Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Closing date: 14 Jun 2016
Job Number: 496202 | Vacancy Link
Location: Democratic Republic of Congo
Work Type : Fixed Term Staff
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.
For 60 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Purpose of the Position
Under the guidance and general supervision of the Chief Field Operations and the technical guidance of the Chief, Education Section, in Kinshasa, the Education Specialist will support the development and preparation of all education programs/projects in its zone and is responsible for planning, managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting progress of education programs/projects in the DRC Southern Zone. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming process to facilitate the administration and achievement of results in education programs/projects in order to improve learning outcomes as well as equitable and inclusive education especially for children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded in society.
Considering the current crisis in the former Katanga province, the Education Specialist also supports resource mobilization and the implementation of education in emergency programs.
The Education Specialist will contribute to achieving results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF's Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.
The Education Specialist directly supervises four national staff members (3 national officers and 1 program assistant) in Lubumbashi. She/he is also expected to provide technical assistance and strategic guidance to three additional national officers based in the provincial offices in Mbuji Mayi, Kalemie and Kananga.
Key Expected Results
1.Support in the development of programs/projects and planning
-Support the preparation/design and conduct/update situation analyses for education programs/projects and/or the education sector to ensure that current comprehensive and evidence-based data on education issues are available to guide UNICEF's strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on education programs and to set priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance program management, efficiency and delivery. Constantly liaise with the Education Section in Kinshasa on strategic issues.
-Participate in strategic program discussions on the planning of education programs/projects. Formulate, design and prepare programs/projects proposals for the sector including for Education in Emergency, ensuring alignment with UNICEF's overall Strategic Plans and Country Program and coherence/integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
-Establish specific goals, objectives and strategies and implementation plans for the sector/s using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare the required documentation for program review and approval.
-Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies and to determine national priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
-Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programs/projects for the entire Zone and with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.
2.Program management, monitoring and delivery of results
-Plan and/or collaborate with the Education Section in Kinshasa, and other internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector on education programs.
-Participate in and lead monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with the Government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine the required action/interventions to achieve results.
-Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programs and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely interventions to achieve goals.
-Actively monitor programs/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials to resolve as quickly as possible.
-Monitor and verify the optimum/appropriate use of sectoral program resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
-Prepare regular/mandated program/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of program progress.
-Ensure Education in Emergency issues are taken into account and that programs designed to respond to the current crisis in the former Katanga province are implemented.
-Ensure cluster coordination as well as technical assistance to the Kalemie sub-cluster and regular contacts with the national cluster in Kinshasa.
3.Technical and operational support to program implementation
-Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, province-based national staff in the Southern Zone, NGO partners, UN system partners and country office partners/donors on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches in education and related issues to support program management, implementation and delivery of results.
-Arrange/coordinate availability of technical experts with the Education Section at the national level to ensure timely/appropriate support throughout the programming/projects process.
-Participate in education program meetings including program development and contingency planning to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
-Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic program materials for management use, information and/or consideration.
4.Networking and partnership building
-Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results in education programs.
-Prepare communication and information materials for CO program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and support fund-raising for education programs.
-Participate in and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on education and related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues and preparation of programs/projects ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting.
5.Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
-Apply/introduce innovative approaches and good practice to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program 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 programs and projects.
-Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results in education and related programs/projects.
Qualifications of Successful Candidate
-An advanced university degree in education, economics, psychology, sociology or other social science field is required.
-A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in social development planning and management in education and related areas at the international level, some of which preferably in a developing country is required.
-A Bachelor's Degree combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
-Experience in planning and managing Education in Emergency programs is a strong asset.
-Relevant experience in the UN system is an asset.
-Experience in managing a team is required
-Fluency in French and English is required.
-Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.
Competencies of Successful Candidate
Core Values
-Commitment
-Diversity and inclusion
-Integrity
Core competencies
-Communication – Level II
-Working with people – Level II
-Drive for results – Level II
Functional Competencies
-Leading and supervising – Level II
-Formulating strategies and concepts – Level II
-Analyzing – Level III
-Relating and networking – Level II
-Deciding and Initiating action – Level II
-Applying technical expertise – Level III
Technical Competencies
Technical competencies must be demonstrated in the following areas:
-Good 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).
-Knowledge of global developments in education and international engagement strategies, including the application of the equity lens and human rights perspectives to programming.
-Ability to support 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.
-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.
-Education and policy sector analysis capacity, including understanding of the core education data sets, indicators, tools for analysis of equity, determinants of student access and learning, budget, cost and financing, education system management, political economy and application to education policy and strategic planning.
-Programme management in education, including programme design, costing, monitoring and evaluation and reporting.
-Ability to support engagement 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.
-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.
-Understanding of policies and strategies to address issues related to resilience: risk analysis and risk management, education in conflict situations, natural disasters, and recovery.
How to apply:
To view our competency framework: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
To apply: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=496202
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.
Opening Date 31 May 2016 W. Central Africa Standard Time
Closing Date 14 Jun 2016 W. Central Africa Standard Time