Temporary Appointment: Information Management Specialist (Education), P-3, Bamako, Mali

The Information Management specialist - Education will directly support the implementation and development of a children data tracking system to monitor the attendance of out-of-school children (OOSC) reintegrated in the education learning formal and non-formal programme, to establish an internal system of data collection for partners in line with the Results Assessment Module (RAM)/ Strategic Monitoring Questions (SMQ) indicators, and to establish and support a development and improvement of capacity of data collection and analysis of the Planning and Monitor Unit at central level and the Académie and Children as Partners (CAP) at deconcentrate level of the Ministry of Education.

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

Programmatic outputs for UNICEF’s education section include: a) Access to equitable and inclusive education (formal and non-formal); c) Quality education including a component of good governance; d) Life Skills. The education sector in the country is at a critical juncture, highlighted by the development of a new 10 years sector plan, which includes all levels of education and implicates 3 different Ministries. The country also faces numerous bottlenecks linked to access, quality and governance. The primary bottlenecks that are currently being addressed:

A) Access: 1,2M children still out of school (age 7-12); an admission rate at primary level of 60%, school infrastructure not in-line with the demand, and very low upper primary enrollment rates (46%).

B) Quality: only 45% of students reach grade 6 and only 39% of children age 13 enter in upper primary, the repetition rate stands at 20%, and 33% in lower and upper primary respectively.

How can you make a difference?

The Information Management specialist - Education will directly support the implementation and development of a children data tracking system to monitor the attendance of out-of-school children (OOSC) reintegrated in the education learning formal and non-formal programme, to establish an internal system of data collection for partners in line with the  Results Assessment Module (RAM)/ Strategic Monitoring Questions (SMQ) indicators, and to establish and support a development and improvement of capacity of data collection and analysis of the Planning and Monitor Unit at central level and the Académie and Children as Partners (CAP) at deconcentrate level of the Ministry of Education.

The section will be received a multiyear funds to address the problem of OOSC, that required the implementation of a strong and direct follow up of children reintegrated to school for a 2-3-year periods.

The new UNICEF Strategic Plan and RAM indicator need a stronger internal system for the reporting of achievement.

Furthermore, following an audit recommendation there is need to reinforce and improve the data available for the sector, and this imply to improve the capacity of the CPS (cellule de Planification) of the Ministry of education to ensure a better and stronger data collection system that include water & Sanitation, gender and inclusive indicator into the current yearly data collection (Development of an Education Management Information System (EMIS) Project/Système d'Information pour la Gestion de l'Éducation (SIGE)) in partnership and collaboration with UNESCO, World Bank and the European Union.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Support to program development and planning

• Research and analyze regional and national education trends. Collect, analyze, verify and synthesize information to facilitate program development, design and preparation.
• Support preparation of technical reports and provide inputs for program preparation and documentation ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevancy of information and results.
• Ensure the establishment of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Infographic MAP to support the cross-sector activities and the inter-sector plan

Program management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to collect/analyze /share information on implementation issues, suggest solutions on routine program implementation and submit report to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for easy higher- level intervention and/or decision. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow up action by higher management and other stakeholders.
• Provide inputs for programme/donor reporting.
• Provide Infographic and Map support for presenting results.

Technical and operational support to program implementation

• Undertake field visits and surveys and /or collect /share information with government counterparts and national stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support and/or to relevant officials for resolutions. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners at national and region level on the improvement of data collection, and analysis.

Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate program implementation and build capacity of achieve and sustain results on education programs.

Specific Tasks

• In coordination with Education stakeholders, support the CPS (cellule de Planification) of Education Ministry in the collection of the SIGE/EMIS indicators to improve integrated national planning.
• Support the education section in the establishment and management of a data monitoring system of Out-Of-Schools Children to monitor attendance and to include data into the year data collection.
• Support management of available baseline information on national statistics and key indicators through established databases (e.g. EMIS) for easy access and use. Prepare country level statistical reports on the OOSC, and provide a technical support to donor reporting obligations.
• Support the Education section in establishing internal specific monitoring system and data collection of activities of the section and intersectoral activities and provide assistance in preparing GIS cartographies of intervention at school level between UNICEF section and between Technical and financial partners (PTF) of education sector.
• Coordinate with the region office and partners and provide assistance in their using up-to-date information in Annual Reviews, Mid-Term Reviews, and Annual Reports or other progress reports.  
• In humanitarian response situations, provide technical support for a rapid assessment (inter-agency or independently if necessary) to be carried out within the first 48-72 hours. Provide rapid and accurate information on emergency programme’s coverage, coordination and coherence in close collaboration with partners and in line with the core commitment on children (CCCs).
• Provide technical support to ensure that the CO has information necessary for UNICEF to effectively report on and advocate for children’s rights through the appropriate channels and to enhance partnerships with key players in monitoring collectively progress on child focused international commitments, including Millennium Development Goal (MDG 4). 

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

• Education: Advanced University Degree in education, Data management, Geography, sociology or other social science field is required. A first-level university degree with additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• Work Experience: Five years of professional experience in data analysis and management of database and development of GIS cartography of intervention, planning monitoring and management in education and/other related areas at the international and/or in a developing and humanitarian country is an asset. Work experience of UN system is an asset.
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in French and English is required. Knowledge of local language is an asset.
• Other skills and attributes required: Good knowledge and use of Microsoft Office word, excel, power point, ArcGis, Qgis application, Database application, EDUCtrack, E-report, Kobo.

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.

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.

* Please note that this is a non-family duty station. 

* 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.