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. UNICEF work in Egypt is also focused on promoting sustainable development with multidimensional equity for children, embodying the fair chance for every child principle. In line with national priorities, UNICEF work in Egypt focuses on Early Childhood Development bridging the first 1000 days through the first years of formal education, as a key means by which multiple threats to children may be addressed through cross-sectoral linkages. The expected results of UNICEF’s work in Egypt will contribute to national efforts and priorities and the 2030 National Sustainable Development Strategy; as well as the United Nations Partnership for Development Framework.
How can you make a difference?
Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative, the Chief, Education is accountable for the development, design, planning, implementation, and management of the Education programme within the country programme. As Head of Section, s/he leads a group of professional and support staff to develop and manage the education programme with additional component of Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP), in collaboration with other programme sectors, and with government and key development partners. S/he is accountable for the overall quality of the programme design and for ensuring that it is effectively and efficiently managed and monitored.
The Chief is responsible for managing and leading all stages of education programmes/projects and ADAP from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of results on strengthening national education systems to improve learning outcomes, universal access to equitable and inclusive primary/early childhood education, and renewing involvement in secondary education, especially for children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded in society and ensuring employment and employability skills and career guidance for adolescent and youth, specially from disadvantaged community.
The Chief is responsible for leading, managing and establishing the plans of action to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable programme/project results, according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities :
- Managerial leadership : Establish the section’s annual work plan with the education team, and set priorities and targets. Monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards. Supervise team members by providing them with clear objectives, goals, direction, and guidance.
2. Programme development and planning :
- Lead the planning and updating of the situation analysis to ensure that current and comprehensive data is available ;
- Keep abreast of national, regional and international development priorities on education to leverage UNICEF’s position and competencies with donors, national governments, communities and constituents to advocate and promote education initiatives and policies ;
- Lead, coordinate and supervise the development of education programmes/projects (as a full component of the CO and/or UNDAF programmes). Establish plans of action, programme goals and results, using results-based planning methodology and terminology (RBM).
- 3. Programme management, monitoring and quality control of results :
- Plan and collaborate on monitoring and evaluation initiatives to establish benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators ;
- Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths, and/or weaknesses in programme and management ;
- Prepare and submit programme and project reports to donors and other partners to keep them informed on programme progress and critical issues.
4. Advisory services and technical support :
- Provide technical advice to key government officials, NGO, UN system and other country office partners on strategies and best practices to influence approaches and policies. Promote LSCE in all stages of education and ADAP programme that include curriculum development, teacher training, assessment of learning achievement and training module/manuals for ADAP. Coordinate and ensure the availability of technical experts (with Regional Office/HQ) to ensure timely support throughout all stages of programming and project implementation ;
- Participate in strategic discussions to influence policy and agenda setting for combating all forms of discrimination against children by advising on and advocating strategies and approaches to promote universal access to equitable and inclusive education for children in the country.
5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building :
- Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with local and national governments, UN system agency partners, donors, internationally recognized institutions, NGOs, funding organizations, research institutes and private sector to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue opportunities, leverage funds, to promote goals and achieve sustainable and broad results on education programmes ;
- Support Deputy Representative/Representative in co-chairing Education DPG (Development Partners Group), with a donor (to be) nominated by partners to co-chair with UNICEF.
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building :
- Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable education programming initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services ;
- Lead the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects ;
- Lead, plan and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results on education and related programmes/projects
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education : An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required : education, economics, psychology, sociology or another relevant technical field.
Experience :
- A minimum of ten years of professional experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education at the international level is required. Experience of managing a large education programme with around 20 staff in a complex programming environment is essential ;
- Experience working in a lower middle income and a developing country is considered as an asset ;
- Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset ;
- Familiarity/ background with emergency is considered as an asset.
Language : Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic or another official UN language of the duty station is considered as an asset.
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 functional competencies required for this post are Leading and Supervising, Formulating Strategies and Concepts, Analyzing, Relating and networking, Deciding and initiating action, Persuading and influencing
View our competency framework at UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
The technical competencies required for this post are:
- In-depth understanding 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) ;
- Extensive knowledge of global developments in education and international engagement strategies, including the application of the equity lens and human rights perspectives to programming ;
- Strong ability to undertake policy dialogue: translation of analytical findings and evidence into development programmes and policy discussions around equity and learning with partners, including government, development partners, CSOs and academia in relevant areas ;
- Strong education sector planning knowledge/ability, including the range of modalities for delivering education, linkages between different sub-sectors (e.g. ECD, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Inclusive Education), cost-effectiveness and efficiency issues, key institutional structures, components and processes, as well as governance issues ;
- Strong education and policy sector analysis capacity, including understanding of the core education data sets and indicators; tools for analysis of equity; determinants of student access and learning; budget, costing, and financial management in education systems; political economy; and education policy and strategic planning ;
- Rigorous programme management capacity in education, including programme design, costing, monitoring and evaluation (including areas like classroom assessment, standardized learning assessment, examinations, impact evaluation) and reporting ;
- Strong ability to engage with partners e.g. Sector Wide Approaches, Global Partnership for Education, Education in Emergency Clusters, Education Provider Forums, Delivering as One, Inter-sectoral partnerships such as in ECD, as well as networking with other key partners ;
- Strong understanding of gender and inequity issues in relation to education and development and the application of gender / equity analysis to policy and planning in education ;
- Good understanding of policies and strategies to address issues related to resilience for CO and RO based post and where relevant: risk analysis and risk management, education in conflict situations, natural disasters, and recovery.
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 :
- This VA is open to all internal staff and external and other UNICEF personnel (including consultants, UNVs, TAs) ;
- This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty ;
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Applications close : 23 Aug 2020 11:55 PM Egypt Standard Time.