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.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, Education

The Education Officer (P2) reports to the Chief, Education.  The Education Officer will provide technical leadership in programme coordination, monitoring, and results delivery, focusing on effective implementation and knowledge integration. The education officer will offer operational support, drive partnership building, and support resource mobilization, ensuring interventions are impactful and informed by evidence and good practices.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the overall guidance and direction of the Chief, the Education Officer P2 provides operational support throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the management and delivery of results on strengthening national education systems to improve learning outcomes and to promote universal access to quality, equitable and inclusive education, especially for children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded in society. This includes:

1. Programme coordination, monitoring, and delivery of results

• Work closely and collaboratively with component leads to collect, analyse and share information on implementation issues.
• Suggest solutions on routine programme implementation and submit reports to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decisions. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Lead on the programme coordination to ensure the quality and timely planning and implementation of the programme components in support of the Education Manager. Organise regular team meetings with component leads to reflect actions in team plans and support in identifying and solving implementation challenges.
• Establish and update a plan to ensure coordination of training and activities at schools and Field Directorate level across all components and partners.
• Coordinate the preparation and implementation of advocacy and engagement meetings and workshops with stakeholders at national, sub-national and school level.
• Participate in strategic discussions on programme development supporting the teams in the design of research tools and monitoring and evaluation plans.
• Contribute to monitoring reports for internal and external reporting (3RP, RAM, COAR etc.

2. Knowledge management

• Manage and coordinate the production of research and knowledge products for the JCO Education programme advocacy to promote awareness internally, regionally and globally.
• Contribute to effective knowledge management of the JCO Education programme including creating, sharing, using, and managing information on programmes.
• Contribute to identifying, capturing, synthesizing, and sharing lessons learned for knowledge development and capacity development of stakeholders.
• Research and report on best and cutting-edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Contribute to the effective management of education consultants through developing and implementing the planning and tracking tools in coordination with the teams. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Support programme leads in grant management through monthly tracking of results and spend against the donor agreement.
• Provide technical and operational support across the teams, fostering enhanced collaboration within the Education Section.

4. Partnership building and resource mobilization support

• Draft programme briefs, concept notes, and proposals to be used by the Education and Partnerships Sections.
• Draft communication and information materials for programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and alliances, and support fund raising for education programmes.
• Plan, develop, compile, and edit donor reports in coordination with the teams and the Partnership Section.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  UNICEF JCO Education Officer P2 GJP.doc

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, psychology, development studies, sociology or another relevant technical field.
• Experience: A minimum of two years of professional experience in programme planning, coordination, management, and/or research in education is required. Experience working on education programmes, such as reading recovery programmes etc. and donor partnerships is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Experience working in a developing country, especially in the MENAR region, is considered as an asset.

• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

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

(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 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

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 candidates 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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.