Internal & External: Education Specialist – Monitoring & Evaluation, P-3, TA, PG, NYHQ (Temporary Appointment)

Note: Programme Group (PG) is currently undergoing organizational changes, therefore the exact location of the post is still under consideration.  Currently, the post is based in New York but in case the location of the post will change, s/he would be expected to work remotely as the case may be, during the contractual period.    

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.

The Education Strategy (2019-30) ‘Every Child Learns’ identifies innovation as one of six programmatic approaches that has the potential to disrupt the conventional pace of expansion of education inputs and enable the improvement of learning. The Strategy also identifies the testing of innovation to generate evidence of what works, and under which conditions, as a priority activity that would accelerate the journey from the what to the how to improve learning outcomes.

The testing of innovations requires the implementation of evidence generation systems that are designed to respond to the needs on the ground. Those needs vary according to the innovation’s purpose, the context it is being implemented on, and its stage of maturity (prototype, early implementation, scale, etc.). Both the identification of innovations and their dissemination demand the generation and analysis of quantitative and qualitative evidence.

For every child, Education…

The launch and scaling of the Learning Passport has created a surge in demand for technical assistance on programme monitoring and data analysis. This demand comes from Learning Passport implementing Country Offices, Regional Offices, and HQ business units. The increased organizational focus on digital learning, specifically through the varying implementations of the Learning Passport, requires sustained technical capacity within the global LP team to meet the consistent and growing demands from implementing parties and the global Learning Passport user base.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Education Specialist (Learning Passport Global Program Manager), and the Senior Education Adviser (SIDER), you will provide technical assistance in evidence generation for the Learning Passport programme and assist in research functions with technical counterparts in HQ, RO, and CO locations. The range of evidence needs includes both quantitative and qualitative, with the biggest gap in capacity being quantitative analysis and generation. You will focus on providing technical support in programme design and development of fit for purpose monitoring (including real time monitoring), and evidence generation methods. This requires different identification techniques including quasi-experimental and experimental methods according to how the programme is implemented, and methods that could be applied in fragile and resource constrained contexts.

You will contribute to achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

1. Support to programme development and planning

• Help supervisor set priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery.
• Participate in strategic programme discussion on the planning of Learning Passport programmes. Formulate, design and prepare Learning Passport programme proposals for the sector, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and Country Programme and coherence/integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies and implementation plans for Learning Passport teams using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with internal colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of the with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Plan and collaborate with internal colleagues and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the Learning Passport.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and weaknesses in programme management.
• Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor Learning Passport implementations through field visits and surveys, and exchange information with stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems, and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and country office partners and donors on interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches on education and related issues to support Learning Passport programme management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Arrange/coordinate availability of technical experts with Regional Office/HQ to ensure timely and appropriate support throughout the programming process.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders, global partners, donors, and academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results on the Learning Passport programme.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund raising for the Learning Passport

  5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementations
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in education management. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.

• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results for the Learning Passport

To qualify as a champion for every child, the candidate must have…

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields: economics, education, social sciences, statistics, public policy or another related field.
• A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree
• Experience in Educational Technology enterprise deployments.
• Experience in research and M&E design and implementation in development or protracted conflict contexts desirable.
• Experience in interfacing with UNICEF Country Offices, Governments, and technical counterparts to achieve programmatic results.
• Proven analytical skills and knowledge of common statistics software packages (e.g. STATA, R)
• Experience in managing large rounds of data collection including experience developing digital data collection tools using common online / offline data collection packages (e.g. ODK, Kobo, Survey CTO) highly desirable.
• Experience in research and M&E design and implementation in development or protracted conflict contexts desirable.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills to work effectively with a team that is geographically dispersed.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Experience with the Learning Passport is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability.

For more information on remuneration and benefits, please visit UNICEF’s Entitlements’ page.  If you would like to find estimates for entitlements, you may use the online Salary Estimate Calculator

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

“UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/