Parent Sector : Education
Duty Station: Islamabad
Standard Duration of Assignement : 1 year with possibility of extension based on performance and availability of fund.
Type of contract : Service Contract
Level : SC9
Duration of contract : 1 year
Recruitment open to : Internal as well as external
Application Deadline (Midnight Pakistan Time) : 16.02.2025
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) supports the implementation of the Balochistan Partnership Compact (2024-2028), which prioritizes policy reforms, increased investment, and gender-responsive actions to ensure equitable and quality learning opportunities for all children. This support is provided through the System Transformation Grant (STG), System Capacity Grant (SCG), and the Girls’ Education Accelerator Grant (GEA). The STG is managed by UNICEF and the World Bank as Grant Agents (GAs), while UNESCO serves as the GA for the SCG, focusing on strengthening educational policies, promoting gender equality, building institutional capacities, and ensuring equitable access to Early Childhood Education (ECE) and primary education. This strategic approach aims to achieve sustainable development and improved learning outcomes for all children by 2028, aligning with the vision of the Balochistan Education Sector Plan (BESP) and addressing key capacity gaps in the education system. The SCG programme specifically targets enhanced access to quality learning at the ECE and primary levels through:
a. Comprehensive policy development.
b. Gender-responsive institutional policies.
c. Professional development of education personnel.
d. Strengthened education sector coordination.
e. Establishment of an integrated Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) framework.
Under the overall authority of the Officer-in-Charge/Head of Office of UNESCO in Pakistan, direct supervision of the Head of Education and the close daily operational coordination with the National Education Coordination Officer (Balochistan), the National Education Project Officer plays a key role in the SCG Programme planning, implementation, and monitoring, ensuring alignment with objectives, timelines, and education sector plans. The role involves managing contracts and finances, ensuring compliance with GPE guidelines and UNESCO procedures, and addressing risks proactively to prevent delays or inefficiencies. By producing quality reports, the officer ensures transparency and accountability while supporting evidence-based decision-making.
More specifically, the National Education Project Officer will be responsible for the following functions:
More specifically, the National Education Project Officer will be responsible for the following functions:
Programme Planning and Implementation:
Contract and Financial Management
6. Drafting, reviewing, and finalizing contracts, partnership agreements, and amendments in compliance with GPE and UNESCO administrative procedures, ensuring they align with project objectives, timelines, and budgets.
7. Monitoring contract execution to ensure adherence to agreed deliverables, timelines, and budgets, tracking compliance with UNESCO regulations and reporting discrepancies for corrective actions.
8. Preparing, monitoring, and managing budgets, ensuring financial resources are allocated appropriately, expenditures align with approved plans, and any deviations are addressed promptly.
9. Identifying risks associated with contract implementation and proposing corrective measures to the Head of Education to mitigate potential delays and ensure continuity of activities.
10. Fostering exchanges of information, experiences, identifying new strategies of action to improve delivery of services and to achieve the project requirements and objectives.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
11. Monitoring programme activities to ensure alignment with the SCG Programme objectives, Partnership Compact, and Education Sector Plan, identifying and addressing any deviations.
12. Collecting, analysing, and reporting data to assess the effectiveness of programme interventions, identify areas for improvement, and ensure evidence-based decision-making.
13. Preparing and submitting quality progress and financial reports for both internal use and external stakeholders, ensuring accurate documentation that meets audit and evaluation requirements.
14. Preparing periodic reports, briefs and presentations for sharing with donors and stakeholders, effectively communicating programme progress, challenges, and impacts.
15. Supporting the design, as well as the periodic update and revision, of the detailed country project document, work plan and budget.
16. Identifying implementation partners and providers of goods and services.
17. Developing terms of references for external vendors and partners and in the recruitment of consultants and experts.
18. Monitoring implementation of the contracts, assessing the quality of services provided and requesting disbursement of funds.
19. Undertaking additional tasks assigned by the Officer-in-Charge/Head of the Office and/or Head of Education, ensuring adaptability to evolving priorities.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) in Project Management, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field from a recognised institution.
A combination of an advanced degree and practical experience in international development work on education may be substituted for the fields mentioned. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
1. Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in project planning, implementation, management and coordination, preferably in the education sector.
2. Proven experience of collaborating with government agencies, international organizations, UN agencies, or other key stakeholders in the education sector.
3. Comprehensive expertise across the project lifecycle, including planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
4. Familiarity with project management and reporting requirements for donor-funded programmes.
Skills and competencies
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Education, ICT in Education, Science (STEM) or a related field from a recognized institution.
Work Experience
Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in project planning, implementation, management, and coordination within the education sector.
Experience and knowledge of working with UN agencies, or GPE contract management procedures and standards.
Experience in coordinating with multiple stakeholders, including government counterparts, implementing partners, and contractors.
Experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) frameworks.
Languages
Good knowledge of other local languages spoken in Balochistan.
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview.
UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.
UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.
UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization.