Education Officer

Education Officer, NO1, Havana, Cuba, Position 126137, Temporary Appointment

Job no: 565740
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Duty Station: Havana
Level: NO-1
Location: Cuba
Categories: Adolescent Development, Education, Early Childhood Development, Innovation, Social and Behavior Change
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.

For every child, education

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Cuba Country Programme context

UNICEF signed with the Government of the Republic of Cuba, the Country Cooperation Program for the cycle from January 2020 to December 2024. The program is aligned with three of the four results of the United Nations Cooperation Framework for the Sustainable Development 2020-2024 and with the goals and objectives of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.

The Program is focused on three priority areas, identified in consultation with national entities and aligned with three of the five result areas of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2022-2025. This position is inserted within the Education area focused on supporting quality education for early childhood, for children with disabilities in regular education, adolescents in trade schools, and children and adolescents in provincial schools exposed to multiple risks.

Different strategies have been drawn up, highlighting capacity building, knowledge management, social and behavioral change, the generation of evidence, and innovation, among others. These strategies work intertwined with the main programmatic approaches of the area that seek to contribute to a positive social transformation based on quality education in Cuba, especially for those children and adolescents in the most vulnerable situation.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose for the job:

The Education Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the education programmes/projects including Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Vocational Education through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing and presenting technical programme information while learning organizational rules, regulations and procedures to support the development and formulation of the Education Programme within the Country Programme.

Organizational design: The Education Officer reports to the Programme Officer “Every child learns” for close guidance and supervision.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities of Education Officer for the implementation of the current education program that includes ECE actions, parenting and other actions related to skills for future labor insertion of adolescents:

• • Support to programme development and planning.
  • Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
  • Technical and operational support to programme implementation
  • Networking and partnership building
  • Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
  • Support to programme development and planning
• Research and analyze regional and national political, health, social and economic development trends. Collect, analyze, verify, and synthesize information to facilitate programme development, design and preparation, focusing on ECE and Vocational Education.
• Support preparation of technical reports and provide inputs for programme preparation and documentation ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevancy of information.
• Contribute to the development/establishment of sectoral programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning through research, collection, analysis and reporting of education and other related information for development planning and priority and goal setting, as part of the design of the new country program.
• Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing and administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials and documentation, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluation of results.
• Prepare required documentation and materials to facilitate the programme review and approval process.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.

• Work closely and collaboratively with internal colleagues and partners to collect, analyze and share information on implementation issues.
• Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned on issues related to ECE, inclusive education, vocational education and DRR.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts, and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow-up action by higher management and other stakeholders that includes ECE actions, parenting and other actions related to skills for future labour insertion of adolescents.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare draft inputs for programme/donor reporting.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Undertake field visits and surveys and share information with stakeholders to assess progress and refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results, on issues related to ECE, inclusive education, vocational education and DRR.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders, especially the Ministry of Education, and other institutions related to ECE and Vocational Education, through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build the capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on education programmes.
• Draft communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and alliances, and support fundraising on issues related to ECE, inclusive education, vocational education and DRR.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) meetings and events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of education programmes/projects and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UNDAF development and planning process.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fundraising and partnership development purposes on issues related to ECE, inclusive education, vocational education and DRR.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Provide support in identifying, capturing, synthesizing, and sharing lessons learned for knowledge development and capacity development of stakeholders, on issues related to ECE, inclusive education, vocational education and DRR.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Research, benchmark and report on best and cutting-edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders.

Impact of results

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Education Officer to programme preparation, planning and implementation, contributes to the achievement of sustainable results to improve learning outcomes and universal access to quality, equitable and inclusive education. Success in education programmes and projects in turn contribute to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide programme services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equality in the country.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education: A university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, psychology, sociology, or another relevant technical field.
Work experience: A minimum of one year of professional experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education is required. Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
Languages: Fluency in Spanish and English is required.
For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.
UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

Remarks:

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is:a role with direct contact with children, works directly with children, is a safeguarding response role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) applies.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable male candidates and persons living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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

Advertised: 08 Sep 2023 Eastern Daylight Time
Deadline: 22 Sep 2023 Eastern Daylight Time