Education Specialist (GPE, Quality), #00130070, NO-3, Temporary Appointment (364 days) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (For Ethiopian Nationals Only)

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

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Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, education!

How can you make a difference

Roles and responsibilities:

1. Support programme development, planning and implementation for the GPE funded STEP Programme

• Contribute to and provide inputs into situation analysis, for the development, design, and management of the GPE STEP quality related outputs with a specific focus on learning outcomes, curriculum development, accelerated education, digital/distance-based learning, teacher training and development, out of school children and inclusive education.
• Provide technical guidance for Government and CSO Partners in the review, updating, and development of curriculum materials and in the development of a roadmap for harmonization of accelerated education framework at federal and regional levels. 
• Support MOE, NGO and CSO partners to identify and implement capacity building plans based on identified training needs and gaps related to curriculum development, accelerated education, and learning assessments/outcomes, as required.
• Support relevant government offices at national, regional and woreda levels in planning and organizing stakeholder consultations, capacity building initiatives.
• Contribute towards the development and modelling of strategies and quality standards to enhance access to quality learning, and monitoring learning outcomes for in and OOSC at various levels under the GPE STEP Programme. 

2. Programme Management, delivery, monitoring, and reporting of results.

• Provide technical 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 System Transformation Grant (STG), and GEA program to support program management, implementation, and delivery of the GPE STEP Programme.
• Undertake field visits to monitor the GPE STEP Programme (STG and GEA) activities and support the planning and coordination of periodic performance reviews with government counterparts and NGO/CSO partners in collaboration with the GPE PMO, and other UNICEF Education result areas/units.
• Monitor and track progress at national and regional levels for implementation of quality related activities and interventions and propose/undertake action in consultation with the GPE Programme Manager on operational procedures affecting timely implementation and/or the quality of outputs delivered through the programme.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral planning exercises with federal and regional government and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow up action by higher management and other stakeholders.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative, and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity.
• Prepare and contribute to regular/mandated education program/project reports for management, donors, and partners to keep them informed of program progress. 

3. Advocacy, Networking and Partnership building for the GPE STEP Program

• Participate in GPE collaboration and intersectoral meetings with other program colleagues.
• Participate in and represent UNICEF/support improved coordination with GPE Technical Committee and the Accelerated Education Technical Working Group (TWP), the Learning Assessment TWG, the Teacher training and Development TWG, and other TWG’s, as required.
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with Ministry of Education and other relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders, global partners, GPE, 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 the GPE STEP program.
• Draft and provide inputs to policy papers, briefs, and other strategic program materials for documentation of best practices, and lessons learned to enhance the management of the GPE STEP programme and update the GPE Board/external stakeholders. 
• Prepare communication and information materials for GPE funded program advocacy to promote awareness and establish partnerships. Collaborate with the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation specialist in education programme and other sections for overall coordination of priority monitoring, reporting, and evaluation activities.

4. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of Government partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable GPE STEP program results.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices related to quality education, improved learning outcomes, inclusion, and digital/distance-based learning under the GPE STEP programme.
• Collaborate with MOE, the REB’s, and regional Teacher’s Education Colleges and universities (academia) to strengthen the school-college link for improved quality of education.
• Assess, document, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned from the implementation of the GPE STEP program.
• Research and report on best and cutting-edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.
• Perform any other tasks requested by the direct supervisor and the STEP PMO team in Addis Ababa. 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR – Education Specialist GPE STEP.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Education, Social Sciences, Curriculum and Instruction, Teacher Education, or another relevant technical field.
• Experience: At least five years of professional work experience at the national and regional levels in education programme or sector planning, project management, monitoring, evaluation and/or research (related to education) is required.
  • Expertise in one or more of the following areas: education planning, inclusive education, teacher development, curriculum, teaching and learning materials development, and learning assessment is an asset.
  • Experience delivering results in challenging and close contexts such as quality education provision, working in government or other INGOs /NGOs programs and activities will be an added advantage.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Spanish, Arabic, or Russian) or one or more of the local language (s) is an asset.

Technical Competencies:

•  Excellent communication skills, including writing clearly and accurately and oral presentation in English.
• Ability to work independently, under pressure and effectively in team.
• Knowledge of the overall global development context, including issues such as: poverty, conflict, and the impact of these factors on education and vice-versa; and inter-sectoral approaches to address such issues in collaboration with other sectors (including Social Policy, Child Protection, Nutrition, WASH, Health, and Communications within UNICEF).
• Knowledge of global and local developments in education, including Sustainable Development Goal 4(SDG 4) and Ethiopia’s Development plans and Education Sector plans, the range of modalities for delivering education and linkages between humanitarian and development work.
• Familiarity with results based- management approaches and methodology (RBM), the human rights-based approach, and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans.
• Ability to support policy dialogue, including translating analytical findings and evidence into development programme and lead high-level sector work and policy discussions around equity and learning with partners, including government, development partners, CSOs and academia in relevant areas.

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (1)

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (1)

(4) Innovates and embraces change (1)

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

(6) Thinks and acts strategically (1)

(7) Works collaboratively with others (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

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

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.