Education Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. Therefore, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Context

The education programme is a key component of the current country programme January 2018 - June 2023. Currently, the education programme in PNG includes various programme activities and partnerships, including providing technical assistance to the National Department of Education, in early childhood education (ECE), skills development education, Guidance and Counselling (G&C), safe school initiative, COVID-19 Education in Emergencies Response and Recovery Programme (EERRP) including disaster risk management (DRM), and sector analysis, planning and coordination. The education programme involves cross-sectoral collaborations including with health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), child protection and social policy. Purpose for the Assignment: Under the guidance and general supervision of the Chief, Education (Level 4), the UNV Education Officer supports the development and preparation of the Education workplans and provides support in managing, implementing, monitoring, and reporting the progress of education programmes/projects within the country programme. The UNV Education Officer provides technical assistance throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of results on education programmes/projects to improve learning outcomes and equitable and inclusive education, especially for children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded in society.

Task description

The UNV Education Officer contributes to achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework. Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Education (Level 4), the UNV- Education Officer will undertake the following tasks: 1. Support to programme development and planning • Contribute to the preparation and updating of the situation analysis for the development, design and management of education related programmes/projects. Research and report on development trends (economic, social, health etc.) and data for use in programme development, management, monitoring, evaluation and delivery of results. • Contribute to the development and establishment of sectoral programme goals, objec-tives and strategies and results-based planning through research, collection, analysis and reporting of education and other related information for development planning and goal setting. • Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming pro-cesses by executing and administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials and documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluation of results. • 2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results • Work closely and collaboratively with internal colleagues and partners to collect, analyze and share information on implementation issues. • Suggest solutions on routine programme implementation and submit reports to alert ap-propriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decisions. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutional-ize lessons learned. • Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sec-toral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on re-sults for follow up action by higher management and other stakeholders. • Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation, organizational rules, regu-lations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Fol-low up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution. • Prepare draft inputs for programme/donor reporting. 3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation • Undertake field visits and surveys and share information with stakeholders to assess pro-gress and refer to relevant officials for resolution. 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 and other country office partners/donors on the application and un-derstanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices on education related issues to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results. 4. 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 programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain re-sults on education programmes. • Draft communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and alliances, and support fund raising for education programmes. • Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) meetings and events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of education programmes/projects and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UNDAF development and planning process. • Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes. 5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building • Contribute to identifying, capturing, synthesizing, and sharing lessons learned for knowledge development and capacity development of stakeholders. • Apply innovative approaches and promote good practice to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results. • Research and report on best and cutting edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems. • Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competen-cies of clients/stakeholders. Please explain if the assignment will entail regular mission travel and if so, to which areas expected: The UNV will have the opportunity to participate in monitoring travels to UNICEF programme geographical locations in the country. Travel Authorization, transport and security arrangements will be supported and arranged by UNICEF in accordance with agency administrative policies, and processes, and UNDSS procedures. Results/Expected Outputs • The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the UNV-Education Specialist to programme preparation, planning and implementation, contributes to the achievement of sustainable results to improve learning outcomes and universal access to quality, equitable and inclusive education. Success in education programmes and projects in turn contribute to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide programme services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equality in the country. • The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs). • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.