Education Specialist Quality

Organizational Context

UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency dedicated to providing humanitarian aid and development assistance to children worldwide. Operating in over 192 countries, UNICEF addresses critical areas such as health, education, child protection, and nutrition, working in both humanitarian and development contexts. In Cameroon since 1975, UNICEF focuses on strengthening equitable access to quality education and protective learning environments, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized populations affected by poverty, displacement, and emergencies.

Job Purpose

The Education Specialist (Quality) will provide professional technical, operational, and administrative support to UNICEF's education programs in Cameroon. This role is crucial for facilitating program development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, ensuring alignment with UNICEF's mandate to promote children's rights and equity. The specialist will contribute to situation analyses, design program goals, and manage program activities to achieve measurable results. By offering technical guidance to government counterparts and partners, the position aims to enhance the quality of education and create protective learning environments, ultimately supporting the government's efforts to improve the well-being and development of children and adolescents, especially those most disadvantaged.

Responsibilities

The Education Specialist (Quality) will support the development and planning of education programs by contributing to situation analyses, researching development trends, and establishing program goals and strategies. This includes providing technical and administrative support throughout the programming cycle, ensuring results-based planning and monitoring. The role involves managing program implementation, monitoring resource utilization, and reporting on progress and challenges. Key functions include conducting field visits, assessing progress, and identifying bottlenecks. The specialist will also provide technical and operational support to government counterparts and partners on UNICEF policies and best practices. Furthermore, the position requires building and sustaining partnerships with national stakeholders, drafting advocacy materials, and participating in inter-agency coordination. Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building for stakeholders are also integral aspects of the role, involving sharing lessons learned and promoting best practices.

Work Experience

A minimum of three years of professional experience in education program planning, management, and/or research is required. Experience in education program management, emergency settings, or developing countries is considered an asset. Relevant experience within a UN system agency or organization is also beneficial.

Skills

Expertise in Education and Development Programmes. Experience in Communication and Crisis/Emergency Response is required. Core values include Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability. Competencies include Self-Awareness, Ethical Awareness, Collaboration, Partnership Building, Strategic Thinking, Driving for Results, and Managing Ambiguity.

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