Individual International Contractor (Education Specialist Reporting), Niamey - Niger (6 months)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy 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, hope

Niger is amongst the poorest countries in the world, impacted by conflicts (the Lack Chad Basin Crises, violence from non-State Armed Groups on the Malian border), migration, flooding and food shortages. According to the 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan, 3.7 million people are in need of assistance (including those impacted by COVID19).

Over 50% of children in Niger are out of school; of those that are in school, less than 10% acquire the basic literacy and numeracy competency by the end of the primary cycle. The ministries of Education, under the leadership of the Ministry for Primary Education, have recently validated a new Education Sector Vulnerability and Risk Reduction Strategy, which provides guidance on how to ensure access to a safe, quality learning environment in times of crises.

In 2020, the Education programme received sizable amount of financial support from several donors including CANADA, NORAD, Education Cannot Wait and the GPE (Global Partnership for Education). Support is required by the Niger Country office to coordinate monitoring efforts of these large-scale projects.

Objectives

Under the general supervision of the Chief of Education Section, the individual contractor coordinates progress monitoring and reporting on Education projects including financial aspects.

Specific objectives

Objective 1 coordination and reporting

1. Manage and update project monitoring sheets to assess the performance and progress of the project through performance indicators and Gantt Chart respectively
2. Organize progress monitoring meetings (including remotely) with the implementing partners and UNICEF teams

Objective 2 Partnerships development, follow up and documentation

3. Support the development of programme proposals, concept notes, Programme Cooperation Agreements (PCA) and Small-Scale Funding (SSFA) and Terms of Reference (ToRs))
4. Ensure timely disbursements, monitoring and liquidation of funds disbursements to implementing partners
5. Support the documentation and Visibility of donors and UNICEF

Objective 3 Monitoring of project implementation

1. Develop innovative monitoring tools to identify gaps on collected data regarding the Education programme and strengthen implementing partners monitoring skills
2. Undertake programmatic visits to supervise project implementation, assess the progress and implement corrective actions
3. Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results

Supervision

The individual contractor will be based in Niamey, under the direct supervision of the Chief of Education Section.

Contract duration: 6 months

Duty station: Niamey, Niger Country Office

Methodology

He/she will work in close daily cooperation with the Education team and other Sections of the Country Office, government counterparts, academia and development partners. The individual contractor will have access to the required documents and working tools to complete the six months assignment and can work remotely if needed. The specific deliverables are listed below.

How can you make a difference?

Major Tasks, Deliverables & Timeframe

Major Tasks,

Deliverables

Timeframe

Coordination and reporting

Manage and update project monitoring sheets to assess the performance and progress of the project through performance indicators and Gantt Chart respectively

quality progress and final reports produced on time in line with the agreement signed with donors.

Monthly

Organize progress monitoring meetings (including remotely) with the implementing partners and UNICEF teams

Key performance indicators collected and consolidated

Monthly

Partnerships development, follow up and documentation

Support the development of programme proposals, concept notes, Programme Cooperation Agreements (PCA) and Small-Scale Funding (SSFA) and Terms of Reference (ToRs))

Draft project proposals and programme documents developed

Monthly

Ensure timely disbursements, monitoring and liquidation of funds disbursements to implementing partners

Projects/programme implementation rate and level of unliquidated disbursements

Monthly

Support the documentation and Visibility of donors and UNICEF

case studies, videos and human-interest stories produced

Monthly

Monitoring of project implementation

Develop innovative monitoring tools to identify gaps on collected data regarding the Education programme and strengthen implementing partners monitoring skills

Rapidpro implemented

Monthly

Undertake programmatic visits to supervise project implementation, assess the progress and implement corrective actions

Programmatic visits reports and action plans

Monthly

Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results

mi-year and annual review reports

Monthly

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

Education: Advanced university degree in one or more of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Development studies, International cooperation, Education, or a Social Sciences field relevant to international development assistance.

Work experience: At least five years or more progressively professional work experience at national and international levels in field programmes relevant to Education programmes. Experience in managing important project portfolios at international level. Experience of working in UNICEF and/or WCAR (West and Central Africa) region is an asset. Background/familiarity Bilateral and Multilateral cooperation is an asset.

Language: Fluency in English and proficiency in French is required. Excellent written and verbal communication skills required

How to apply?

Interested candidates should submit :

• A cover letter (letter of motivation) ;
• An up-to-date CV ;
• A technical offer ;
• A financial offer in USD ;
• A copy of the highest obtained academic diploma.

Candidates should clearly state their ability and availability to fulfill these terms of reference, as well as provide their proposed financial compensation. The financial offer should be all inclusive (expected salary as well as any subsistence allowance and/or travel costs).

We encourage applicants to submit the application before the deadline indicated above.

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.

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.