Associate National Project Officer

With funding from the European Union, UNESCO is implementing the «Equitable Quality Education in Iraq: Improved Teaching and Learning and Enhanced Educational Management (ITALEEM) »  together with UNICEF.

Overall objective of ITALEEM is to support «all learners in Iraq, including the most disadvantaged ones, are able to access and complete high-quality, inclusive, and gender-responsive teaching and learning in General Education.

The programme aims at three specific objectives which, taken together, strengthen institutional capacity, school management and civil society engagement in the education sector, in pursuit of the overall objective:

• To strengthen an evidenced-based, gender-responsive, policy, planning, and management environment with quality assurance mechanisms and institutional and professional capacities at national, governorate and school levels, that enables all children and adolescents – especially those from disadvantaged groups such as IDPs, returnees, refugees and children with disabilities – to access and complete quality basic education.
• To improve access to, and enhance the quality of, gender-responsive, inclusive, and climate-resilient education at school level for all children, particularly the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, raising achievement and completion.
• To enhance the capacity of CSOs, parents, local communities, teacher organisations, and private sector organisations to actively engage in policy formulation and interventions in such a way that all children and adolescents – especially those from disadvantaged groups – access and complete quality education.

Expected outcomes of ITALEEM by 2028  are:

• Educational governance strengthened for clearer policies, effective management and more specific planning for inclusive and equitable access to quality learning opportunities for all learners, based on evidence and responsive to the gender dimension.
• Schools empowered and strengthened to provide quality and inclusive education in a safe and enabling environment based on a human rights-centred approach
• MoE has institutionalised the teacher professional development systems for quality teaching and learning in general education
• Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are advocating for policies, interventions and implementation, monitoring of education accountability and support in ensuring all children and adolescents – especially those from disadvantaged groups – access and complete quality education.

Duties and responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Director of UNESCO Iraq Office and the direct supervision of the project Officer and Chief of Education, the selected candidate shall carry out the following, but not limited to, functions: 

• Assist the Senior Project Officer in the management of all the Project’s activities/components related to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of education sector, strengthen the capacity of MoE and DoEs and to enhance the quality of teaching and learning, in coordination with the UNESCO Office for Iraq in Baghdad and Erbil.
• Assist the Senior Project Officer to plan and coordinate all the Project’s activities relating to capacity development of teachers, teacher’s supervisors and mentors.
• Assist the Senior Project Officer in planning and strategizing the implementation of the project activities, with a view to optimizing a proper consideration and understanding of local contexts;
• Contribute to the establishment, management and monitoring of contracts and relationships with multiple implementing partners covering the range of expertise required to successfully implement the components of the project and in compliance with the rules and regulations of UNESCO;
• Liaise and facilitate consultation with the relevant government, local authorities in Iraq, and international organizations/donor as required and necessary to ensure proper engagement of the authorities and other international stakeholders in all the project’s components, as well as communication of technical information to stakeholders in a open and transparent manner and ensuring positive reciprocal relationships.
• Responsible for the organization of consultative meetings, workshops, events, and any other initiatives aimed at ensuring a full engagement and participation of the authorities in all project’s components;
• Responsible for the monitoring of the project’s performances vis-a-vis the local stakeholders for ensuring its effectiveness and response to authorities’ needs and expectations;
• Responsible for the development of close collaboration with major and local media groups in Iraq to facilitate and assist the project’s awareness raising activities, with a focus on the development activities and events in Iraq.
• Facilitate information sharing amongst stakeholders in the course of the project;
• Undertake missions as necessary and requested for the Project’s implementation.
• Participate in the development and preparation of the sector work plan, and ensure compliance with specific assigned objectives;
• Contribute towards the formulation of projects by compiling data, analyzing and evaluating information, and drafting the documents;
• Coordinate with the Operations/Procurement staff on timely delivery of activities, as well as requesting disbursement of funds, and monitoring of programme financial status;
• Performing any other duties as required by UNESCO Management.

Required qualifications:

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in education, social sciences, engineering or closely related field(s). A first-level university degree in the aforementioned fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

Work Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in education, or closely related fields (4 years with first-level university degree).
• A strong network in the MoE (Ministry of Education) and MoHESR (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research).

Skills and Competencies:

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage heavy workloads and meet tight deadlines, paying close attention to detail and quality of work.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the Organization.
• Demonstrated project implementation
• Excellent coordination skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and sensitivity to the local context.
• Good knowledge of results-based and budget management tools.
• Strong IT skills including good knowledge of standard office software.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and organizational skills.

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of Arabic and English.

Source:  https://careers.unesco.org/job/Baghdad-Associate-National-Project-Officer-(Education)/798257202/