OVERVIEW
Post Number : 6SNIEP0093PA
Grade : P-3
Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station: Dakar
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) : 15-JUN-2025
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
Duration of the contract: One (1) year renewable with a six (6) months probationary period. Extension of contract is subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
The International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP-UNESCO) is a UNESCO specialized institute with Offices in Buenos Aires, Dakar, and Paris. The mandate of IIEP-UNESCO is to strengthen Member Statesโ capacity to plan and manage their education systems. The IIEP-UNESCO Regional Office for Africa (IIEP-UNESCO Africa) is renowned for its cutting-edge educational sector analyses and supports African countries in developing realistic and credible education system development plans in support of the Education 2030 agenda, an essential part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Through a well-crafted and targeted capacity development approach, IIEP-UNESCO Africa contributes to diagnostic analyses, sector plans and the development of pedagogical as well as methodological tools. These contribute to more relevant and sustainable educational policies across the African continent, and beyond. IIEP-UNESCO Africa is also actively involved in knowledge creation for the education sector, not just in Africa but for countries that share similar development profile. For more information about its activities please follow this link: IIEP-UNESCO Africa.
IIEP-UNESCO Africa is implementing a โฌ3 million program funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), entitled โPlanning for Inclusive Education - Regional Program in West Africaโ. The program has the following development objective: โEducation systems in West Africa are inclusive, ensuring that girls, boys, young women and young men with disabilities have access and learning opportunities equal to those of all other children and young people.โ
It will be implemented over three (3) years in eight (8) West African countries (Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone) and is made up of four components:
- Component 1: Hybrid training program
- Component 2: Knowledge sharing
- Component 3: Evidence generation
- Component 4: Technical support to countries
The program will focus further on three countries to further develop program components 3 and 4. one country from each of the three (3) language groups.
Long Description
Under the overall authority of the IIEP Director and of the Head of IIEP Africa, and the direct supervision of IIEP Africa Senior Education Policy Analyst, the successful candidate will oversee regional activities aimed at strengthening national capacities for disability-inclusive education within the framework of the program โPlanning for Inclusive Education: Regional Program in West Africaโ. Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for ensuring effective leadership, coordination, and management of the programโs work, including the supervision of, and provision of strategic guidance to team members and consultants involved in its implementation. He/she will also actively contribute to the delivery of these activities in the selected countries, team members assigned to the same contexts.
The incumbent will work in collaboration with other members of IIEP-UNESCO.
The incumbent workโs outputs will be subject to internal validation procedures, under the responsibility of the Head of IIEP Africa Office and of IIEP Africa Senior Education Policy Analyst.
Long Description
The incumbent will be expected to lead regional activities to strengthen national capacities in disability-inclusive educational planning in selected African countries. More specifically, the incumbent will be assigned the following tasks:
1. Ensure effective leadership, coordination, and management of the programโs work:
a. Coordinate the work in close collaboration with the IIEP-UNESCO team and ensure timely and appropriate involvement of relevant IIEP-UNESCO specialists, partners, and consultants.
b. Lead, supervise and provide strategic guidance to team members and consultants involved in the programโs implementation.
c. Coordinate and liaise with all stakeholders (educational planners, technical and vocational trainers, members of civil society and disabled people's organizations) in the selected countries.
d. Identify the specific technical assistance required to implement the program's four components in close collaboration with stakeholders and prepare annual programming.
e. Liaise regularly on overall direction and implementation with the program steering committee.
f. Ensure that activities are carried out as planned and in accordance with the annual budget and approval procedures.
g. Work closely with the technical teams and the program's MEL manager to monitor implementation.
h. Liaise regularly with AICS on the status of implementation.
i. Manage and monitor financial resources allocated to country-specific activities and liaise with IIEP's administrative and financial department and with partners' financial and administrative departments to ensure the disbursement of funds to implementing organizations.
j. Maintain records, with the help of the administration, on the technical and financial aspects of the program, including monitoring of program activities and results, as well as minutes, decisions and recommendations of meetings and workshops.
k. Coordinate the preparation and finalization of technical and financial reports for the AICS liaising with all key stakeholders and consolidating their input.
