National Project Officer

OVERVIEW

Post Number : 5EGED 1000PA

Grade : NO-B

Parent Sector : Education

Duty Station: Egypt - Cairo

Classification of duty station : Arab Region

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Project Appointment

Duration of contract : One year

Recruitment open to : Internal and External Candidates - Only Nationals of Egypt can apply for this position

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 12-MAY-2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Duration of contract: 1 year with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is assisting the Ministry of Education and Technical Education of Egypt in the implementation of an initiative on the use of technologies in education to enhance the overall resilience of the education system.

The incumbent will work under the overall authority of the Head of the UNESCO Office in Cairo, the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist for Education, and in close cooperation with the Unit of Technology and Al in Education within the Future of Learning and Innovation Division at UNESCO Headquarters. She/he will coordinate implementation of and reporting on the activities of the UNESCO-Huawei Funds-in-Trust project on 'Technology-enabled Open Schools for All' in Egypt, maintaining regular contact with governmental and non-governmental counterparts (e.g. country project team), other stakeholders, donors and UNESCO HQ.

Long Description

More specifically, the incumbent's tasks will cover:

1. Provision of technical support and fostering of partnerships for project implementation:

• Provide technical advice and guidance for the implementation of the Tecnology-enabled Open Schools for All project activities, including participation in the production of technical deliverables and policy studies, provision of input to various framework documents as required, and support to the implementation of training programmes.
• Maintain regular relations with national counterparts and key stakeholders (Ministries, regional and local authorities, etc.).
• Raise awareness of potential partners and solutions to boost ICT in education initiatives in the country.
• Participate in and facilitate the establishment of strategic long-term engagements (LTAs, PCAs, MoUs) with strategic partners in the country.

Long Description

2. Implementation of the detailed operational plan of the project in compliance with the project strategic objectives, outcomes, outputs and activities as outlined in the results framework:

• Ensure quality achievement of the Technology-enabled Open Schools for All project outputs in line with UNESCO qualitative standards and the projects' results matrix.
• Support the design, as well as the periodic update and revision, of the detailed country project document, work plan and budget.
• Identify project implementation partners and providers of goods and services.
• Assist in the writing of terms of references for external vendors and in the recruitment of consultants, coordinators and interns.
• Monitor implementation of the contracts, assess the quality of services provided and requesting disbursement of funds.
• Plan, coordinate and organize network meetings, workshop and trainings to address specific needs and capacity gaps identified in the project.

Long Description

3. Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of project implementation and the reporting on project activities:

• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation of project activities, report on progress and suggest updates of the project results framework.
• Regularly monitor the financial status of the project and ensure that budget execution rates are in line with agreed plans. Moreover, in case of contracting with partners where funds are to be granted for activities, ensure the Financial Reports along with original and appropriate justifications for funds granted are duly submitted on a timely basis to financially close related activities.
• Organize regular meetings of the project steering team, prepare minutes of meetings and action plans with clear responsibility and timeframe.
• Conduct periodic project reviews with government counterparts and other partners recording the results of the review meetings in minutes and action plans.
• Prepare reports on project activities for UNESCO, the donor and partners.
• Provide content on major project achievements and steps in project implementation for UNESCO's public information services to increase the visibility of UNESCO.
• Foster exchanges of information, experiences, identifying new strategies of action to improve delivery of services and to achieve the project requirements and objectives.

Short Description

4. Ensure communication and visibility by:

• Implement the project communication and visibility plan.
• Prepare technical briefs and status updates on the project for wider dissemination, including inputs for the periodic project newsletter.
• Organize communication events (seminars and workshops) and liaising with local and international media.
• Act as liaison between the HQ coordination team of the Technology-enabled Open Schools for All project and the national 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) Skills/Competencies
For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) in Education, ICTs in Education, Science (STEM), Instructional design, Business, or Education Technology Management, or related areas. A combination of an advanced degree and practical experience in international development work and use of technology for education work may be substituted for the particular fields mentioned. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• At least two years of work experience in the field of education, preferably related to ICTs.

Skills/Competencies

• Experience in supporting and coordinating project activities, preferably in large international organizations and with other international partner organizations.
• Strong skills in technical project management, event planning and presentation skills.
• Good written and oral communication skills, human relations and team building.
• Ability to interact with people from different disciplines, and with varying degrees of technical experience.
• Ability to manage budgets and report on implementation.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English and very good knowledge of Arabic.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience

• Experience in the implementation of large-scale projects with technical components is desirable.
• Work experience in Education, particularly in Egypt and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

Skills/Competencies

• Understanding of national and international development issues.
• Expert knowledge or significant interest in one or more of these areas: (i) The use of technology in developing contexts particularly in Egypt; (ii) teacher training, particularly on the pedagogical use of ICT; (iii) m-learning and e-learning; (iv) ICT policy analysis and formulation; (v) educational audio-visual and multimedia materials in the classroom; and (vi) research-based education platforms in distance and assisted learning platforms to education.
• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (French, Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish).

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

UNESCO's 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 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 a competency-based 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.

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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

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