partners – and young people – to identify and scale solutions, unlock investments and empower all young people to play a positive role in their societies. It unleashes young people's voices, creates synergies between major global actors and accelerates momentum towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Generation Unlimited focuses on adolescent girls and boys, young men and women and all young people, especially those in the greatest danger of being left behind – girls, the poor, young people with disabilities, young people on the move, and young people affected by conflict and natural disasters. Generation Unlimited is dedicated to taking urgent action today, so young people have the support they need to assume leadership roles tomorrow.

Generation Unlimited focuses on identifying, co-creating and supporting solutions that have the potential to deliver results at scale for young people, especially those in the greatest danger of being left behind. To have maximum impact, Generation Unlimited will focus on three priorities:

1. Secondary-age education: Adolescent girls and boys need support to complete primary and secondary education with meaningful learning outcomes. This support should include accredited and flexible learning opportunities for those who cannot attend regular school. Efforts need to begin with the most disadvantaged, such as adolescent girls, adolescents from poor households, adolescents with disabilities and adolescents who live in conflict situations, or those on the move.

2. Skills for learning, employability and decent work: Young people, especially young women, should have access to opportunities to develop skills for learning, employability and active citizenship. They also need support as they transition from education to work. Examples of support include apprenticeships and internships. They will need digital and technological skills for the workforce of the future and emerging economies.

3. Empowerment, with a focus on girls: Adolescent girls, boys and other young people need support to understand their rights and build their assets and agency to make life choices. This includes opportunities to engage civically, digitally and voice their opinions on issues that affect them. When they start at a disadvantage, girls need extra support to build lifelong assets like networks, capital, knowledge, skills and self-belief.

Purpose

The overall purpose of this Temporary Appointment is to support the Botswana Country Office to define and drive UNICEF’s catalytic role in the development of Generation Unlimited and Reimagining Education in Botswana, provide technical expertise, defining priorities that resonate with young Batswana and building a coalition of contributing stakeholders (including UNICEF) based on their respective comparative advantage. In the process, the incumbent will ensure the process of building partnerships between the public and private sector and local youth organizations draws on collective expertise, supports young people’s meaningful participation, communication and advocacy (e.g. through dialogues, workshops and conferences), equipping them as problem-solvers & engaged members of society. This will also require forging partnerships and mobilizing expertise and resources from the public and private sectors to introduce and scale up innovations and digital learning access to earning solutions.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Education Specialist and the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative, the Education Specialist- Generation Unlimited will provide in-country: 1) support to programme development, planning; 2)programme management, monitoring and delivery of results; 3) technical and operational support to programme implementation; 4) Networking and partnership building 4) innovation, knowledge management, communication, and partnerships; and 5) strengthen M&E mechanisms at regional and country levels.

1. Support programme development and planning

• Develop a GenU Botswana blueprint and action plan to reflect priorities of young Batswana aged 10-24 and link to Digital education and reimagine education programmes that will prepare every young person to become productive and an engaged citizen by being in some form of school, learning, training or employment by 2030;
• Develop a coordinated plan with the Government and key stakeholders, using UNICEF’s Digital Learning Toolkit (recently developed by ESARO/WCARO) & to explore possible deployment of the Learning Passport to create a national e-learning passport and the use of Atingi (alternative learning platform for 15-24Y) and the uptake of the YOMA ecosystem;
• Support the stakeholder engagement process with development partners, Government, specialized agencies, foundations, NGOs and private sector alongside young people engagement to contribute to Generation Unlimited Botswana based on their respective comparative advantage to expand opportunities for the empowerment and meaningful engagement of adolescents and young people and identify innovative, cutting-edge solutions for and with young people that are ready to be taken to scale;
• Work closely with the Education Specialist, Communications Officer, and other sectors and Participate in strategic programme discussion on youth-focused programming, linking to the Education programmes.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Develop Generation Unlimited narrative reports, including all necessary materials and documents, including budget reports, outcome measurements, success stories, human interest stories, etc.
• Identify lessons learned and use the knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Support and promote teachers and administrators’ skills and pedagogies in utilizing digital learning solutions to reach the most marginalized groups of young people;
• Participate in Gen U programme meetings, including programme development and contingency planning to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other Gen U strategic programme materials for management use.
• Arrange/coordinate technical experts' availability with Regional Office/HQ to ensure timely and appropriate support throughout the programming process.

4. Networking and partnership building.

• Establish a high-level National Generation Unlimited coordinating body with participation of UN, Office of the President, Key Government Partners and Youth experts to ensure the design, implementation, social accountability and the strategic alignment and coordination around Generation Unlimited objectives;
• Establish partnerships and mobilize expertise and resources from the public and private sector to introduce and scale up innovations and access to digital learning to earning solutions, including internship and job shadowing opportunities;
• Prepare communication and information materials in close collaboration with the Communication Section for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fundraising for Gen U in Botswana.

5. Innovation, knowledge management, communication and partnerships

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build partners and stakeholders' capacity and support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results for Gen U.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in the Gen U landscape and the linkage to the education management. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• 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 clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results on Gen U and education projects.

Key Expected Results

• TORs for High-Level National Generation Unlimited Coordination body developed and Functional body in place.
• Gen U Botswana blueprint and Action plan developed and implemented.
• Coordinated Plan available and utilized for using UNICEF’s Digital Learning toolkit and alternative Learning platforms.
• Capacity Development plans available and implemented to support teachers and administrators’ skills and pedagogies in utilizing developed and adapted digital solutions.
• Technically sound knowledge and experience sharing products developed and disseminated
• High quality Gen U inputs and narrative reports developed and submitted in a timely manner, programmatic and financial reports, proposals and meetings.

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

• Education:

  An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, anthropology, psychology, sociology, education or another relevant field.

• Experience
  • A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience at the national and international working with children and marginalized youth, including adolescent/youth/community engagement and innovation, and demonstrated experience in the education sector, including digital education solutions.
  • Excellent knowledge of the education sector and adolescent and youth development space in Botswana, including experience of working with key stakeholders in these areas;
  • Specialized training in areas such as gender, diversity, community leadership and engagement, entrepreneurship, innovation and social, behavioral change is an asset.
  • Excellent networking skills, including the ability to interact with high-level stakeholders in the public and private sectors and establishing strong relationships with such stakeholders;
  • Strong interpersonal, communication, public speaking, presentation, writing, critical thinking and analytical skills.
  • Proven experience in quality report writing
  • Experience in working with teams.
  • Good computer skills with software proficiency in Windows, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote).
• Language Requirements:
  • Fluency (both verbal and written) in English is required.
• Travel:
• • Willingness and ability to travel within the country.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness
• Works collaboratively with others
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships
• Innovates and Embraces Change
• Thinks and Acts Strategically
• Drives to achieve impactful results
• Manages ambiguity and complexity

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing
• Deciding and Initiating action
• Applying technical expertise

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

HOW TO APPLY

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application, including a profile in the respective advertisement online.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.