Education Specialist, P-3, Temporary Appointment (364 days), Kathmandu, Nepal

This is a temporary appointment post at P3 level based in Kathmandu, Nepal for 364 days.

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 70 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, Education Section (Level 4), the Education Specialist supports the Education Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) and the Ministry of Education (MoE) to strengthen coordination mechanisms for the School Sector Development Plan (SSDP), particularly in terms of the harmonization of financial release criteria, reporting requirements, and technical assistance.

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks 

Support the role of Local Education Development Partner Group Focal Point

• Organize monthly LEDPG meetings, and writing and disseminating meeting minutes;
• Share and disseminate information to MoE, DPs and other stakeholders as required;
• Liaise with MoE in organizing of joint meetings, including the BRM and JRM, and facilitating the drafting of meeting minutes and Aide Memoires;
• Collect and compile DP comments on SSDP-related documents, such as the Consolidated Status Report, the Annual Work Plan and Budget, Disbursement Linked Indicator progress reports, Aide Memoires etc.;
• Support analysis of SSDP-related progress reports and documents;
• Liaise with DPs and MoE in any SWAp-related field visits and compiling field reports;
• Liaise with TWG coordinators to ensure regular meetings are held; ensure TWG meeting minutes (in English) are compiled and shared with LEG; attend TWGs as required;
• Maintain and update joint SSDP drop-box/ Google drive as required;

1. Support the role of GPE Coordinating Agency

• Assist, if necessary, in the capacity as Coordinating Agency to serve as the communication link between the Government of Nepal, the LEG and the GPE Secretariat;
• Support the Government Development Country Focal Point (DCP) and members of the GPE committees
• Support Nepal in the role as Asia Pacific GPE Coordination focal point.
• Assist with other tasks as needed in relation to the above.

1. Support the restructuring needed to accommodate the full-fledged implementation of the Equity Strategy in the transitional context of the roll out of the federal structure and beyond in Nepal

• Support the Equity and Inclusive TWG in identification and undertaking of updating of the Consolidated Equity Strategy for the School Education Sector and Equity Strategy Implementation Plans (ESIPs)
• Support the Government in the presentation of best practices and lessons learned from the development and implementation of the Equity Strategy at relevant international for a and publications
• Support in the needs emerged from the introduction of the federal structure in terms of the M&E requirements for the full-fledged implementation of the Equity Strategy

1. Support coordination within the school education recovery and comprehensive school safety

• Supporting the Comprehensive School Safety and Disaster Risk Reduction (CSS/DRR) TWG in supporting the Government in the development and implementation of the CSS masterplan
• Supporting the overall coordination of Government, DPs and other stakeholders (including the CLPIU and the NEC) in the post disaster recovery of the Nepal school education sector.
• Supporting the establishment of a publicly accessible database that reflects actual data on planned/committed/initiated/completed reconstruction of safe classrooms and school blocks.

5. Support the Government’s development and operationalization of an inclusive education strategy for the school sector.

• Supporting the Equity and inclusive education TWG in the development of an inclusive education strategy that enables the Government to meet the targets of the inclusive education policy and those reflected in the SSDP and takes stock of international best practices and lessons learned.

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 relevant working experience in developing countries, preferably in Nepal and /or South Asia, experience of working in a sector-wide approach in Education and in a multi-donor context. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Fluency in 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

Working with people

Drive for results

Functional Competencies

Leading and supervising (I)

Formulating strategies and concepts (II)

Analyzing (II)

Relating and networking (II)

Deciding and Initiating action (I)

Applying technical expertise (II)

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.