NATIONAL PROJECT OFFICER (EDUCATION)

Post Number : 5JOED0022PA

Grade : NO-B

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Amman

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Project Appointment

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 13-MAR-2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Only nationals of Jordan may apply for this position.

Duration of contract: 1 year with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

UNESCO is currently implementing the System Strengthening Partnership (SSP) programme with the Ministry of Education (MoE), through a Multi-Year Trust Fund (MPTF) with the generous funding of Canada, the Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation, Switzerland, and Norway (through NORCAP). The SSP programme aims to support the MoE in strengthening evidence-based, strategic, and crisis-sensitive, policymaking, and coordination. Through this multi-year programme, UNESCO is supporting the strengthening of the core functions of the MoE in planning and budgeting, monitoring, and reporting, research and evaluation, data and information management, and coordination and partnership. Furthermore, the programme aims to further strengthen an enabling institutional environment for crisis-sensitive planning in Jordan, including risk management. Technical support is also provided to the MoE in areas of data collection, analysis, and utilization by reinforcing the MoE’s capacity to maintain, manage and utilize the OpenEMIS and WebGIS platform.

The SSP also seeks to ensure the implementation of the objectives and priorities outlines in the MoE’s Strategy for Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Education (SMGEE), and supports the integration of equity, and gender analysis into monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems and processes.

Long Description

The SSP programme has three complementary components:

Component 1: Data use for evidence-based decision making, and policy formulation at the strategic level (policy and strategic planning)

Component 2: Data analysis and generation of evidence-based policy recommendations (improved analysis and use of data)

Component 3: Sustainable data collection, compilation, and management (improved collection, compilation, and management of data (data collection and compilation).

The SSP programme, originally planned until June 2023, has been extended until 2025 following the seventh SSP Steering Committee in February 2023, where all MPTF partners, and the MoE endorsed the extension of the SSP programme, as well as the updated project document that includes additional elements of support under the existing components of the SSP. The request for a costed extension was made by the MoE in 2022 to UNESCO and MPTF partners to extend the SSP programme until December 2025 to align with the extended Education Strategic Plan 2018-2025. An updated workplan for the SSP programme covering June 2023-December 2025 was also finalized with the MoE and endorsed in November 2023 by the SSP Steering Committee.

Within this context, UNESCO is seeking to hire a National Project Officer to provide technical and project management support for the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all programme activities.

Long Description

Main duties and responsibilities

Under the overall authority and guidance from the Head of the UNESCO Jordan Office, guidance from the Head of the Education Unit, and direct supervision of the Project Officer for System Strengthening, the National Project Officer will be responsible for supporting the activities of the SSP programme on a day-to-day basis by carrying out the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Provide support for the programmatic implementation and coordination of the “System Strengthening Partnership with Jordan’s Ministry of Education” programme.
• Provide support for the project monitoring and reporting in line with UNESCO and MPTF agreement and established UNESCO guidelines and procedures.
• Provide on-the-job technical advice and support to the MoE linked to system strengthening key priorities such as evidence-based planning, data management, strategic planning, monitoring, and reporting.
• Liaise and coordinate with selected implementing partners, and experts to support the implementation of the programme, including providing necessary oversight to ensure technical and operational quality assurance of project deliverables, and support for related administrative/contract management when necessary.
• Take part and support in the organization of relevant internal and external coordination meetings and provide technical inputs. This includes but is not limited to: SSP Steering Committee meetings and technical meetings per thematic area of the SSP Programme, etc.

Long Description

• Provide support for the coordination with other education sector partners and stakeholders when necessary.
• Provide support to the implementation of all communication and visibility activities foreseen under the project.
• Provide support to and perform other tasks as assigned by the Head of the Education Unit and Programme Manager (System Strengthening Portfolio) as needed.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

Communication (C)

Accountability (C)

Innovation (C)

Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)

Planning and organizing (C)

Results focus (C)

Teamwork (C)

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For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced University Degree (equivalent to Masters) in education, social sciences, interdisciplinary studies, administration, or a related field for this position.

Work Experience

• Minimum 2 years of work experience in the field of education project management, and/or project implementation in related area.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent coordination, interpersonal, and communications skills.
• Sound understanding of results-based management, monitoring, and evaluation principles.
• Excellent organizational, planning and prioritization skills.
• Ability to be proactive and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure and in a multicultural environment.

Languages

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

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience

• Previous experience working in the field of education, with particular focus on educational planning, education statistics, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, data, crisis and risk management, institutional system strengthening, capacity development and/or change management is an asset.
• Previous experience in working in the UN system, an international organization, or a non-governmental organization, and familiarity with administrative, financial, and procurement systems and processes is an asset.
• Previous experience working closely with national authorities or Ministry of Education staff is a strong asset.