Programme Specialist

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Education (ADG/ED), the functional authority of the Director of the UNESCO Multi-sectoral Regional Office in Beirut, and the direct supervision of the Chief of Education Section, the incumbent will support the planning, coordination and implementation of regional programmes in support of Sustainable Development Goal 4, with a focus on Education Policies and Systems. In particular, the incumbent will: 

Programme Design and Management:

• Coordinate, plan, monitor and implement the Office’s Programme on Education Policies, planning, and System Strengthening and contribute to the creation of diagnostic analyses, sector plans and pedagogical tools.
• Identify focus areas and national priorities within the Member States of the sub-region in alignment with the UNESCO Strategy. Recommend programmes and approaches to respond to multi-sectoral development challenges, in particular in aspects related to institutional and organizational analysis.
• Develop, support, and monitor programmes and strategies with regard to the Sustainable Development Goals 4 (SDG4-Education 2030), including in areas of education policy in particular in the education planning and management of the education systems, as well as in the initiation, design and implementation of capacity development activities.
• Support the development of management and Monitoring and Evaluation tools, and the preparation of sector reviews. Lead and manage a portfolio of the countries under the Office.

Policy Advice and Technical Assistance:

• Initiate and develop policy advice, methodological tools and technical assistance to Ministries of Education and other key stakeholders to implement regional and country-level programme activities, in particular in areas of education planning, resource projections and information management systems.
• Develop, implement, and monitor research activities, technical assistance projects, capacity development Programmes and related funding proposals on policy and technical issues pertinent to skills development in the region.
• Contribute to the professional development of officials in charge of education planning, management, and training.

 Knowledge Management, Partnerships and Resources Mobilization:

• Assist in developing and sustaining political and education policy management and planning dialogue with decision makers of assigned countries.
• Mobilize and network, in collaboration with UNESCO Specialized Institutes (especially IIEP, UIL, UIS) and with national, regional, and international partners, including in the context of the Regional Coordination Group on SDG4 – Education 2030.
• Mobilize resources to support policy analysis, planning and system development in the region, by preparing project proposals and cooperation frameworks with Member States and donor agencies and by engaging in fundraising activities

Required Qualifications

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in education, sciences or related social sciences fields.

 Work Experience

• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of education policy development, of which preferably 3 years acquired at the national and international level.
• Proven experience in formulating, implementing, and monitoring education-related policies, strategies, programmes/projects.
• Experience in reviewing and analysing national teacher education policies.
• Proven experience in fundraising and resource mobilization.

 Skills and competencies 

• Excellent coordination and interpersonal skills, and ability to manage staff and teams in a multicultural environment.
• Analytical skills and ability to collect, synthesize and analyze information from various sources.
• Proven ability to identify emerging development trends and educational needs.
• Ability to provide policy advice and assistance to policy and decision makers.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare, present and discuss findings and recommendations clearly and concisely.
• Demonstrated ability to plan strategically, and to translate strategy into priorities and action.
• Ability to coordinate and negotiate with partners, network and different stakeholders.
• Very good IT skills, knowledge of Media and Information Literacy (MIL).

 Languages

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English.

Source: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Beirut-Programme-Specialist/792033102/