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Candidates who meet the required qualifications are invited to send their application (update CV and technical and financial offer ALSO by 20 August 2024 by submitting their application to: [email protected])

Overview of the functions of the post

The mandate of the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (UNESCO-IIEP) is to strengthen the capacity of UNESCO Member States to plan and manage their education systems. Collaboration with member states includes technical cooperation, training, applied research and development, in partnership with national, regional and international organizations.

In line with its strategy and commitment to promote equity and gender equality in education, the IIEP-UNESCO Africa Office in Dakar provides technical leadership for the Gender at the Centre (GCI) initiative, supporting ministries of education in mainstreaming gender equality in their education systems.

Launched in 2019 at the G7 Summit, the Gender at the Centre initiative recognizes the urgency of ensuring equal access to quality education and overcoming the barriers to education that girls and young women continue to face. The Gender at the Center Initiative aims to support and strengthen education administrative structures and the skills of education professionals in order to advance gender equality within the education systems of Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Mozambique.

Coordinated by the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) and IIEP-UNESCO, GCI also brings together partners such as UNICEF and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), as well as a consortium of non-governmental organizations.

After four years of project implementation, the GCI initiative has entered into a second phase, with greater and more comprehensive involvement in a number of countries, including Chad and Côte d’Ivoire. These two countries have also been designated by GPE as recipient countries for a new Technical Assistance Initiative on gender equality, which started on July 15th, 2024.

Description of activities

IIEP-UNESCO Dakar wishes to recruit a consultant to support the implementation of the GCI work plan for 2024, including through the GPE Technical Assistance Initiative on gender equality. The consultant will be expected to engage in the following workstreams:

• Support for the launch of the Technical Assistance Initiative on Gender Equality – Chad and Côte d’Ivoire have been designated as pilot countries for GPE’s gender Technical Assistance Initiative. The consultant will provide analytical and operational assistance to support IIEP-UNESCO and UNGEI engagement with Ministries of Education and Development Partners in Chad and Côte d’Ivoire as the work plan is being finalized and new activities are being launched.
• Support gender mainstreaming at IIEP-UNESCO – whether in training, research, or technical cooperation programs, IIEP-UNESCO seeks to strengthen the focus on gender equity and equality in its operations, with quantified targets for gender mainstreaming in projects by 2025. In particular, the consultant will support mainstreaming gender equality and equity in training activities in line with the IIEP Global Training Strategy.
  Support for the preparation and implementation of activities in Chad and Côte d’Ivoire. The consultant will provide operational support (organization of workshops and country missions, drafting concept notes, terms of reference, and budget) as well as analytical support (collect, organize and analyze quantitative and qualitative data, draft technical assistance materials as needed, draft knowledge and communication pieces, translation, proof-reading, etc.).
• Support GCI activities on research, training, and technical cooperation in other African countries. The consultant will provide operational and analytical assistance to support the delivery of GCI activities. This includes, but not limited to drafting analytical sections of Education Sector Analyses or reviewing ESA drafts, drafting TOR and concept notes for new and ongoing initiatives, designing new training materials or reviewing existing ones, supporting fundraising, reporting, and communication efforts, drafting briefing notes for senior leadership, drafting meeting minutes with external partners and ministries of Education.
• Payment is conditional on the completion of the tasks and the satisfactory submission of the deliverables within the deadlines defined above, unless otherwise agreed with the project leader.

Qualifications

The candidate for this consultancy must meet the following requirements:

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of international development, education, political science, public policy, economics, statistics or social sciences.

Professional work experience

• Minimum of three years’ experience in the field of education and/or gender equality.
• Experience with an international organization working on education and/or ministries of education in sub-Saharan African countries.
• Experience in the design and delivery of training, technical assistance and/or research programs.

Skills and competencies

• Knowledge of education systems, more specifically in the context of low- and/or fragile-income countries.
• Understanding of key levers and challenges for promoting gender equality in and through education.
• Strong ability to undertake analytical and synthetic writing.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams. Ability to communicate confidently and explain complex issues to government authorities.
• Ability to develop visually compelling PowerPoint presentations that effectively convey complex information and key messages.
• Strong attention to details in analytical and logistical/operational assignments.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in both English and French.

Language Requirements

Excellent knowledge of French and good knowledge of English.

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

Supervisory arrangements

Under the global authority of the GCI Program Manager, and the direct supervision of the Gender-Sensitive Education Analyst and Planner, the consultant will support GCI country operations and contribute to mainstreaming gender and equity within IIEP-UNESCO.

Duration of contract

The consultancy will be for an 11-month period and is scheduled to start on 2 September 2024 and end on 1 August 2025. A full-time engagement is expected during that period.

Additional information and support

The position is home-based with frequent travels to UNESCO member countries in Africa.
Travel expenses will be covered by IIEP according to UNESCO travel rules.
All travel will have to be organized by the consultant himself/herself, including visas required.
Obtaining a security clearance is mandatory before undertaking any country mission. Strict compliance with safety protocols and instructions provided by UNDSS before and during missions is required.
In order to carry out this work, the IIEP-UNESCO Dakar will provide the consultant with all the administrative and analytical documentation available in relation to the work.

IIEP-UNESCO Dakar will, if necessary, facilitate contacts with institutions and individuals who the consultant wishes to meet in the context of this consultancy, as well as providing logistical support.

The GCI team will provide guidance and technical support throughout the period of the assignment.

Application process

Candidates who meet the required qualifications are invited ALSO to send their application (update CV and technical and financial offer by 20 August 2024 by submitting their application to: [email protected].

Please ensure the email subject is titled as follows: [your last name] – Junior Education & Gender Consultant – August 2024.

All applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis (the consultant may be selected before the date indicated above).

Only applications that include the following documents will be considered and only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews

• An updated curriculum vitae (3 pages maximum) : Highlight relevant experiences, including the dates (month and year of beginning and end) and their duration (in months).
• A technical and financial offer (3 pages maximum):

Outline your understanding of the assignments, appreciation of the project, its scope, and the challenges for its implementation, highlighting relevant experience linked to the ToRs.
Present a proposed remuneration for the work (monthly rate/total fees for the 11-month contract only – no other costs will be eligible).

Please ensure that the documents are titled as per the convention below:

[your last name] – CV – Junior Education & Gender Consultant – August 2024
[your last name] – Technical and Financial Offer – Junior Education & Gender Consultant – August 2024

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the terms of reference, and may include written assessments, as well as a competency-based interview.

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.

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 20 AUG 2024.