PROGRAMME SPECIALIST

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Education (ADG/ED), the functional authority of the Director of the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Dakar, and the direct supervision of the Chief of Education Section, the incumbent will support the planning, implementation and monitoring of the regional programme on education policy and planning and manage a team of staff working in the area of learning system policies. In particular, the incumbent will\:

Programme Design and Management\:

• Coordinate, plan, monitor and implement the Office’s Programme on Learning System Policies. Identify focus areas within the Member States’ needs and priorities and in alignment with UNESCO’s mandate and programme, and with the UN and other development partners' approaches and strategies. Recommend programmes and approaches to respond to multisectoral development challenges.
• Develop, support and monitor programmes and strategies with regard to the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4-Education 2030), the UN Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAF) and UNESCO Country Strategy (UCS) documents, including in areas of education policy, planning and management.

Policy Advice and Technical Assistance\:

• Initiate and develop policy advice, methodological tools and technical assistance to Ministries of Education and other key stakeholders to implement regional and country-level programme activities, in particular in areas of education planning, resource projections and information management systems.
• Develop, implement and monitor research activities, technical assistance projects, capacity development programmes and related funding proposals on policy and technical issues pertinent to education and lifelong learning policies and strategies.

Knowledge Management, Partnerships and Resources Mobilization\:

• Develop knowledge base and implement outreach strategies, aimed at expanding and communicating UNESCO programmes on education and lifelong learning policies.
• Mobilize and network, in collaboration with UNESCO Specialized Institutes (especially IIEP, UIL and UIS), with national, regional and international partners, including in the context of the Regional Coordination Group on SDG4 – Education 2030.
• Mobilize resources to support education policy analysis, planning and system development in the region, by preparing project proposals and cooperation frameworks with Member States and donor agencies and by engaging in fundraising activities.

EDUCATION

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in education policy, economics, public policies or related field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of education policies and planning, of which at least 3 years acquired at the international level. 
• Proven experience in education policy advice, formulation and evaluation.
• Experience in the use of education planning and management tools.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

• Analytical skills and ability to collect, synthesize and analyze information from various sources.
• Proven ability to identify emerging development trends and educational needs.
• Ability to provide expert advice to policy and decision makers.
• Demonstrated ability to plan strategically, and to translate strategy into priorities and action.
• Ability to coordinate, negotiate and network with a wide range of partners, donors and other stakeholders.
• Ability to prepare, present and discuss findings and recommendations clearly and concisely.
• Ability to manage staff and teams.
• Very good IT skills.

LANGUAGES

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English or French, and good knowledge of the other language.