Education Specialist – Nairobi – UN Children’s Fund

Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the above Fixed Term position of Education Specialist, Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) in UNICEF Kenya Country Office (KCO).

Purpose of the Post:
Under the overall guidance of the Chief of Education, assist in the development, design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and management of the Early Childhood Development and Education programme within the Country Programme of Cooperation to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness and accomplishment of programme goals and objectives. Across the Education programme(s), accountable for identifying innovative approaches and programmes to eliminating inequalities in early learning and to track progress towards disparity reduction goals and targets in Education.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Programme Planning, Development and Management Leadership.
Enhance effective ECDE programme, sectoral and inter-sectoral planning, development and management by guiding, coordinating and supporting the timely completion of evidence generation and its periodic update through accurate and complete monitoring and analysis, and the timely preparation or finalization of sectoral input, using gender disaggregated data and analysis. Fund-raising/engagement strategy and proposal development for ECDE.

2. Sectoral Work Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring.
Take shared responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan and technical decisions as well as for project management, implementation and monitoring of assigned project/sectoral activities, in compliance with the defined project strategies and approaches, emphasizing the principles of gender and regional equality, and strategies for disparity reduction.
3. Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership.
Ensure exchange of information, experience, help identify new strategies and courses of action to accelerate/improve delivery of services and achieve ECDE programme requirements and objectives.
Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and collect information. Conduct periodic programme reviews with national/county government counterparts and other partners.
Collaborate with Communication and Programme Communication groups to ensure development of effective ECDE communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts.
Collaborate with the Operations and Supply Sections and Government authorities to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of the ECDE projects planning and implementation, to coordinate financial and supply management requirements as well as to ensure probity and accountability.
Interact with national/county government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of ECDE programme/project implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations.

4. Knowledge Management.
Promote ECDE knowledge management by drafting or finalizing sectoral documents and reports through orientation and training programmes targeted at national/county government authorities. Ensure exchange of knowledge, information, experience or lessons learned, provide solid technical recommendations on major programme directions and on introduction of new initiatives in the country/counties.

5. Rights-Based Projects through Results-Based Approach.
Promote the quality of rights-based programming through participation in the formulation of ECDE programme goals and approaches. Bring synergy and added value to sectoral and programme management processes using a results-based management approach to planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

6. UNICEF and National/County Government Accountability.
Coordinate with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and national/county government accountability. Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures to achieve ECDE programme goals. Certify disbursements of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the set regulations and guidelines
1. Programme Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting.
Ensure ECDE programme, sectoral or inter-sectoral efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation, with an emphasis on gender-disaggregated data. Participation in major evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sector review meetings with government counterparts. Ensure the preparation of annual ECDE status reports.
1. Promotion of UNICEF’s Global Goals
Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and active engagement in communication, networking and participation at every opportunity inside and outside UNICEF, leveraging the strength of UNICEF mission, goals and programmes around ECDE.

Required Qualifications:
Advanced University Degree in Education or social sciences as related technical field.

Experience:
Eight (8) years progressively, responsible professional work experience at national and international levels in programme planning and management in related field with emphasis on strategic planning.

Language:
Fluency in English and another UN working language required.
Knowledge of local working language of the duty station an asset.

Competencies:
i) Core Values (Required)
• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

ii) Core Competencies (Required)
• Communication [Level II]
• Working with People [Level II]
• Drive for Results [Level II]

iii) Functional Competencies (Required)
• Leading and Supervising [Level I]
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [Level II]
• Analysing [Level III]
• Relating and Networking [Level II]
• Deciding and Initiating Action [Level II]
• Applying Technical Expertise [Level III]

HOW TO APPLY:
Interested and suitable candidates should ensure they forward their applications along with their curriculum vitae, P-11 form, visit http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc (internal candidates should attach copies of their last two Performance Evaluation Reports), to:
The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address: kenhrvacanciesB@unicef.org
Please indicate Reference No. “KCO/EDUC/2015-017” in the email subject.

[yuzo_related]