Description
Are you a very passionate advocate for education? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children? The Global Partnership for Education Secretariat (GPE) would like to hear from you.
Who We Are
GPE is a shared commitment to end the world’s learning crisis. It is the only global partnership and fund dedicated entirely to helping children in lower-income countries get a quality education, so they can unlock their potential and contribute to building a better world. We bring together governments, teachers, civil society, donors, United Nations agencies, development banks, businesses and private foundations to transform education systems so that every girl and boy can have hope, opportunity and agency.
What We Do
GPE helps low- and lower-middle-income countries to build stronger education systems so that all children can get the education they need to thrive. We currently support nearly 90 countries where the needs are greatest and focus on reaching the children who are the most vulnerable, including girls, children with disabilities and those affected by extreme poverty or conflict. Our unique approach works. Since 2002, 160 million more children in GPE partner countries have set foot in classrooms for the first time, more than half of them girls. GPE is also the largest provider of education grants in the global COVID-19 response, providing partner countries with vital resources to ensure that learning can safely continue.
How We Work
Now, GPE is working to help governments transform their education systems to get the most vulnerable children in school, improve teaching and learning, and build equitable, inclusive and resilient education systems fit for the 21st century. Between 2020-2025, GPE will support transformative change in up to 90 countries and territories, which are home to 1 billion children. Transforming education is about creating lasting changes and achieving impact at scale. GPE sets out to deliver this transformative change by convening partners, mobilizing funds and catalyzing reforms to help partner countries accelerate access, learning outcomes and gender equality.
Raise Your Hand
In July 2021, the Global Education Summit put GPE firmly on the path to be fully-funded by 2025, by raising a record US $4 billion from donors for GPE’s Raise Your Hand campaign. At the Summit, Heads of State and Government from partner countries made historic commitments to education financing and
GPE also mobilized an unprecedented number of pledges from businesses, private foundations and development banks.
A fully funded GPE would support transformed education systems in up to 90 countries and territories, enable up to 175 million children to learn and help get 88 million more girls and boys in school by 2025. In the longer term, this investment could add $164 billion to economies in GPE partner countries, lift 18 million people out of poverty, and protect 2 million girls from early marriage.
Governance And Organizational Arrangements
The GPE Board of Directors includes ministerial-level board members and alternates representing 20 constituencies that reflect the Partnership’s breadth.
The Board Chair is HE President Jakaya Kikwete and the Board Vice Chair is Dr Susan Liautaud. The Board of Directors, with its three standing committees, provides policy and strategic oversight and approves or delegates funding decisions.
The GPE Secretariat, with 160 employees and hosted by the World Bank, is responsible for translating the policies and strategies set by the Board into practical support for partner countries, coordinating with diverse stakeholders and galvanizing global support for SDG4. The Secretariat’s headquarters are in the World Bank’s offices in Washington, D.C. and the European office is in Paris with a satellite office in Brussels.
ABOUT THE TEAM
CEP acts as GPE Secretariat’s primary relationship coordinator with country partners. We support national evidence-informed policy dialogue at country level, including on the development and implementation of inclusive Education Sector Plans, Partnership Compacts, Joint Sector Reviews, etc. to accelerate transformative progress in policy priorities. The CEP Team comprises three Regional Country Support teams, the Education, Policy and Learning team and the Strategy and Coordination team.
Education Policy and Learning (EPL) is a sub team of CEP. Working at the nexus of global and country levels to advance progress in thematic areas central to GPE 2020, EPL’s primary objective is to consolidate evidence on the challenges and what works in GPE’s priority areas, including identifying cross-country needs, mobilizing, curating and disseminating knowledge across the partnership, and collaborating with partners in technical initiatives.
ABOUT THE JOB
This position will be based in the GPE office located in Paris, France.
Description
The successful candidate will be a member of GPE’s Education Policy and Learning (EPL) team, working in close cooperation with other teams of the Secretariat. She/he will provide thematic knowledge in support of GPE partners and education sector reforms. She/he will report to the EPL team lead and work closely with the Thematic Lead for Teaching & Learning.
