Education Specialist (Emergency and Cluster Coordination), P-3, Kinshasa, DRC #66060

Accountable for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of Education programme(s) (Emergency Education and Cluster Coordination) to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness of the programme management, delivery and accomplishment of programme goals and objectives. The incumbent will have to provide leadership and facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective response by participants in the Sub-national Education Cluster

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, a champion

UNICEF has been achieving important progress on education, child rights, nutrition, and WASH in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Challenges remain, though, and in spite of its vast physical size and limitless natural resources, the DRC poses a complex operational environment in terms of infrastructure challenges. Child poverty is widespread, and according to a recent UNICEF study, 80 percent of children aged zero to 15 years old face at least two major deprivations. Join our team and help tackle these issues, making sure every child has a champion.

The cluster approach ensures clear leadership, predictability and accountability in international responses  to humanitarian emergencies by clarifying the division of labour among organizations and better defining their roles and responsibilities within the different sectors of the response. It aims to make the international humanitarian community better organised and more accountable and professional, so that it can be a better partner for the affected people, host governments, local authorities, local civil society and resourcing partners.

How can you make a difference?

Accountable for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of Education programme(s) (Emergency Education and Cluster Coordination) to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness of the programme management, delivery and accomplishment of programme goals and objectives. The incumbent will have to provide leadership and facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective response by participants in the Sub-national Education Cluster.

Programme Planning, Development and Management.

• Enhance effective programme, sectoral or inter-sectoral planning, development and management by guiding, coordinating and supporting the timely completion of the Situational Analysis and its periodic update through accurate and complete monitoring and analysis, and the timely preparation or finalization of sectoral input.

Knowledge Management.

• Further promote knowledge management by drafting or finalizing sectoral documents and reports such as the Country Programme Recommendation and Plans of Action as well as through orientation and training programmes targeted to Government authorities. Ensure exchange of knowledge, information, experience or lessons learned; provides solid technical recommendations on major programme directions and on introduction of new initiatives in the country.

Rights-Based Projects through Results-Based Approach.

• Promote the quality of rights-based Education programming through participation in the formulation of programme goals, and approaches. Bring synergy and added value to sectoral or programme management processes using a results-based management approach to planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Sectoral Work Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring.

• Takes shared responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions as well as for project management, implementation and monitoring of assigned project/sectoral activity, in compliance with the defined project strategies and approaches.

Programme Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting.

• Ensure programme, sectoral or inter-sectoral efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation. Participation in major evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sector review meetings with government counterparts. Ensure the preparation of annual Education sector status reports.

Promotion of UNICEF’s Global Goals

• Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and active engagement in communication, networking and participation at every opportunity inside and outside UNICEF, leveraging the strength of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes.

UNICEF and Government Accountability.

• Coordinates with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and Government accountability.  Certifies disbursements of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines.

Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership.

• Ensure exchange of information, experience, help identify new strategies and courses of action to accelerate/improve delivery of services and achieve Education programme requirements and objectives. Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and collect information. Conduct periodic programme reviews with Government counterparts and other partners.
• Collaborate with Communication and Programme Communication groups to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts.
• Support coordination with Regional Advisers and HQ Officers. Collaborate with other Programme colleagues to ensure the integration of the project/sectoral programme with other sectors.
• Collaborate with the Operations and Supply Sections and Government authorities to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of the Education projects planning and implementation, to coordinate financial and supply management requirements as well as to ensure accountability.
• Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of Education programme/project implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations. Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures to achieve Education programme goals.

Education cluster coordination

• Establish and maintain an appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanism
• Effectively lead the education cluster and inform the HC/HCT’s strategic decision-making
• Strengthen pre-existing sectoral coordination through increased predictability and accountability
• Build complementary of partner actions: avoiding duplication and gaps
• Ensure adequate resources are mobilized and are equitably allocated for the effective functioning of the cluster and its response
• Effective and comprehensive integration of relevant cross-cutting issues, including age, gender, environment and HIV/AIDS
• Maintain flexibility within the cluster to respond to changes in the operating environment, evolving requirements, capacities and participation
• Effectively use and transfer information to, from and between cluster participants and other stakeholders
• Interact with other clusters (including through inter-cluster coordination fora), humanitarian actors, government counterparts, and relevant authorities for operational planning, engagement and active contribution of operational partners
• Be accountable to the affected population through effective and inclusive consultative and feedback mechanisms
• Monitor performance of the core cluster functions
• Where there is both a national and a sub-national cluster, the post holder will ensure that there is effective communication, reporting, engagement and coordination between the two levels

Qualification of Successful Candidate

• Education: Advanced university degree in one or more of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Education;, Economics, or a Social Sciences fields relevant to international development assistance.
• Work Experience: Five years of progressively professional work experience at national and international levels in field programmes relevant to Education programmes. Experience working in the UN or other international development organization an asset.(IP). Experience in international level development assistance is an asset. Experience of work in Emergency settings. Sound experience of Cluster coordination in large scale and complex emergency settings.
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The technical competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.

Remarks:

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

* Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.

* Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offers of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.