Education Specialist, NOC (FT), 3 post: Kabul (73679) Herat (90199) Jalalabad (112614), Afghanistan (Afghan 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

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programmes, in advocacy and in 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 favouritism. 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 — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will 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.

The public education system faces major challenges to remain functional, as schools have been closed for most of the time since March 2020 due to COVID19, reduced funding available in support of the public system due to frozen external support and delays in reopening schools for all children, in particularly at secondary levels. These challenges come on top of existing and structural weakness of the public education system where access is not yet universal, even at primary level, and learning outcomes are limited.

New challenges have also come with new opportunities. Access to previously restricted regions is enabling the expansion of community-based education (CBE) and for partners to reach communities that have been marginalized for decades.

UNICEF’s priorities in the coming two years focus on ensuring that schools remain operational for girls and boys, and being safe places where they can learn, while at the same time, increasing opportunities for learning for those that have not been reached before.

Key interventions are around i) expansion and sustaining the Community Based Education programme in Afghanistan, ii) procurement and distribution of teaching and learning materials, iii) roll out of pre-service and in-service teacher training, iv) participate to mitigation of poverty through cash incentive programmes to incentivize school participation and v) promoting alternative pathways, in particularly for adolescent girls. These priorities are aligned with the Afghanistan Education Sector Transitional Plan (AESTF).

How can you make a difference?

As part of the Education program, the NO-C will support the implementation of the program, either at central level in Kabul or any one of the field offices. The candidate will support in program planning, coordination, monitoring and reporting on the education portfolio, and ensuring close coordination between the UNICEF Kabul-based team and the UNICEF Regional Offices (ZOs) and Implementing Partners (IPs), engagement and coordination with the Development Partners Group (DPG) and other Technical Working Groups set up under various grants as necessary.

In the Education Section, specific interventions are funded under different grants (including those from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Union, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Education Cannot Wait (ECW), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and several Governments). While oversight is with different staff members at the Kabul office, implementation of activities, monitoring of interventions and major part of grant management are decentralized to the UNICEF Regional Offices.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to programme development and planning

• 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.
• Help supervisor set priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery.
• 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, development partners and local communities to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to implement priorities to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• 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.

• 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.

3. 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 management use

4. Networking and partnership building

• 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 to achieve sustainable and broad results on education programmes.
• Support section’s fundraising efforts to secure funding for the implementation of education programmes.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund raising for education programmes.
• Support section in coordination the work of the Access/CBE working group, Office Gender focal points task force and other relevant forums.

5. 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 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 education and related programmes/projects.

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

An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in education, economics, psychology, sociology, or another relevant technical field. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

A minimum of 5 of relevant professional experience in

• Programme planning, management, and/or research in education.
• Gender-based programming and implementation
• Experience working in complex context with multiple partners across different geographical areas
• Hands on experience in running education programs in the area of CBE, teacher training for example

And, as an asset is considered:

• Experience with managing and reporting on large grants form GPE or WB or any other sources
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• 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, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

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

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.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.