About US:
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris. Its declared purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms in order to increase universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter. It is the successor of the League of Nations’ International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.
About BEAR Project:
UNESCO is advocating for increased support for TVET in Member States, particularly those in Africa. Since 2011, UNESCO, with the support of the Republic of Korea, has been implementing the Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR) project. The project has been implemented over five years (2011 – 2016) with a budget of 10 million USD, supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea (RoK). The project has helped five SADC countries (Botswana, DR Congo, Malawi, Namibia and Zambia) to improve their TVET systems.
Joint efforts between UNESCO and the Government of the RoK will now be expanded through the implementation of BEAR II to support five new beneficiary countries in eastern Africa; Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania and Uganda. This project will support these countries in their efforts to reform and develop their TVET systems, while benefitting from knowledge and experience gained under BEAR I. Expanding the project to the Eastern Africa region will also contribute to addressing challenges including:
Relevance of TVET programs to industry and the labour market
Quality of TVET
Perception of TVET
Job Summary: The National Associate Project Officer, Education will serve as the focal point for the coordination of the BEAR II project in Uganda. Specifically, s/he will undertake the following tasks and responsibilities:
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Coordination of project activities in Uganda:
Ensuring quality achievements of the programme outputs in line with UNESCO qualitative standards, administrative rules and BEAR II results matrix;
In charge of designing a detailed work plan and assuring regular monitoring of the implementation including budget control;
Identifying project implementation partners and service providers;
Drafting terms of reference for the local contracts, assuring that UNESCO rules of procurement are respected;
The jobholder will also be following–up on the implementation of the contracts, assessing the quality of services provided, undertaking corrective actions when necessary and requesting disbursement of funds.
Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of project implementation:
Ensure daily monitoring and regular evaluation of the project activities, reporting on the progress achieved and suggesting updates of the project log frame;
Tasked with presenting aggregate strategic analysis on project performance based on commitment of partners, progress in implementation of activities outputs
Regular monitoring the financial status of the project
Regularly conducting meetings of the project members, preparing minutes of meetings and action plans with clear responsibilities and timeframe;
Carrying out periodic project reviews with the governmental counterparts and other partners, recording the results of the review meetings in minutes, reports and formulation of the action plans;
Preparing reports on project activities for UNESCO, the donor and implementing partners
Fostering exchanges of information and lessons learned, identifying new strategies and actions to improve delivery of services and to achieve the project objectives
Representation and coordination with partners:
Ensuring project alignment with Government reforms in TVET and its sectoral priorities;
Tasked with identifying relevant institutions and ensuring their engagement in project’s activities;
Ensuring capacity development of national stakeholders in all activities at individual, organizational and system levels;
Mobilizing UNESCO’s entities and networks to support the Government reforms
Sharing international experiences and facilitating access to information, knowledge and good practices;
Setting-up mechanisms and actions to ensure sustainability of project’s outputs;
Maintaining regular relations with the national counterparts and the key stakeholders (Ministries, TVET providers, regional and local authorities, etc.)
Building relationships and collaboration with employers and their representatives (Federations and Chambers), to foster their active participation as key stakeholders in the project implementation.
Ensure communication and visibility:
Preparing the project visibility plan and ensuring its implementation;
Preparing technical briefs/status updates on the project for wider dissemination (UNESCO and partners websites);
Tasked with organizing communication events (seminars and workshops) and liaising with local and international media;
Preparing necessary press release and outreach materials, ensuring that the major events have necessary press coverage;
Providing web content on major project’s achievements and milestones in project implementation for UNESCO’s public information services
Undertake other tasks that may be assigned by the supervisor.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
The ideal candidate for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) National Associate Project Officer Education job opportunity should hold an advanced university degree (Masters level or equivalent) in education and/or science and/or engineering. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience maybe accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Two years of relevant professional experience in the field of education, programme coordination and management, preferably in area of TVET.
Previous exposure and experience in management of education programmes;
Previous exposure and experience in working with Government partners and high-level development partners and international/national Non-Governmental Organizations.
Previous experience with UN agencies and understanding of the UN System is desired
Previous experience in the education sector planning, management, and implementation of project in the education sector is an added advantage
Previous experience in training, coordination and/or institutional and human capacity-building is desired
Excellent knowledge of current context in Uganda, with particular focus on: education, sector planning, TVET, economic development, livelihoods, local governance, youth development, and civil society
Ability to engage and form effective working relationships with counterparts and clients;
Demonstrated ability to work within limited time constraints in the preparation of high quality products;
Proven ability to work in a politically complex, unstable and sometimes insecure environment;
Excellent communication and training facilitation skills;
Familiarity with the administrative procedures of large Organizations preferably UNESCO;
Possess excellent oral, written, analytical and communication skills;
Ability to multi-task, prioritize to adjust work schedules and deliver timely results;
Ability to work in multi-cultural environment;
Good computer and other IT skills including excellent skills in MS office;
Languages: Excellent knowledge of Bantu/Central Sudanic. Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates who so desire to join the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) an application letter, UNESCO CV, in English to the UNESCO Multi-Sectoral Regional Office for Eastern Africa, United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, P.O. Box 30592-00100, Nairobi Kenya or by email to Nairobi.recruitment@unesco.org.
Deadline: 31st August 2017 by Midnight