Education Specialist (NO-3), FT, #137965, Pretoria - South Africa, ESAR
Organizational Context
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
Job Purpose
The UNICEF country programme 2026-2030 supports the Government’s efforts to ensure that, by 2030, the most vulnerable children, adolescents and young people in South Africa will live in a safer and more equitable environment, get a fair chance in life and realize their rights to survive, thrive and reach their full capacity. The theory of change states that children and adolescents will progressively realize their rights if they can more fully utilize social assistance and basic social services. The country programme has four programme outcomes aligned with the national priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2026–2030. These outcomes focus on investing in children; child survival and adolescent well-being; education; and child protection. The programme will maximize opportunities to advance child rights, presented by the global stature of South Africa, rooted in the legacy of Nelson Mandela and its leadership in development and human rights.
Responsibilities
This programme component responds to the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child to increase public investment in early childhood education and to strengthen the quality, equity, relevance, and inclusiveness of education systems, particularly for the most vulnerable children and adolescents. The Education Specialist will contribute to the achievement of the education programme outcomes by providing technical and programmatic support to the government and partners in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of education initiatives. This includes supporting policy dialogue, capacity building, and the development of innovative approaches to improve learning outcomes and ensure equitable access to quality education for all children in South Africa.
Work Experience
At least two years of relevant professional experience in programme planning, management, monitoring and evaluation, in a humanitarian or development context. Experience in the UN system or UNICEF is an asset.
Skills
Programme planning, Programme management, Monitoring and evaluation, Technical and programmatic support, Policy dialogue, Capacity building, Innovative approaches, Equitable access to quality education, Early childhood education, Adolescent education