Education Specialist, P-3, Temporary Appointment, #00137675, Nairobi, Kenya

Organizational Context

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling. We offer diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.

Job Purpose

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, with a strong emphasis on equity for the most disadvantaged. The Education Specialist contributes to this by ensuring seamless programme coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting for key initiatives. Under the guidance of the Chief of Education, this role specifically manages the European Union-funded 'Last Mile Connectivity of Schools' and the Dutch-funded 'PROSPECTS' Integrated Projects. Furthermore, the specialist will lead technical assistance and implementation efforts for climate-resilient education systems. This critical work involves close collaboration with various programme sections within the UNICEF Kenya Country Office, including Innovation, Child Protection, WASH, and Social Policy, as well as with respective field offices and involved partners. The aim is to maximize synergies and impact on children and young people, accelerating progress towards realizing the human rights of all children and supporting equitable national development.

Responsibilities

The Education Specialist will provide comprehensive support to project development, planning, and coordination. This includes representing UNICEF in crucial donor and partnership negotiations, regular meetings, briefings, and field missions related to the EU-funded 'Last Mile Connectivity of Schools' and the Dutch-funded 'PROSPECTS' projects. The role involves engaging in strategic programme design by coordinating with various sections to establish clear joint priorities, targeting criteria, and implementation plans for these projects, alongside work on climate change and education, to ensure maximum synergy. The specialist will participate in strategic programme discussions to plan assigned projects, leveraging related activities to enhance convergences across sections and maximize impact on children and young people. Furthermore, establishing and strengthening coordination structures within UNICEF and with partners is essential for smooth project implementation, documentation, and communication. In terms of project management, implementation, and monitoring, the specialist will support the Education Section Chief in the overall management of the EU Project and the education component of the PROSPECTS project. This involves arranging joint field visits to foster better programme integration and convergence across different sections and partners. The specialist will actively assess and monitor project progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems, and report them to the Chief of Education for timely decision-making and resolution. Advising on necessary corrective actions to achieve planned targets and participating in project monitoring, evaluation exercises, and reviews are also key responsibilities.

Work Experience

Not specified in the provided content.

Skills

Programme Coordination, Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Strategic Planning, Partnership Negotiation, Donor Relations, Technical Assistance, Climate-Resilient Education Systems, Inter-sectoral Collaboration, Problem Solving, Reporting, Communication

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