Project Officer

OVERVIEW

Post Number : 5JOED0019PA

Grade : P-3

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) : 10-JAN-2022

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

Duration of contract: One (1) year with the possibility of an extension subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

UNESCO Jordan strives to promote education as a fundamental human right in Jordan through advocacy, policy dialogue and successful implementation of programmes and projects that support quality education for all. UNESCO's comparative advantage is supporting Ministries and national institutions through successful collaboration to encourage and facilitate access, quality, relevance and equity in the delivery of educational services to all beneficiaries, including refugees. In line with Sustainable Development Goal 4, ensuring equal access for all women and men, girls and boys to affordable, inclusive and quality primary, secondary, technical, vocational and tertiary education, and strengthening the capacity and systems of Ministries and national institutions to achieve this ambitious goal, is the key focus of the education programme in Jordan.

As part of its broader portfolio of support in education, UNESCO Jordan is 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 in-kind support (through NORCAP). The NORCAP support is provided through the deployment of technical expertise embedded at the MoE to support capacity and system strengthening in areas such as gender equality, monitoring and evaluation, statistics and data analysis, and partnership and coordination.

The four-year programme (2019-2023) aims to support the MoE in strengthening evidence-based, strategic, and crisis-sensitive, policymaking, and coordination at the MoE. 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 being 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 platform.

Under the overall authority of the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education and guidance from the Head of the UNESCO Amman Office, and the direct supervision of the Head of the Education Unit/Education Programme Specialist, the Project Officer will be primarily accountable for the timely and efficient management and implementation of the “System Strengthening Partnership with Jordan’s Ministry of Education” programme.

Long Description

The Project Officer will be responsible for carrying out the following tasks and responsibilities:

1.    Project management:

• Develop and keep up-to-date a strategic and operational plan for programme implementation.

• Oversee all aspects of programme management including financial, procurement, contract and administrative planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting in line with UNESCO procedures and requirements.

• Ensure technical and operational quality assurance of all project deliverables.

• Work closely with MoE staff, the UNESCO team, technical specialists, contractors and consultants to ensure quality and timely delivery of programme activities, narrative and financial reports, and achievement of performance targets.

• Identify opportunities and challenges during implementation and recommend relevant actions to ensure programme objectives are met or surpassed.

• Implement and monitor coordination and synergies with other related programmes, particularly with the EU funded activities linked to EMIS, and other activities linked to WebGIS.

Long Description

2.    Technical support and leadership – institutional system strengthening and capacity development:

• Lead on the System Strengthening portfolio within the UNESCO Amman team, which is aligned with UNESCO’s main programme C/5 expected result 1 (ER 1: Improved national education policies and plans to advance access to equitable and quality ECCE, primary and secondary education through a system-wide lifelong learning approach).

• Support and contribute to efforts to support Jordan in the implementation of its national Education Strategic Plan 2018-2022 in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 4, including providing technical support in the areas of gender equality, data collection, utilization, and analysis; monitoring, evaluation and reporting (MER); and crisis sensitive and evidence-based planning and policy-making.

• Establish effective communication channels and networks with government counterparts and other relevant national institutions.

• Establish good communication channels/networks and ensure coordination of UNESCO Amman’s work within UNESCO (HQ, Regional Office, relevant UNESCO institutes, Jordan National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, etc.) in order to mobilize technical support and incorporate international best practices into the programme.

3.    Donor relations:

• Ensure effective and timely communication and coordination with donors on major programme developments, including through the Steering Committee for the programme.

• Ensure programme and donor visibility and public recognition by carrying out regular communication activities.

• Prepare the required donor progress and final reports (narrative and financial).

• Provide support to the Education Programme Specialist to identify further needs and mobilize additional resources as needed.

Long Description

4.    Partnership and Coordination:

• Maintain a strong and constructive working relationship with partner ministries, in particular the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

• Provide support to the Education Programme Specialist in coordinating and taking part in the education sector meetings (e.g. Education Strategic Plan Partnership & Coordination Structure; Education Development Partners Group meetings, Education Sector Working Group etc.).

• Participate in joint UN programming activities, in particular related to education, such as within the UNDSF framework or SDGs support in an effort to coordinate and advance programmatic work and ensure visibility for the Organization.

5.    Supervision and Teamwork:

• Directly supervise the National Project Officer(s), Project Assistant(s), interns and volunteers (performance and administrative management) responsible for the System Strengthening portfolio.

• Oversee and monitor the implementation of regular programme activities related to the System Strengthening portfolio.

• Oversee the work of contracted personnel and consultants engaged in the delivery of the System Strengthening portfolio.

• Contribute to a professional and effective working environment characterized by effective teamwork, collegiality, and mutual respect.

• Provide  support  to  and  perform  other  tasks  as  assigned  by  the  UNESCO  Education Programme Specialist and Head of Office.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced University degree (Master or equivalent) in education, international development, statistics, economics, social sciences or related field.

Work Experience

• Minimum 4 years of experience in the field of education, with particular focus on educational planning, education statistics, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) and/or institutional system strengthening, capacity development and change management.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in project management, including financial, procurement, contracts and results-based management.

Skills and Competencies

• Technical expertise in the field of education, with particular focus on educational planning, education statistics, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) and/or institutional system strengthening, capacity development and change management.
•  Strong analytical skills including the ability to analyze the overall education sector and contribute to programme and project development and adjustments based on evolution of conditions on the ground.
• Ability to manage a team as well as implementing partners, consultancy firms, and/or individual consultants.
• Sound understanding of results-based management, monitoring and evaluation principles. 
• Ability to manage multiple and simultaneous tasks, and to deliver results within a specified timetable.
• Proven good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in complex operations within a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to mobilize resources by carrying out scoping activities, identifying opportunities, and drafting project proposals for possible funding opportunities.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience

• Previous experience working within the UN system including familiarity with its administrative and procurement systems and processes. 
• Atleast 2 years working in the field of education at the international level. 
• Experience with national Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) or related educational databases.

Languages 

• Working knowledge of Arabic.

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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