National AssociateNational Associate Project Officer(SC-9/1) Project Officer-ED-(SC-9/1)-AMN-20-ED-2

Long Description OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Amman

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Level : 

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 30-MAR-2020

 

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

 

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Since its creation in 1945, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) mission has been to contribute to the building of peace, poverty eradication, lasting development and intercultural dialogue. Jordan joined UNESCO on June 14th, 1950 and in 1986, Amman became the regional office for Education, Science and Communications. In 1996, UNESCO Amman was designated as a Regional Office for Culture and Communication and in the year 2000, it became the National Office for Jordan.

 

With funding from the Government of the Republic of Korea, UNESCO Amman Office is implementing the project “Provision of TVET, On-the-Job Training, and Entrepreneurship Education to Youth Affected by the Syria Crisis in Jordan”. The project aims to support the Government of Jordan (GoJ) in providing post-basic education and training opportunities to Syrian refugee and vulnerable Jordanian youth affected by the Syria Crisis. The project isl ensuring that 250 Syrian refugee and vulnerable Jordanian youth (60% Syrian refugee, 50% Female) are benefitting from high quality TVET programmes in relevant fields of study, on-the-job training and entrepreneurship education. This project aligns closely with UNESCO’s response strategy for the Syria Crisis in Jordan.

 

Additionally, UNESCO Amman Office is supporting the GoJ in operationalising the Education Strategic Plan (ESP) 2018-2022, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Strategy and its broader secondary vocational education, TVET and Higher Education reforms. This requires participation in policy fora and conferences on the theme of secondary vocational education, TVET and Higher Education. It also requires building and sustaining strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in the secondary vocational education, TVET and Higher Education sector, including: relevant line ministries, the Education Sector Working Group, E-TVET Council, Vocational Training Corporation, development partners, civil society organisations, academia, TVET and higher education providers, the UNESCO Beirut Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States, UNESCO Headquarters, UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for TVET, and the Jordanian National Commission for UNESCO. As part of this work, UNESCO Amman Office also aims to identify niche areas for future programming. 

Long Description

The main beneficiaries of this project are Syrian refugee and vulnerable Jordanian youth, both males and females, with the primary objective of:

• Empowering them to restore hope in their future, to increase their employability prospects upon resettlement, to reduce their social marginalization and ultimately to prevent them from becoming vulnerable to any forms of radicalization and violent extremism;
• Preparing a critical mass of qualified human capital needed for the future reconstruction of the refugees’ home country (Syria) upon repatriation.

More specific objectives include:

• Enrolling an additional 250 youth in national TVET institutions (60% Syrians, 40% Jordanians; 50% female and 50% male) in Jordan.

Under this position, the work will focus on the following activities of the project:

• Implementation and monitoring of phase III and phase IV of the project “Provision of TVET, On-the-Job Training, and Entrepreneurship Education to Youth Affected by the Syria Crisis in Jordan” in close cooperation with the implementing partner LUMINUS Technical University College (LTUC).
• Successful delivery of the TVET^[1] training programmes (including monitoring of the on the job-training phase).

[1] TVET: Technical Vocational Education and Training

Long Description

Under the overall authority of the Head of the UNESCO Amman Office, the overall guidance of the Head of the Education Unit, and the direct supervision of the Project Officer of the “Provision of TVET, On-the-Job Training, and Entrepreneurship Education to Youth Affected by the Syria Crisis in Jordan” responsible for overseeing the project, the National Associate Project Officer will be based in the UNESCO Amman Office and will be responsible for assisting in the implementation of the following project in Jordan and supporting the Project Officer with other related tasks.  Specifically, the following tasks:

 

1. Project Management Support

1. Under the guidance of the Project Officer, providing support in the development and implementation of a strategic and operational plan for project implementation and ensuring technical and operational quality assurance of the project deliverables.
2. Working closely with the implementing partners to ensure quality and timely delivery of project activities, narrative and financial reports and achievement of performance targets.
3. Developing terms of references for project contractors and contributing to ensuring quality and timely delivery of contractors’ deliverables.
4. Providing professional advisory services to the Project Officer on planning and implementation of interventions for consolidation and expansion of Technical vocational education and training.
5. Learning and adhering to UNESCO’s internal operating rules and procedures and effectively applying these rules and procedures to project and contract management.
6. Utilising UNESCO’s internal operating systems (financial and administrative) and effectively working with Finance, Procurement and Administrative colleagues to support project and contract implementation, timeliness of deliverables and reporting.
7. Working closely with the Project Officer and Project Assistant to create, track and manage contracts and payments.

       h. Contributing to monitoring and evaluation of activities including:

                * Monitoring project challenges and risks, and mapping mitigation strategies to address them in a timely manner.

                * Fostering exchange of information and lessons learnt within the project team and with the implementing partner/contractors, recommending new strategies and actions to improve project implementation and adjusting project operations as necessary.

                * Supporting the Project Officer in the preparation of donor and internal UNESCO progress and final reports (narrative and financial).

        i. Building synergies with other projects and activities of other development partners in the sector..

 

 

2. Visibility and Communication

1. In close consultation with the Project Officer, UNESCO’s Communication Officer and the donor, developing and disseminating visibility materials (print, digital and social media and promotional items) for the project.
2. In close consultation with the Project Officer and UNESCO’s Communication Officer, developing and disseminating advocacy and visibility materials (print, digital and social media and promotional items) promoting UNESCO’s work in the area of secondary vocational education, TVET and Higher Education.

Long Description

3. Technical and Administrative Support

1. Drafting minutes of meetings, briefing documents, official correspondence, concept notes, presentations and web articles in both English and Arabic.
2. Taking part in UNESCO team meetings to share the latest developments related to the project and the sector. 
3. Translating documents from English into Arabic and vice versa, as requested.
4. Supporting the Project Officer and the Head of the Education Unit in further resource mobilization efforts through the identification of potential funding opportunities and the formulation of concept notes and project proposals.

 

4. Partnership and Coordination

1. Supporting in establishing good communication channels and networks with government counterparts, secondary vocational education, TVET and higher education institutions for UNESCO’s strategic interventions.
2. Supporting in regular contact and dialogue between different stakeholders and partners like the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Labour, Vocational Training Corporation, and Sector Skills Councils.
3. Supporting in establishing good communication channels and networks within UNESCO (HQ, Regional Office, UNESCO-UNEVOC, Jordanian National Commission for UNESCO, etc.).
4. Participating in relevant coordination and working groups as requested (Education Sector Working Group, JRP Education Working Group, E-TVET Donor Coordination Group, etc.) to ensure that UNESCO’s interventions are well coordinated with relevant entities and to inform the team of the latest developments in the sector.

 

5. Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Head of Office and the Head of the Education Unit.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Accountability (C) Communication (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) - For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

1.    Academic qualifications
A university degree (bachelor level) in education, technical vocational education and training, social sciences or international development cooperation.

 

2.    Years of relevant work experience
Minimum five years of relevant experience in the field of education, technical and vocational education (TVET), entrepreneurship and/or higher Education at the national level.

 

3.    Language requirement
•    Native Arabic speaker – oral, written, comprehension
•    Fluent in English – oral, written, comprehension

 

4.    Competencies and Skills
•    Proven working experience in drafting technical proposals, concept notes in the field of education in Jordan for different donors.
•    Professional working experience in the education sector in Jordan and/or in the field of secondary education, TVET, youth employment, entrepreneurship and/or Higher Education, including familiarity with the relevant institutions, agencies and organizations in the field of international development cooperation.
•    Sound understanding of the current reform processes in the field of education, higher education and Technical Vocational Education and Training in Jordan.  
•    Ability to analyse the overall education sector and sub-sectors, and to contribute to programme and project development and adjustments based on evolution of conditions on the ground.
•    Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills: ability to manage sub-contracted implementing partners, organise multiple and simultaneous tasks and deliver results within a specified timetable.
•    Sound understanding of results-based management and monitoring and evaluation principles.
•    Proven interpersonal, collaboration and teamwork skills. 
•    Demonstrated ability to work efficiently under pressure within a multicultural environment and as part of a team.
•    Demonstrated proficiency in basic office software tools (MS Office suite) and use of relevant IT solutions.
•    Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

1.    Academic qualifications
•    An advanced university degree (master level or equivalent) in education, technical vocational education and training, social sciences or international development cooperation

 

2.    Years of relevant work experience
•    Previous experience working with a UN agency or international non-governmental organisation in the field of international development cooperation.
•    Direct experience in TVET, higher education and entrepreneurship.
•    Experience in administration, procurement and contracts management.

 

3.    Competencies and Skills
•    Familiarity with the Syria Crisis Response in Jordan, particularly as it relates to youth. 

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc.

For more information in benefits and entitlements, please consult ICSC website and UNESCO's career website.

ASSESSMENT

Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

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