2. Lead and/or contribute significantly to the design, development, implementation, and M&E of the four components of the program:
a. Lead and/or contribute significantly to the strengthening of disability-inclusive educational analysis and planning skills among educational planners, technical and vocational trainers, members of civil society and disabled people's organizations in the eight West African countries covered by the program:
- Contribute to the identification of the training needs of national officials.
- Contribute to the design, development and/or adaptation and customization of training and other capacity building initiatives, in collaboration with partners.
- Contribute to the delivery of said training and other capacity building initiatives to the beneficiaries, in collaboration with partners.
b. Lead and/or contribute significantly to the development of a dynamic community of practice and support the networking of African stakeholders engaged in disability-inclusive educational planning:
- Lead the design, development, and deployment of a CoP on disability-inclusive educational planning.
- Contribute to the curation, production, capitalization and sharing of knowledge on disability-inclusive educational planning between different national contexts, including producing knowledge and analysis on the state of disability-inclusive educational planning in Africa and globally and developing high-level country notes, thematic notes, and methodological notes and guidelines.
- Supervises the organization and implementation of a high-level policy forum on disability-inclusive education.
c. Lead and/or contribute significantly to the work of making more widely available reliable data on girls, boys, young women, and young men with disabilities for educational planning and technical and vocational training:
- Lead the development, adaptation, and institutionalization, in a participatory manner, of data collection tools in line with the recommendations of the Washington Group.
- Lead the development of case studies on the inclusion of young people with disabilities in technical and vocational education and training.
d. Support selected African countries in the design and development of a range of national analyses, plans, and strategies to promote inclusive education systems:
- Engage in exchanges and policy dialogue with all stakeholders in selected countries.
- Lead the development, in a participatory way, possibly as part of education. sector analyses, education analyses for the inclusion of people with disabilities.
- Lead the development, in a participatory way, possibly as part of the development of education sector plans, plans and strategies for inclusive education.
3. Contribute to capacity building of IIEP-UNESCO Dakar:
a. Contribute to forums for internal sharing of practices across projects.
b. Contribute to the reinforcement of capacities of IIEP-UNESCO Dakarโs TC staff.
4. Implement additional activities that may be required to ensure the success of the team.
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Communication (C)Accountability (C)Innovation (C)Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)Planning and organizing (C)Results focus (C)Teamwork (C)Professionalism (C)
- For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
โข Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in the field of education sciences (such as development, economics of education, adult education, etc.). Any other relevant university degree combined with six (6) years of qualifying experience may also be considered.
Work Experience
โข Minimum of four (4) years of relevant professional experience in the field of disability-inclusive education, of which preferably two (2) years acquired at international level, preferably in Africa.
โข Professional experience with African countriesโ education ministries and development partners.
Skills and competencies
โข Demonstrable knowledge of African education systems.
โข Demonstrated understanding of current developments in global education and effective strategies for improving disability-inclusive education planning and management.
โข Ability to design, manage, and implement development programs/projects with a high degree of autonomy.
โข Strong ability to build and maintain effective partnerships within and outside the organization.
โข Ability to provide strategic guidance, lead, work with and motivate diverse, multicultural teams.
โข Excellent organizational skills.
โข Ability to work under pressure, to pay close attention to detail and work quality and meet deadlines.
โข Excellent multicultural and interpersonal skills, with experience networking with partners at all levels (ministries, donors, private sector, NGOs, local community organizations, etc.).
โข Excellent computer skills, including proficiency in MS Office software (Word, Excel, etc.).
โข Ability to undertake regular missions, especially in diverse and challenging contexts.
Languages
โข Excellent knowledge (oral and written) of either French or English and good knowledge of the other.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Work Experience
โข Experience in supporting countries to improve their education planning and management practices, particularly disability-inclusive education planning and management practices, preferably in Africa.
โข Experience in designing, developing, and/or delivering adult training โ whether online, hybrid, or in-person.
โข Experience in international consultancy.
Language
โข Good/fair knowledge of Portuguese, given IIEP activities in Portuguese speaking African countries.
Skills and competencies
โข Knowledge and understanding of UNESCO operating context in the African Region.
Long Description
BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS
UNESCOโs salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc.
The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 100 332 US $.
For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.
SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as an interview.
UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.