Senior Education Programme Specialist

OVERVIEW
**Post Number**: IEP/PA 162
**Grade**: P-4
**Parent Sector**: Education Sector (ED)
**Duty Station**: Paris
**Job Family**: Education
**Type of contract**: Project Appointment
**Duration of contract**: 1 year
**Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time)**: 05-JUN-2025
**UNESCO Core Values**: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
As the only specialized organization with the mandate to support educational policy, planning and management, the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) plays a unique role within the United Nations system. IIEP was established in 1963 as an integral part of UNESCO. It supports ministries of education and their partners around the world to plan and manage education systems through four types of capacity development programs: training, technical assistance, research and development, and knowledge sharing. The Institute launched its current Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) (2022-2025) in November 2021, and is, at present, developing a new MTS. IIEP has offices in Paris, Dakar, and Buenos Aires. IIEP draws on voluntary contributions from core donors and project funding to achieve its goals and objectives.
Long Description
**1. Education Sector Planning**: Expertise in supporting evidence-based, multi-stakeholder decision-making processes in ministries of education, using a variety of analysis and planning tools and approaches (including climate risk analyses for the education sector, education sector analyses, education sector plan development processes, as well as operational planning and MEL framework development).
2. Capacity Development for Education Planning and Management : Expertise in design and management of integrated programs (combining knowledge management, training, and technical support) to enhance the management and planning capacities of ministries of education at the national and subnational levels.
3. Crisis sensitive planning and risk management in the education sector. Expertise in crisis sensitive planning including for climate change adaptation, and experience and knowledge of planning mechanisms for risk management in the education sector.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The incumbent will lead a portfolio of technical cooperation, training and knowledge generation activities within the framework of the Climate-smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI). In particular, the incumbent will:
Oversee the implementation and monitoring of the CSESI project in the four federated provinces of Pakistan that aim to strengthen government capacity to integrate climate change and environmental sustainability in their education sector planning processes.
Lead project teams for up to two additional CSESI countries to deliver on expected results for IIEP’s components in each country and ensure appropriate planning, management, and accountability for their delivery.
Contribute to the development of global public goods in the area of planning for climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability, including through drafting technical documents and policy briefs.
Contribute to thought leadership and quality assurance for quantitative analyses and activities within the CSESI, in collaboration with the CSESI Programme manager, ensuring that programs and projects benefit from sound methodological approaches and technical advances in sector planning and management.
Support regular consultation across IIEP’s Offices and with IIEP partners (Member States, Donors, external institutes, etc.) about IIEP’s country-specific technical cooperation activities.
Work with the Director and the Senior Management Team to ensure alignment of IIEP’s research, training, and capacity development activities, and maintain a strong corporate focus on programme effectiveness, resource mobilization and strategic impact.
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) Making quality decisions (M) Building partnerships (M) Driving and managing change (M) Leading and empowering others (M) Managing performance (M) Strategic thinking (M) - For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in the field of statistics, educational planning and management, international development, social sciences, or economics, with a strong foundation in quantitative data analysis.
Work Experience
Minimum seven (7) years of relevant experience in technical cooperation, in the analysis, diagnosis, planning and/or evaluation of education, including in South and South East Asia and Latin American contexts.
Experience in crisis-sensitive educational planning and capacity development for evidence based, multi-stakeholder decision-making processes in