Description of assignment title – Education Officer

Assignment country- Uganda

Expected start date- 24/04/2023

Sustainable Development Goal- 4. Quality education

Volunteer category- National UN Volunteer Specialist

DoA reserved for persons with disabilities- No

Host entity- UNICEF

Type- Onsite

Duration- 3 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments-2

Duty stations- Kampala (2)

Details

Mission and objectives

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

Context

Uganda is an East African Country with an estimated 36 million people, over half of whom are under the age of 15. Uganda’s economic growth between 1992 and 2017 has led to a decrease in income poverty from 56 per cent to 21 per cent, although 50 per cent of children under five years still live in poverty. However, severe social and economic deprivation persists, and different bilateral and multi-lateral donors, UN Agencies and NGOs are supporting the government to address these issues. As part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, UNICEF’s Country Programme for 2021-2025 will support the government’s priorities in the Health, Nutrition, Water and Sanitation, HIV/AIDS, Education, Child Protection and Social Protection. With 56 per cent of the population under 18 years, education is an important sector for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and Uganda’s aspiration to be middle income country. Despite the adoption of free Primary Education policy in 1997, over one million primary school aged children are still out of school. Most schools do not meet minimum requirements. Only 32 percent of the children who enroll in primary grade 1 reach primary grade 7. In this context, the UNICEF Education and Adolescent Development programme supports the government in the development of an effective and efficient multi-sectoral support to adolescent development with school as the entry point for it. UNICEF support is focused on developing innovative approaches, collecting evidence from field level implementation, and supporting the government in the formulation of evidence-based policies and programmes. In doing so, UNICEF works with other UN agencies, bilateral and multi-lateral donors, and NGO partners. The UNICEF Adolescent Development initiative consists of a multi-sectoral approach with education, protection, health and water and sanitation as the main component. Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) in Collaboration with UNICEF, DLG and partners in 2021 to 2025 UNICEF Country Program and GoU and UNICEF Rolling workplan have enhanced recovery of the sectors system and learning loss through an education system strengthening (ESS) approach/strategy. This joint effort aims to address bottlenecks to MoES providing a compulsory, quality, equitable and inclusive learning outcome and skills for children and adolescents. MoES with support from UNICEF orientated districts stakeholders on the ESS strategy and will over the next 4 years consolidate the gains in strengthen the education system by strengthening the linkages with lower local governments to strengthen education systems. The key pillars of ESS are to Strengthen; 1. Information management system 2. Coordination mechanisms including cross sectoral 3. program monitoring. Under the direct supervision of the Education Specialist (Quality Education) and with close collaboration of the Quality Education team members of the Zonal offices, the UN National Volunteers will assist in the planning, implementing, monitoring and documentation of the results, lessons learnt and good practices of education system strengthening strategy; RAPID framework; Assistive device technologies in the UNICEF 29 focus districts. The UN National Volunteers will interact with District Education Officers at district level to strengthen education systems. Also, liaise with key government education stakeholders at national level to support programme monitoring.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Quality and Inclusive Education Manager or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Education Officer will: • Training the 29 district education teams and planning units in the analysis and usage of the school level data collected in planning, resource allocation, and generating key strategic interventions with education partners to address gaps at the school level in the district. • Provide technical support to 29 district education teams (435 school inspectors during using 435 tablets) in the data collection process at the school level. • Regular updates of the school database in the Kobo information management tool and the district dashboard. • Documentation of key good practices on information management at the district and school level. To showcase an effective data culture at the district level. • Technical support in the planning, budgeting, and implementation of the RAPID framework. • Monthly reports, human interest stories, and documentation of key good practices and lessons learnt in the roll out of RAPID framework. • Training of teachers in the usage of assistive device technologies with the assistive digital textbooks to facilitate inclusive teaching and learning in the classroom in the pilot 20 inclusive schools across the country. • Technical support in the installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and usage of assistive software on computers and other devices within the 20 inclusive schools. Documentation of lessons learnt and good practices in the usage of assistive device technologies to improve inclusive learning in the classroom. • Technical support to the 29 central districts to strengthen their education systems through coordination of education stakeholders and joint program monitoring. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Results/expected outputs: As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • An effective data culture at district and school level in the 29 districts. Collection, analysis, and usage of data in planning, resource mobilization, and allocation. • Implementation of the RAPID framework to combat learning losses in the selected districts. • Regular use of ADT technologies for learning in class by both teachers and students. • Timely technical support to budgeting, planning, implementation of education systems strengthening in the 5 central focus districts. • Documentation on key good practices, lessons learnt on the effective data culture at district and school level, RAPID framework, and Assistive device technologies in the 20 inclusive schools. • Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

Eligibility criteria

Age

27 – 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in Digital learning, Data management, or Education systems strengthening, or other relevant programmes at the national and/or international level • Experience with Education is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • Have affinity with or interest in Quality and Inclusive Education, Early childhood Development, Adolescent Development and Participation, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Area(s) of expertise

Education, Information technology

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Education or related field in Information Communication Technology.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF’s technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF’s procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented. • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living conditions and remarks

Kampala City is Uganda’s national and commercial capital bordering Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake. The city has adequate medical and banking facilities, and communication infrastructure. Road transport is mainly used. Availability of electricity/water via the national grid. A variety of foods available. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Reasonable accommodation

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.

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