GVA - Education Specialist, NOC, Fixed Term, Kabul, Afghanistan

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, a future

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbkJiMmvKqk

Purpose for the role:

Under the guidance and general supervision of an Education Specialist (Level 3) who leads the Quality Unit in Kabul, the Specialist leads the development and rollout of interventions in the area of quality education, with a focus on teacher training and support, school improvement plans as well as the area of early childhood development. The education team seeks innovative approaches aimed to ensure change at the school level geared towards improved and sustained learning outcomes.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to programme development and planning:

• Support the preparation, design, and updating of the situation analysis for the education programmes 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. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency, and delivery.
• 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 ensure integration, coherence, and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

2. Programme management, monitoring, and delivery of results:

• Actively monitor programmes/projects at the field level, and exchange information with relevant 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.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme reports for program management, to keep them informed of programme progress and challenges experienced in the field
• 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 the knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative, and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures, donor commitments, standards of accountability, and integrity, ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation:

• Participate in education programme meetings including programme development and contingency planning to provide technical and operational information, advice, and support.
• Contribute to policy papers, briefs, and other strategic programme materials for management use.

4. Networking and partnership building:

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships at the field level with relevant government counterparts, stakeholders, partners, donors, and academia through active networking, advocacy, and effective communication
• Build capacity, and exchange knowledge/expertise of education field staff 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 fundraising for education programmes.

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 in education and related programmes/projects.

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, economics, psychology, sociology, or another relevant technical field, or at least five years of relevant working experience in related areas
• A Bachelor's degree plus additional 2 years of experience can be accepted in lieu of a Master's degree
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset
• Experience in developing, implementing, and monitoring programs in teacher training, ECE/ECD, and/or school improvement plans
• High level of innovative thinking
• Proven record to deliver results
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language (Pashtu or Dari) 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: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness(3)Drive to achieve results for impact(4)Innovates and embraces change(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity(6)Thinks and acts strategically(7)Works collaboratively with others.

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 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.

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 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:

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. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. 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 a visa or medical clearance is not obtained or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.