UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, education.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. Therefore, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief of Field Office, the Education Officer (NOB) provides technical, operational, and administrative support throughout the planning and programming process for education programme/projects for Bhairahawa Field Office in Lumbini and Gandaki Provinces.  Under the Nepal Country Programme and UNSDCF, the education officer works from planning to delivery of results, preparing, executing, managing and implementing a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks, programme monitoring, evaluation and reporting at sub-national level. A key role of the education officer in Bhairahawa is to support the strengthening of the provincial and local governments within Lumbini Province to implement the SESP, while supporting selected local governments to model education in schools under the EU-UNICEF partnership.

This candidate will be required to support the implementation of priority education programme strategies being implemented to support equity, inclusion and system strengthening supported by key development partners such as the EU and Finland. UNICEF’s partnership with the EU and Finland embodies the spirit and added value of strong partnership and a coherent approach, providing a strategic response to the multiple challenges in the education system.  This is translated into strong support to the Government of Nepal in adapting the National School Education Sector Plan (SESP) into local government education sector plans and budgets. The localization of the SESP will create conditions that will ensure that all children in Nepal can attend free, inclusive and qualitative education and thereby assuring good learning outcomes.

Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities: 

1. Support to education programme development and planning at sub-national level.
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results at sub-national level.
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation at sub-national level.
4. Networking and partnership building at sub-national level.
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building at sub-national level.

1. Support to programme development and planning

• Contribute to the preparation and updating of the situation analysis for the development, design and management of education related programmes/projects in Lumbini and Gandaki Provinces. Research and report on development trends (economic, social, health etc.) and data for use in programme development, management, monitoring, evaluation and delivery of results.
• Contribute to the development and establishment of education sector’s goals, objectives and strategies, evidence and results-based planning at sub-national level through EMIS data/information analysis, related research/study findings, national and sub-national priorities, School Education Sector Plan (SESP) and other relevant information.
• Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing and administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials and documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support results-based programme planning and monitoring, and evaluation of results.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results. 

• Work closely and collaboratively with internal colleagues and partners to collect, analyze and share information on implementation issues.
• Suggest solutions on routine programme implementation and submit reports to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decisions. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow up action by higher management and other stakeholders.
• Conduct Programme Monitoring Visits (PMVs) and report on the programme/project progress and use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity.

• • Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.

• Prepare and submit periodic reports for RAM (Results Assessment Module) reporting and contribute required information and inputs for programme/donor reporting

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Conduct regular program field visits and surveys and share information with stakeholders to assess progress, and provide technical support, take appropriate action to resolve issues or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks, and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts both at provincial and municipal government level, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices on education related issues to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with sub-national government counterparts and other stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on education programmes and supporting decentralization efforts of local and provincial governments.
• Contribute to prepare communication and information materials for programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and alliances, and support fund raising for education programmes.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency meetings and events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners on UNSDCF operational planning and preparation of education programmes/projects and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UNSDCF development and planning process.
• Prepare and execute partnership document at field office level during implementation of education projects/programme and strengthen partners’ capacity aligned to key priorities to strengthen local education sector plans and modelling of programme solutions for scale up.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Contribute to identifying, capturing, synthesizing, and sharing lessons learned for knowledge development and capacity development of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practice to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.

• Research and report on best and cutting-edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of partners/stakeholders.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education: A university degree in one of the following fields is required: education (preferred), social science or any other relevant technical field

Experience: A minimum of two years of professional experience in education planning, management, and/or research in education is required. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or international organization and/or experience of working in emergency and gender mainstreaming is an asset together with local governance system strengthening.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Nepali language is required. Fluency in the local dialect (Avadhi, tharu) will be considered an asset.

1. Core Values
   • Care
   • Respect
   • Integrity
   • Trust
   • Accountability
   • Sustainability

2. Core Competencies
   • Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
   • Works Collaboratively with others (2)
   • Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
   • Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
   • Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
   • Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
   • Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

NOTE:  Qualified females and candidates from under-represented ethnic groups in Nepal are strongly encouraged to apply.