Duties and Accountabilities
• Provide informed advice to the Secretariat and the Partnership for the purpose of accelerating access, learning outcomes, and gender equality through strategic investments in early learning in the implementation of the current GPE strategy and the associated portfolio of activities, including cross-sectoral opportunities and interventions
• Identify global and country opportunities, mobilize GPE partners’ unique capabilities and comparative advantages, as well as GPE’s assets to convene strategic collaborations for advancing the global agenda and country progress in relation to early learning
• Support the profiling of early learning as a priority area
• Broker early learning knowledge across the Partnership, promote the use of evidence for closing the gap between research, policy, and reform implementation at the country level, as well as for informing and influencing the global agenda.
• Provide technical advice, expertise, and capacity development opportunities to Secretariat and GPE governance structures on early learning in GPE grants and country policy processes.
• Represent GPE in global initiatives in relation to early learning and/or provide support to GPE leadership to do so
• Support the design, management, and reporting of complex programs and budgets and be accountable for results delivery in the area of early learning.
• Represent CEP and EPL in certain Secretariat meetings and tasks.
• Undertake periodic mission travel to support country and global level work.
• Contribute to other tasks as needed.
Selection Criteria
Education
Master’s degree in education, economics, development studies, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience
At least five years of meaningful experience in the education sector with at least three years specializing in early learning/early childhood education/foundational learning.
Language
Proficiency in English (speaking, reading, writing) is required for this role. Proficiency in French is desired, but not required.
Competencies
Collaboration & Teamwork – Actively collaborates with others and models and open, helpful disposition. Acts as a teammate, proactively stepping in to support colleagues as needed. Recognizes and values the role of each team in delivering on GPE’s mission. Approaches challenges and obstacles as shared challenges to be overcome. Sincerely contributes to productive group dynamics and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills – Has experience & success working in multicultural environments. Speaks and writes clearly and effectively, adapting language, tone, style and message to diverse, multicultural audiences. Skilled at communicating complex information in succinct and digestible ways. Shares information and keeps people informed; Models transparency, in a way that builds trust in a culturally diverse environment. Maintains productive working relationships with colleagues and models this behavior for junior staff. Engages in active listening and two-way conversation. Asks questions for clarification and responds to others appropriately. Learns from others’ ideas and expertise.
Adaptability – Models flexibility – responds to changing circumstances by innovating and altering behavior to better fit different situations. Learns new skills and performs work in different ways. Remains calm in stressful situations and influences others do so. Professionally deals with personal discomfort in a changing work environment.
Policy Dialogue Skills – Is aware of, and sensitive to, different stakeholder perspectives, interests and needs. Is effective at building trust and support for proposed courses of action or solutions. Possesses political judgment, diplomatic sense, negotiation, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills. Understands the importance of transparency & accountability in implementation of education policies and programs, and the importance of monitoring and tracking results. Has some understanding of country context – organizational or technical capacity of country partners; policy environment, laws and sector issues; key actors relevant to dialogue. Can work effectively within constraints to facilitate system transformation. Understanding of the international development environment including key institutions and partners, global policy issues, interests and agendas.
Education Research and Data Analysis – Strong understanding of qualitative and quantitative research techniques and good practices. Experience conducting research and analysis for difficult subjects, articulating issues and recommending solutions succinctly. Extensive experience analyzing, developing and drafting analyses in key areas of education (such as system strengthening, finance, gender equality, etc.). Some experience applying research and good practices toward resolution of sector & country issues.
BENEFITS FOR THIS POSITION
Term appointments include, but are not limited to, medical benefits, including dental and vision, Staff Retirement Plan, financial assistance program, life & disability insurance, comprehensive leave policy (minimum 26 days/annum) and parental leave policy (50-100 days).
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Poverty has no borders. Neither does excellence. This is why we continually search for qualified individuals with a diverse set of backgrounds from around the globe. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, creed, race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability.
GPE has a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in line with its PSEAH policy.
Individuals with disabilities may be provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions of the role and support in receiving other workplace accommodations. Please contact the DAF-Disability Accommodation Fund at [email protected] for further information and support.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
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