The United Nations Children’s Fund in Mali wishes to recruit for the following positions: 
Title: Education Specialist
Level:  NO-3
Type of Appointment:   Fixed Term
Duration:  01 year
Duty Station :  Kayes, Mali
Date of issue  : 01 September 2015
Date of closure:  08 September 2015
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
Accountable for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of Education programme(s) to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness of the programme management, delivery and accomplishment of programme goals and objectives. Across the Education programme(s), accountable for identifying gender inequalities in education, and for developing innovative approaches and programmes to eliminating these inequalities. Collaborates across the programme(s) to ensure gender mainstreaming. Ensures that monitoring mechanisms are in place to track progress towards disparity reduction goals and targets in Education.
Promotes intersectoral partnerships in order to ensure that progress benefits mutually education and other programmes, in particular Health, Nutrition, Water and Environmental Sanitation.
Contributes to synergize the work of United Nations agencies in  Education for all Goals including in humanitarian actions, working closely with the Education cluster within the inter-agency standing committee (IASC).
ACCOUNTABILITIES AND DUTIES & TASKS
Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primarity, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.
Programme Planning, Development and Management
Enhance effective programme, sectoral or inter-sectoral planning, development and management by guiding, coordinating and supporting the timely completion of the Situational Analysis 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.
Knowledge Management
Further promote knowledge management by drafting or finalizing sectoral documents and reports such as the Country Programme Recommendation and Plans of Action as well as through orientation and training programmes targeted to Government authorities. Ensure exchange of knowledge, information, experience or lessons learned; provides solid technical recommendations on major programme directions and on introduction of new initiatives in the country.
Strengthen partnership with the stakeholders, including knowledge institutions strengthened to further understanding of barriers to and opportunities for advancing the 3 priorities themes (the “3Es”) and build capacity of Government, counterparts and all other education actors (parents, communities, teachers, education administrators and planners…).
Rights-Based Projects through Results-Based Approach
Promote the quality of rights-based Education programming through participation in the formulation of programme goals, and approaches. Bring synergy and added value to sectoral or programme management processes using a results-based management approach to planning and design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Exploit efficiently the four core partnerships as well as selective partnerships on specific issues and themes or regional concern, such as education and HIV, abolition of school fees… in order to formulate common advocacy position, develop policy guidance and influence allocation of resources on behalf of education.
Sectoral Work Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring
Takes shared responsibility for the development of the sectoral work plan which reflects UNICEF contribution as part of the coordinated support of external partners to national efforts to achieve the MDGs 2 and 3; and technical decisions as well as for project management, implementation and monitoring of assigned project/sectoral activity, in compliance with the defined project strategies and approaches, emphasizing the principles of gender equality and strategies for gender mainstreaming.
Programme Delivery, Evaluation and Reporting
Ensure 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 with involvement of all stakeholders. Ensure the preparation of annual Education sector status reports with contribution of all major partners.
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.
Strengthen partnership with the stakeholders, including knowledge institutions strengthened to further understanding of barriers to and opportunities for advancing the 3 priorities themes (the “3Es”) and build capacity of Government, counterparts and all other education actors (parents, communities, teachers, education administrators and planners…).
UNICEF and Government Accountability
Coordinates with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and Government and all other implementing partners accountability: and to orientate and train Government and UNICEF implementing partners in UNICEF supply and non-supply policies and procedures. Certifies disbursements of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines.
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 Education programme requirements and objectives. Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and collect information. Conduct periodic programme reviews with Government counterparts and other partners.
Collaborate with Communication and Programme Communication groups to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts, focussing on UNICEF Comparative advantage – the 3 priorities themes (the “3Es”) and the 2 cross-cutting areas – which also reflect expectation that donors and partners have on UNICEF ability to help countries to achieve the MDGs.
Support coordination with Regional Advisers and HQ Officers. Collaborate with other Programme colleagues to ensure the integration of the project/sectoral programme with other sectors.
Collaborate with the Operations and Supply Sections and Government authorities to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of the Education projects planning and implementation, to coordinate financial and supply management requirements as well as to ensure accountability.
Interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of Education programme/project implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations. Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures to achieve Education programme goals.
QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
Education:
An Advanced University degree in one or more of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Education, Primary Education, or a Social Sciences fields relevant to international development assistance.
Work Experience :
Five years of progressively professional work experience at national and international levels in field programmes relevant to Education Programmes. Experience in national level development assistance is an asset. Experience with addressing gender disparities is an asset. Background/familiarity with Emergency.
Language requirements
Fluency in French and good knowledge in English are required. Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station is an asset.
APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
The application letter, together with a detailed CV, a completed UN Personal History Form P-11 (available on Unicef’s website: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc) should be sent by mail to Mali_Recruitment@unicef.org
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
UNICEF is a non-smoking environment.
Applications from qualified female candidates are encouraged.
Staff members and candidates with disabilities are considered on an equal basis with other staff members and candidates in the provision of access to equal employment opportunities, equal remuneration for work of equal value, and a safe and healthy working environment that is free from harassment and offers redress for grievances.