If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Position

On behalf of UNICEF, the Country Lead Agency for the Education Cluster , and in support of the Government, the purpose of this post is to provide leadership and facilitate the processes that will ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate, coherent, and effective response by participants in the Education Sector.

Key Expected Results

The post holder has joint responsibility with the Cluster Lead Agency, resourcing partners and all cluster participants at the national and sub-national level for the efficient management and functioning of the Education Cluster encompassing the following:

• Establish and maintain an appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanism
• Strengthen pre-existing sectoral coordination through increased predictability and accountability
• Build complementarity of partner actions: avoiding duplication and gaps
• Ensure adequate resources are mobilized and are equitably allocated for the effective functioning of the cluster and its response
• Effective and comprehensive integration of relevant cross-cutting issues, including age, gender, environment and HIV/AIDS
• Maintain flexibility within the cluster to respond to changes in the operating environment, evolving requirements, capacities and participation
• Effectively use and transfer information to, from and between cluster participants and other stakeholders
• Interact with other clusters (including through inter-cluster coordination fora), humanitarian actors, government counterparts, and relevant authorities for operational planning, engagement and active contribution of operational partners
• Be accountable to the affected population through effective and inclusive consultative and feedback mechanisms.
• Monitor performance of the core cluster functions

Where there is both a national and a sub-national cluster, the post holder will ensure that there is effective communication, reporting, engagement and coordination between the two levels 

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks

To support service delivery by

1.1.   Providing a platform that ensures service delivery is driven by the Strategic Response Plan and strategic priorities

1.2.   Developing mechanisms to eliminate duplication of service delivery

1. To inform the HC/HCT’s strategic decision-making by

2.1.   Preparing needs assessment and analysis of gaps (across and within sectors, using information management tools as needed)

2.2.   Identifying and finding solutions for (emerging) gaps, obstacles, duplication and cross-cutting issues.

2.3.   Formulating priorities on the basis of analysis

1. To plan and develop strategy by

3.1.   Developing sectoral plans, objectives and indicators that directly support realization of the response’s strategic priorities

3.2.   Applying and adhering to common standards and guidelines

3.3.   Clarifying funding requirements, helping to set priorities, and agreeing cluster contributions to the HC’s overall humanitarian funding proposals

1. To monitor and evaluate performance by

4.1.   Monitoring and reporting on activities and needs

4.2.   Measuring performance against the cluster strategy and agreed results

4.3.   Recommending corrective action where necessary

1. To build national capacity in preparedness and contingency planning
2. Advocacy

6.1.   Identifying concerns that contribute to HC and HCT messaging and action

6.2.   Undertaking advocacy on behalf of the cluster, cluster members, and affected people

1. Accountability to affected populations

The global cluster will provide operational support to the country cluster, see Reference 1

Performance of the cluster will be measured using the Coordination Performance Report

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• University degree, preferably at an advanced level, in a subject area relevant to the cluster
• Extensive work experience relevant to this post may be considered as a replacement for formal qualifications.
• Formal training in cluster coordination an advantage
• Three to five years progressively responsible humanitarian work experience with UN and/or NGO, including programme management and/or coordination in the first phase of a major emergency response relevant to the cluster
• Extensive work experience outside the humanitarian sector which is relevant to this post may be considered as a replacement for humanitarian experience
• Fluent French and working knowledge of English

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication
• Working with People
• Drive for Results

Functional Competencies

• Leading and Supervising [II]
• Analyzing [II]
• Deciding and Initiating Action [III]
• Persuading and Influencing [III]
• Applying Technical Expertise [III]
• Planning and Organizing [II]
• Adapting and Responding Change [III]
• Coping with Pressure and Setbacks [III]

Technical Knowledge

To view our competency framework, please click here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.