National Project Officer (Education) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Experience: 3 to 5 Years Tashkent, Uzbekistan Apply By: 24-10-2024

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Job Description

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Education Unit of UNESCO Tashkent is leading several key initiatives aimed at advancing the quality, inclusiveness, and relevance of education in Uzbekistan. These projects focus on addressing crucial gaps in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), strengthening the Educational Management Information System (EMIS), and leveraging ICT and digital learning to uplift educational outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations such as girls and children with disabilities.

Among these initiatives is the “Empowering Education in Uzbekistan: Leveraging ICT and Digital Learning for High-Quality and Inclusive Education Results” project, which aims to reduce the digital divide by expanding access to technology, enhancing teachers’ digital skills, and fostering inclusive learning environments. Simultaneously, UNESCO is collaborating with national stakeholders to promote TVET reforms, , in alignment with UNESCO Strategy for TVET 2022-2029, and bolster EMIS to support more effective, data-driven decision-making to support the successful implementation of these projects, UNESCO seeks a National Project Officer who will contribute with technical expertise, coordinate with national and international partners, and assist in ensuring that the project objectives align with the government’s broader education reform.

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Education (ADG/ED) and direct supervision of the Senior Project Officer, the incumbent shall perform the functions indicated in the Terms of References below:

Project Implementation and Technical Support:

Provide technical support to the Senior Project Officer in the implementation of UNESCO’s extra-budgetary education projects
Assist in coordinating and overseeing day-to-day project activities to ensure they are carried out in line with agreed-upon work plans and timelines.
Provide technical backstopping, by actively contributing to the development of frameworks for improving digital learning environments and support national counterparts in advancing TVET and EMIS reforms.
Ensure the delivery of quality outputs, including the development of training materials, guidelines, and capacity-building initiatives related to TVET and ICT for education, in alignment with UNESCO priorities, including the focus on gender equality and equity

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement:

Facilitate strong communication and collaboration between UNESCO, the line ministries, the private sector, and other national stakeholders involved in the projects.
Support the Senior Project Officer in liaising with international and national development partners, to ensure synergies between UNESCO’s interventions and broader development efforts in Uzbekistan.
Represent UNESCO at relevant technical meetings and working groups related to UNESCO’s areas of interest in the field of education.
Promote coordination with UNESCO HQ, specifically the sections working on Youth, Literacy and Skills Development (YLS), as well as with UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, to ensure coherence of the activities launched, develop synergies with existing UNESCO initiatives and to share best practices/lessons learnt.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E):

Assist in the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the progress and impact of the projects.
Contribute to the analysis of project performance data, identifying key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned to inform future interventions.
Support the preparation of regular progress reports and donor briefs in collaboration with the project team.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing:

Contribute to capacity-building initiatives, particularly in enhancing digital competencies for teachers, quality assurance in TVET, and the use of EMIS for data-driven education reform.
Participate in organizing workshops, training sessions, and other capacity-building activities for government counterparts and education stakeholders.
Contribute to the development of knowledge products and resources that will help national stakeholders sustain and expand the impact of UNESCO’s education interventions.

Resource Mobilization and Reporting:

Assist the Senior Project Officer in developing funding proposals and concept notes for additional project activities, in line with the identified needs and priorities of the education sector.
Identify and engage with additional partners willing to participate in current and/or future initiatives
Ensure that project implementation is in compliance with UNESCO’s financial, administrative, and reporting requirements.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Education, Social Sciences, International Development, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), or a related field.

Work Experience

A minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in the field of education.
Demonstrated experience working with government counterparts, international organizations, and development partners.

Skills and competencies

In-depth knowledge of the education sector in Uzbekistan
Ability to develop innovative approaches in terms of strategic planning.
Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities efficiently. Proficiency in coordinating multi-stakeholder projects and partnerships.
Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
Ability to work in a collegial manner and build partnerships both within and externally to UNESCO
Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively deal with colleagues, partners and networks in private and public sectors in education and teacher development

Languages