National Project Officer at UNESCO

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the authority of the Regional Representative and Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa, the overall supervision of the Regional Head of Unit – Education, UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa, and the country office programme implementation supervision of the Project Officer – Education for Health and Wellbeing Malawi, the incumbent will be involved in the administration of two grants: (1) Lifting barriers: Educated boys for gender equality in Malawi and Lesotho; and (2) Bridging Accountability for Gender Equality in Education in Malawi. S/he will be fully responsible for project (1), and support the coordination, effective planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of UNESCO’s implementation of project (2).

More specifically, the incumbent will undertake the following tasks and responsibilities:

Technical support and research

• Lead implementation of the Lifting barriers: Educated boys for gender equality in Malawi and Lesotho and contribute to the Bridging Accountability for Gender Equality in Education in Malawi.
• Provide advice to ensure national contextualization and smooth implementation of the research projects.
• Contribute to building capacity for Ministry of Education staff on gender equality in and through education (data collection/use and review of teaching and learning material).
• Contribute to and review national case studies, research and knowledge products as well as evaluations as necessary.
• Share research outcomes and knowledge generated with national partners and consortium partners as appropriate.
• Contribute to the dissemination of research at national, regional and international levels.
• Provide technical inputs on gender equality in and through education as necessary.

Coordination, organization and representation

• Contribute to the establishment of, and represent UNESCO in, national project steering committees.
• Liaise and coordinate with the Ministry of Education, National Statistics Offices, line-ministries/agencies and other national and local partners.
• Coordinate with UNESCO Harare office, the Malawi and Lesotho antennae, Headquarters and global partners.
• Organize national workshops and meetings and report on their outcomes.
• Support the organization of field visits.
• Represent UNESCO in different meetings and fora as necessary.
• Assure the communications/visibility elements are prepared on a timely manner.
• Contribute to the scaling discussions with a view to how scaling can be utilized in the Southern African Development Community.

Long Description

Planning, budgeting, M&E and reporting

• Ensure timely implementation, monitoring and reporting of the Lifting barriers: Educated boys for gender equality workplan in Malawi and Lesotho.
• Contribute to timely implementation, monitoring and reporting of the Bridging Accountability for Gender Equality in Education workplan in Malawi.
• Ensure timely narrative and financial reporting both within UNESCO, to University College London and to external donors as appropriate.
• Complete any other tasks necessary for the successful implementation of the Bridging Accountability for Gender Equality in Education project in Malawi and of the Lifting barriers: Educated boys for gender equality in Malawi and Lesotho.

Resource Mobilisation 

• Participate in Programme development, exploring and harnessing programme replication in other countries in Southern Africa;
• Identify and build institutional partnerships beyond the contractual relationships in the country, particularly with the UN system and outside Malawi to support programme development and extension;
• Support resource mobilization to allow extension, development and extension of the programme in and outside Malawi.

Long Description

Organizational environment and partnerships 

The incumbent will be fully responsible for project (1), and support the coordination, effective planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of UNESCO’s implementation of project (2). The incumbent will be under the direct supervision of the Project Officer – Education for Health and Wellbeing Malawi.

Long Description

Expected results and duration of the assignment

The appointee is expected to ensure the effective planning, implementation, and monitoring of project (1) activities in Malawi and Lesotho and to support the effective planning, implementation, and monitoring of project (2) activities in Malawi.
1 year, with the possibility of extension depending on satisfactory performance.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education 

• An advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in education, social sciences, or a relevant field.

Work Experience 

• At least four years of relevant work experience in areas related to project management and/or research on education and gender equality.
• Experience in analysing and synthesising data/evidence.
• Experience in reporting and monitoring.

Skills and competencies  

• Good understanding of the countries and the education sector.
• Extensive knowledge on education and gender equality.
• Familiarity with both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Excellent drafting skills in English.
• Excellent presentation skills (including at international conferences).
• Ability to multitask, prioritize and deliver to deadline, as well as work under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, tact and diplomacy.
• Excellent networking and high level representational and partnership building skills, involving a wide range of partners (including relevant Ministries, national and local partners).
• Excellent strategic and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
  

Languages

• Fluency (oral and written) in English.
• Fluency in one of the national local languages (Chichewa – Malawi/ Sesotho – Lesotho).

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Training on education and or/gender equality.
• Work experience in areas related to project management and/or research on education and masculinities.

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS