OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Education Unit of UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan is leading several key initiatives aimed at advancing the quality, inclusiveness, and relevance of education in Uzbekistan. These projects focus on addressing crucial gaps in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), strengthening the Educational Management Information System (EMIS), and leveraging ICT and digital learning to uplift educational outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations such as girls and children with disabilities.
Among these initiatives is the “Empowering Education in Uzbekistan: Leveraging ICT and Digital Learning for High-Quality and Inclusive Education Results” project, which aims to close the digital divide by expanding access to technology, enhancing teachers’ digital skills, and fostering inclusive learning environments.

Simultaneously, UNESCO, within an EU funded project- is collaborating with national stakeholders to promote TVET reforms and bolster EMIS to support more effective, data-driven decision-making.

To support the successful implementation of these projects, UNESCO seeks a Senior Project Officer who will lead the implementation of these initiatives, coordinate with national and international partners, and ensures that the project objectives align with the government’s broader education reform.

Duties:

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Education (ADG/ED) and the direct supervision of the Head of the UNESCO Tashkent Office, the Senior Project Officer will design, plan, coordinate, implement and monitor the three above mentioned projects:

Manage the implementation of the project in compliance with the project specific objectives, activities and expected outputs by:

• Ensuring quality achievement of the programme outputs;
• Regularly monitoring and updating, as relevant, of the project work plan;
• Planning and organizing procurement of goods and services and regularly monitoring its implementation;
• Identifying project implementation partners and providers of goods and services.
• Following up on the implementation of the contracts, assessing the quality of services provided and requesting disbursement of funds; and,
• Building synergies with other projects and activities of the UNESCO Tashkent Office and relevant projects of other development partners in Uzbekistan.

Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of project implementation and the reporting on project activities by:

• Contributing to monitoring and evaluation of project activities, reporting on progress and suggesting updates to the project timeframe;
• Regularly monitoring the financial status of the project and promptly developing budget revision if needed;
• Regularly preparing, conducting and following up meetings of the project steering and technical committees, preparing their minutes and action plans with the clear division of responsibility and timeframe;
• Presenting aggregate strategic analysis on project performance based on commitment of indicators and implementation of activities as well as output delivery;
• Preparing reports on project activities for UNESCO, the donor and partners;
• Ensuring the implementation of the communication and visibility plan of the project, in close coordination with the Communication and Outreach Officer of the project and the Office’s PR and Communication Officer;
• Fostering exchanges of information, experience, identifying new strategies of action to improve delivery of services and to achieve the project requirements and objectives; and,
• Supervising and providing leadership, guidance and direction to the project team.

Liaise with the Government, international and national stakeholders by:

• Ensuring project alignment with Government reforms in education sector;
• Maintaining regular relations with national counterparts and key stakeholders (Ministries, providers, regional and local authorities, etc.);
• Establishing relationship and collaboration with employers and their representatives (Federations and Chambers), to foster their active participation as key stakeholders in the project implementation
• Mobilizing UNESCO’s entities in support of the Government reforms including UNESCO HQ, UNESCO Institutes;
• Sharing international experiences and facilitating access to information, knowledge and good practices; and,
• Setting-up mechanisms and actions to ensure sustainability of project’s outputs.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in the field of education, social sciences, international development or other relevant field.

Work Experience

• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience, of which preferably 3 years acquired at international level, in technical assistance and project management in the field of education, training or skills development.
• Working experience in supporting educational and training reform/development agenda of governments.
• Proven experience in education related programs.

Skills and competencies

• Excellent understanding of the Education system from public education system.
• Excellent project management skills and ability to coordinate complex projects.
• Supervisory and managerial skills, capable of leading a team of professionals.
• Ability to make technically sound decisions on all aspects of project implementation.
• Ability to provide upstream policy advice at highest levels
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the Organization.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Strong IT skills.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.