PROJECT TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTStaff Service Contract

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Dakar

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Level : Level 3

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 12-OCT-2020

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

The UNESCO Regional Office for West Africa-Sahel (UNESCO Dakar) represents UNESCO in seven West African countries in all UNESCO’s fields of competence. The mission of UNESCO Dakar in education is to support countries in strengthening their education and learning systems in pursuit of SDG4 as well as the education-related targets of other SDGs, in congruence with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA-2016-2025). UNESCO Dakar supports countries in rethinking and re-envisioning education and training for all, contributing to peaceful, sustainable and healthy societies. It intervenes at all levels and learning pathways, from early childhood to higher education including technical and vocational education and training, youth and adult literacy, and through formal, non-formal and informal education and learning.

As part of its education programme and in line with the UNESCO TVET Strategy (2016-2021), UNESCO in partnership with the Republic of Korea (through KOICA) has set up a four-year (2019-2022) project titled “Youth empowerment through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in The Gambia” in order to improve the employability of youth. It will contribute to the development of sustainable, affordable, accessible, relevant and quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in The Gambia.

The project coordinator (UNESCO TVET Programme Specialist) based in Dakar is looking for a qualified, experienced and motivated expert who will assist the Deputy Project Coordinator (based in Banjul) in the daily management of the planning, implementation and monitorng of the project.

Under the overall authority of the Director of UNESCO Dakar and the Chief of the Education sector, the Project Technical and Administrative Assistant will support the Project Coordinator and the Deputy Project Coordinator in the planning and implementation of the overall activities related to the project and will be in charge of monitoring its progress. He/she will be responsible for supporting the daily management of all activities to be carried out within the framework of the project. He/she will support the Project Office in The Gambia in achieving all expected outcomes in line with the relevant documents.

He/she will support the Deputy Project Coordinator in administrative and accounting responsibilities and will provide support in the decision-making concerning the steps to achieve the expected results described in the Project Implementation Plan, according to the required quality standards and taking into account the specificities and time and cost constraints involved. He/she will assume the following duties:

• Support in the preparation of the yearly work plan and individual activity work plans and monitor their accomplishment in line with the established and taking into account the project Performance Indicators (PIs);
• Provide inputs regarding planned activities and outputs and outcomes of the project and monitor its advancement according to the yearly work plan;
• Provide support in maintaining regular relationships and transparent and timely communication with project counterparts and stakeholders, including beneficiaries (Ministries, TVET providers, Regional and local authorities, private sector);
• Ensure the effective accounting and financial management of the project through reviewing and reconciling requests, invoices, and financial reports in line with the stipulated documents and making follow-ups related to these with the administration team;
• Collaborate in the preparation of yearly and bi-annual financial and progress reports in accordance with the Project Document and donor requests;
• Develop communication materials about the project to be published and disseminated internally and on news outlets;
• Provide support in the coordination of project events (meetings, workshops, monitoring visits, missions, etc.);
• Carry out administrative duties when required, such as maintaining computer and manual filing systems and generating reports;
• Any other duties assigned by the supervisors.

• Advanced University Degree (master or equivalent) in Project Management, accounting, management in education or related field;
• Minimun 5 years or more of relevant professional experience in project management, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, accounting, education management or any other relevant sectors;
• Experience working in educational projects and/or contexts is an added advantage;
• Experience in liaising with various stakeholders, including development partners and high-level officials;

• Project management, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, accounting, education management or any other relevant sectors;
• Excellent written (news and reports writing) and verbal communication and interpersonal skills in English. French is an added advantage;
• Strong organizational and planning skills, ability to work following a tight schedule and to deliver quality results;
• Excellent teamwork skills;
• IT skills including general MS Office and excellent Excel skills.

Interested candidates should submit their application, including motivation letter and curriculum vitae (UNESCO format), by email to UNESCO Dakar Office (recruitment.breda@unesco.org) by  October 5, 2020 at the latest, mentioning in the Subject “UNESCO-KOICA/TVET PROJECT TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT”.

NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted