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• The Education Specialist contributes to achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.
• He/she will lead a team on improving access to education for girls and for boys in formal and non-formal settings, working across the humanitarian and development nexus.

How can you make a difference?

Support to programme development and planning

• Support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the education programmes with focus on the access component to ensure that current and comprehensive data 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.
• Participate in strategic programme discussion on the planning of education programmes. Formulate, design, and prepare programme proposals for the sector, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and Country Programme and coherence/integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Provide technical support in establishing specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans for the learning/quality component of the education program using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• 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 to ensure that well-planned/structured learning interventions are conducted.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Plan and collaborate with internal colleagues and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for learning, learning outcomes and quality education in general.
• Provide professional technical leadership in ensuring structured/systematic implementation of interventions that support equitable access to quality education.
• Develop costed implementation plans including detailed budgeting and track achievement of results and budget execution very closely.
• 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 knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• 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.

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.
• Provide operational support to ensure the effective, efficient and timely programme interventions.
• 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.

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.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund raising for education programmes.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions on education and related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of programmes/projects ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting.

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…

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 five years of professional experience in programme planning, budget management, implementation and management in education especially in the area of access, some of which in emergency context.
• Experience working in emergency context.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required (strong written and oral communication). Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

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PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

• This stretch assignment provides a professional development opportunity for those UNICEF staff interested in deepening their experience working in an education and emergency response context.
• Under the guidance and supervision of the Education Manager, the Specialist supports the development and preparation of education programming and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting the progress of education programmes/projects within the country programme. Particularly, the Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of results related to improving equitable access to quality and inclusive education, especially for children who are affected by conflict, marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded in society.
• The Specialist contributes to the achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

Duration
This stretch assignment will be for a period of three (3) months.

Key expected results

Staff management and leadership

• Directly line manage one Education Specialist (NOC) and one Education Officer (NOB), using opportunities to regularly discuss performance, provide constructive feedback, identify learning goals for team members and ensuring a supportive environment for development.
• Dedicate time and energy to the wellbeing of staff.
• Maintain a workplace environment in line with UNICEF core values.

Support to programme development and planning

• Provide guidance and support in ensuring adherence to the annual work plan.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of education programmes.
• Help supervisor set priorities, strategies and plans including on scaling of models on OOSC, developing models on transition and completion and accrediting alternate learning pathways.
• Coordinate the preparation of project proposals in alignment with priorities determined by UNICEF, the Government and Education in Emergencies Working Group (EiEWG).
• Contribute to the development of investment cases and project fact sheets to approach donors.

Programme management, monitoring and quality control of education results

• Plan and collaborate with internal colleagues and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other system indicators to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for improving access to quality education in an emergency context.
• Regularly monitor work plan implementation to ensure quality results are achieved in a timely fashion in line with set indicators and targets.
• Organize coordination meetings with members of other UNICEF sections and with external partners in support of achieving work plan targets.
• Provide guidance in managing grants, including HACT and DCTs through regular funds utilization review. Support the timely closure of open commitments and the disbursement/liquidation of DCTs to/by Partners.
• Conduct field monitoring visits to assess the quality of activity implementation.
• Support the preparation of high-quality review of donor reports for timely submission.

Technical leadership, advisory and guidance

• Provide technical guidance, coordination and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and country office partners and donors on UNICEF approaches on education and related issues to support programme management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Apply innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and support the implementation and delivery of sustainable programme results.
• Ensure planning, implementation and monitoring of pilot/scale-up interventions on thematic areas such as multigrade teaching, remote learning and school grant management.
• Participate in strategic discussions on preparedness, programming, and contingency planning.
• As needed, draft papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use.

Effective networking and partnership building

• Strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with all Ministries providing Education in the Northeast, UN Agencies, NGOs and INGOs and other relevant stakeholders.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in inter-agency discussions and planning on education in emergencies to ensure organizational positions are integrated in the Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal, North East Multi Year Strategy, Country Programme Document (CPD), and United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) processes.

Tangible and Measurable Outputs/Deliverables of Work Assignment:

• Provide technical and operational guidance for activities outlined in the annual work plan.
• Direct the implementation of activities in the costed work plan for the launch of education activities supported through the Global Partnership for Education fund.
• Work with the Sector Coordinator on activities for the Education in Emergencies Working Group.
• Provide management support to document activities related to the rollout of the Safe Schools Declaration at the Local Government Area and school level, school grants and cash transfers.
• Provide technical support for the conclusion of the Education Cannot Wait and the KfW 1 and 2 grants, including guidance on the final evaluation of these projects.
• Engage with the Borno and Yobe State Ministries of Education and the UNICEF Country Office on the development of education finance profiles for each state.

 Education

Required qualification.

• An Advanced University Degree in education or any of the following: economics, psychology, sociology or other social science field is required.

Experiences

Required experience.

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in programme planning, implementation, management, and/or research in education at the international level.
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written).

Desired experience

• Experience in and familiarity with emergency response is a strong asset.
• Experience in engaging education programme management in developing countries, preferably in Western Africa, is an asset.
• Experience working in the UN system agency or UN organisation is an asset.

 Language

Required competencies

• Fluency in English (verbal and written).
• Strong interpersonal skills