Senior Project Officer (Data and Analysis)
JOB DETAIL
OVERVIEW
Post Number : ED/PA 222
Grade : P-4
Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station: Multiple
Job Family: Education
Type of contract : Project Appointment
Duration of contract : 1 year
Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 18-JUL-2023
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
Duration of contract: 1 year with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
This position will be based in one of the following duty stations: Abuja, Addis Ababa, Dakar, Harare, Nairobi, Paris or Yaounde.
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
The Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM Report) is an editorially independent, authoritative, evidence-based annual report that monitors progress in education in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Report is funded by a group of governments, multilateral agencies and foundations, and published annually by UNESCO since 2002 to serve the international community. It is widely recognized as an indispensable technical and advocacy resource supporting the achievement of SDG 4, which aims to ensure “inclusive and equitable quality education” and promote “lifelong learning for all” by 2030. With its renewed mandate, established in the Incheon Declaration of the World Education Forum in May 2015, the annual GEM Report series identifiy effective education policies and analyses major education themes.
As part of its current 2019-2024 Strategy and building on its status and reputation, the GEM Report is adjusting its existing, and introducing new outputs to improve the monitoring of education commitments and support policy development at regional and national level, particularly in countries at risk of not achieving SDG 4.
Long Description
In this context, in collaboration with the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and the African Union (AU), the GEM Report’s Spotlight report series on universal basic education completion and foundational learning in Africa aims to place easily understood, evidence-based and compelling diagnostics in the hands of education leaders and advocates. These diagnostics are expected to contribute to a better shared understanding of the main challenges in countries’ education systems; bolster coherence of national education and related social policies to improve access, equity, quality and learning in basic education; and facilitate country-, regional- and continental-level dialogue to elevate the political importance of foundational learning in the continent. Engagement with country leaders, civil society and non-government organizations, parliamentarians, teacher unions, and the media is expected to be critical for the effectiveness of the Spotlight report. The Spotlight report series is working directly with countries, five of which are analyzed in greater depth in each cycle. In addition, the Spotlight report series supports the AU cluster-based peer dialogue mechanism on the implementation of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa through the Leveraging Education Analysis for Results Network (LEARN).
Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Education (ADG/ED), the supervision of the Director of Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM), and in coordination with the Senior Project Officer (Spotlight Lead), the incumbent will be responsible for the data and analytic work related to the GEM Report Spotlight Series and support other GEM Report products. In particular, the incumbent’s main activities will include the following:
Long Description
1. Responsible for the technical content development of the annual Spotlight Report series on universal basic education completion and foundational learning in Africa.
- Contribute to the development of the report, including its analytical framework and research guide.
- Assist in developing the outline and propose focus areas of the report.
- Lead the coordination and support of focus country research teams on technical issues.
- Identify research gaps, recommend case studies in additional countries and other research issues, and provide input for the commissioning of background papers and supervise consultants.
- Conduct data analysis using appropriate data sources.
- Support the development and analysis of policy indicators.
- Foster partnerships with multilateral partners (notably UIS, UNICEF and the World Bank), bilateral donors (and their programmes), and academic institutions, notably in Africa to ensure alignment with major initiatives.
- Support the identification of the technical review team members and support technical presentations to the group as well as revisions based on its feedback.
- Draft chapters of the report and support its editing process, ensuring its quality.
- Support events, outreach, and stakeholder engagement with a focus on the use of Spotlight data and evidence to support policy and institutional reforms.
Long Description
2. Contribute to the Leveraging Education Analysis for Results Network (LEARN)
- Participate in technical dialogue aimed at jointly identifying policy-relevant research in support of cluster agendas.
- Contribute to analytical work to support the cluster agendas.
3. Support ongoing core GEM Report output processes
- Provide analytic work for the monitoring part of the GEM Report and its outputs.
- Develop innovative ideas for data analysis for education monitoring and policy analysis.
- Select and document the data, visualize levels and trends, and organize their presentation in innovative and thought-provoking ways.
- Assist in the interpretation and analysis of observed levels and trends in selected individual countries and groups of countries – and draft relevant text.
- Support the extension of existing analyses of education data to additional indicators, dimensions, and country groups for the World Inequality Database on Education (WIDE) and Scoping Progress in Education (SCOPE) websites.
- Present GEM Report outputs and represent the team in public events.
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in education, development studies, economics, sociology, social policy, or other related social science discipline, or applied statistics/data science.
Work Experience
- At least 7 years of professional experience with progressive responsibility as a researcher and/or analyst working with administrative, finance, survey, and/or assessment data relating to education, especially in developing countries.
- Experience working with and reconciling data from multiple sources.
- Experience working on/in countries in Africa.
Skills and Competencies
- Excellent data analysis skills.
- Strong analytical and drafting skills for a variety of audiences.
- Ability to present complex relationships clearly in graphs and figures.
- Ability to think critically and innovatively.
- Ability to supervise external consultants.
- Ability to maintain effective collegial relations in a multi-cultural setting and to work effectively and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Ability to present research findings and complex relationships clearly in graphs, figures and in compelling narratives tailored to a variety of audiences,
- Familiarity with SDG 4/global, regional and national education monitoring frameworks.
- Excellent IT skills to carry out the work.
- Demonstrated capacity to work under tight deadlines.
- Responsiveness and ability to build and maintain good relationships with partners.
Languages
- Excellent knowledge (oral and written) of English.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Work Experience
- Record of publications based on quantitative education data analysis .
Languages
- Working knowledge of French.
- Knowledge of Portuguese and/or Spanish.
BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS
UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc.
The approximate annual starting salary for this post will be determined by the duty station.
For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.
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.
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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.
UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
