Country: India
Closing date: 28 Mar 2018
UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world. And we never give up!
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For Every Child, AN ADVOCATE:
In an effort to measurably improve UNICEF's ability to deliver better results for children, there is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
Organizational Context and Purpose for the job:
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
UNICEF recently developed a new Strategic Plan 2018-21 in which one of the pillars is focusing on Education Every Child Learns to operationalize UNICEF’s equity focus and so ensure that the most disadvantaged communities have access to education from preschool to secondary and all children learn. The inclusive education policy approach promotes addressing the multiple deprivations common to children in resource constrained settings. Its main priorities include national and state education policies, strategies, plans and budgets; building sub-national capacity for implementation of education policies, from preschool to secondary levels and strengthening the community-based approaches and systems to include all children in schools and learn, paving the way towards the relevant Sustainable Development Goal 4 targets.
Job organizational context: The incumbent will be part of a small team of experts on child-centered social policy related programming and will work under the guidance and supervision of the Inclusive Chief Social Policy, NO-D, based in Chennai.
This entails supporting the State education policy, strategy development, monitoring, data analysis and planning. The focus will be on introducing results-based management and innovations in the education portfolio, supporting knowledge management and an analytical monitoring and evaluation tool for equitable access to education and learning, especially focusing on transition from elementary to secondary schooling and twenty first century skills for employability. The incumbent will work with a wide range of partners linked to State and District governments, academia, private sector, community led organizations and Civil Society Organizations.
Purpose for the job:
Under the guidance of the Chief Social Policy, NO-D, and in close collaboration with the Education, Social Policy outcome leads (based in Delhi) as well as other relevant senior staff in India Country Office (ICO), the incumbent will provide policy, technical and programme guidance and support for the design, operationalization and monitoring of evidence-based Education strategies that accelerate and sustain education outcomes for children from 4-18 years, and especially focus on transition of children from elementary to secondary schooling and twenty first century skills for employability. This will include developing, piloting and documenting approaches, methods and tools for Early Childhood Education (ECE), preschool, primary and secondary systems capacity development at state level, and raising the profile of inclusive education approaches within ICO. The incumbent will maintain regular interactions with other programmes and technical clusters within Chennai Office and ICO. This includes the Inclusive Social Policy, Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships (CAP), Education, Child Survival, Disaster Risk Reduction, as well as the Deputy Representative and team.
Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:
Management:
Policy and Programme Guidance:
Partnerships and fundraising and resources:
Monitoring and reporting:
Impact of Results:
The incumbent’s work will contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of UNICEF’s role and visibility in Education as a key programme strategy in India. It will influence further strategic outlook and strategy of ICO on Early Childhood Education, Preschool and Primary/Secondary Education policies, as well as policies for children out of school. It will also have positive effects on Early Childhood Development, Communication for Development (C4D), Child Protection and school based interventions linked to other sectors such as health, WASH and nutrition. This will increase UNICEF’s credibility and leverage partnerships to support the Government of India and UNICEF’s agenda for all children to be in school and learn.
Competencies and level of proficiency required:
Core Values:
Core competencies:
Functional Competencies:
Education:
Advanced university degree in Education, Social Sciences, Social Policy or related field.
Experience:
At least 5 (five) years of relevant professional work experience in Education that involves substantive and relevant experience in education policy and system strengthening, preferably with a focus in secondary education.
Language Requirements:
Speaks, reads and write fluently in English. Mastery of another UN language is desired.
To view our competency framework, please click here.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all national, religious, gender and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.
Remarks:
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How to apply:
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 organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=511524