Associate Project Officer ( Education)
Organizational Context
The UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA), based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is a Category I Institute dedicated to supporting African Member States in achieving the 2030 SDGs. It focuses on enhancing education policies, teacher professional development, and institutional capacity. IICBA actively engages in research, knowledge sharing, policy development, and advocacy, with a recent expansion into accelerated learning programs for out-of-school children.
Job Purpose
Under the authority of the Assistant Director-General for Education and the functional guidance of the IICBA Director, and direct supervision of the Senior Project Coordinator, this role is responsible for planning and implementing Japan-funded projects, including those focused on accelerated learning. The incumbent will manage information and knowledge, coordinate activities, monitor progress, report on outcomes, and oversee communication efforts. This involves close collaboration with UNESCO country and regional offices, government counterparts, national stakeholders, global partners, donors, and UN agencies like UNICEF, as well as regional bodies such as IGAD and the African Union. Cooperation with the funding agency, the government of Japan, is also crucial.
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include supporting the implementation of Japan-funded projects through planning, coordination, and information/knowledge management. This involves generating evidence and lessons learned to inform decision-making for better planning, supervision, and monitoring. The role requires conceptualizing and implementing information and knowledge management strategies, and coordinating the development, production, and dissemination of high-quality communication materials, including stories, press releases, and factsheets for various platforms. Data collection and analysis for trend identification and reporting using data visualization are essential. The incumbent will also plan and facilitate strategic advocacy and program activities with partners like the African Union and donors, and support the production of training materials and virtual campus development. Furthermore, the role involves acting as a communication focal point for the project donor, contributing to donor relations and resource mobilization. Establishing and sustaining partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders is critical. The position also entails identifying and developing opportunities for extra-budgetary resource mobilization through concept notes and project proposals, and performing additional duties to enhance teamwork.
Work Experience
A minimum of two years of professional experience is required in project coordination, knowledge and information management, and communications within the education sector or related fields. Experience working within international organizations or the UN system, particularly in an African context, is also beneficial.
Skills
Essential skills include a high degree of independence, the ability to provide input on program monitoring and knowledge management, and strong partnership-building capabilities. The role requires effective teamwork in a multicultural environment, familiarity with the Africa Union Agenda 2030 and SDG-Education 2030, and the ability to collect, synthesize, and analyze data for decision-making. Excellent computing and writing skills, along with strong editorial and analytical abilities, are necessary. The capacity to multitask, prioritize, and deliver under pressure is also important.