Malawi is known as the Warm Heart of Africa, offers a wide range of attractions, including lake Malawi, renowned for its stunning scenery and rich aquatic life. UNICEF Malawi Country Office operates within a dynamic and results-oriented setting. We foster an environment characterized by creativity, innovation, collaboration, teamwork, a commitment to professional growth, and a safe workspace. Consequently, we are actively searching for individuals who are driven to enact tangible change and dedicated to serving Malawi's children with resourcefulness, resilience, agility, and a commitment to professional excellence.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, the right to knowledge
The UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (CPD) works through a One-UN approach based on the Malawi United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF). The four strategic priorities of the UNSCDF are as follows: i) Economic Development, ii) Governance, iii) Human Capital Development, and iv) Climate Change. UNICEF co-leads the Human Capital Development strategic priority. The UNICEF CPD is fully aligned with these priorities, which are also directly linked to the pillars of Malawi Vision 2063, including its corresponding Implementation Plans. To this extent, UNICEF’s CPD focuses on Child Survival and Development (Health, Nutrition and WASH), Learning, Skills and Protection, Social Policy (Social Protection and Public Finance for Children), Gender Equality, Inclusion and Innovation within a robust evidence-informed environment. The Country Programme envisages the progressive fulfilment of the rights to survival, development, education, protection and participation of all children, including adolescents, especially the most vulnerable and those at risk of being left behind, in an inclusive, resilient and protective environment. All components are supported by the programme and operational effectiveness and efficiency imperatives. Risk-informed programming across the humanitarian and development nexus aims to strengthen disaster preparedness, enhance climate adaptation/mitigation and response, and increase the resilience capacity of institutions, communities and young people. Programming aligns with UNICEF Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee's Transformative Agenda.
How can you make a difference?
Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative, the Chief Education is responsible for managing and supervising all stages of education programming including but not limited school readiness, foundational literacy and alternative learning pathways for adolescents as well as in education system strengthening across the humanitarian-development nexus. This includes strategic planning and formulation, as well as delivery of results on strengthening national education systems to improve learning outcomes, universal access to quality, equitable and inclusive primary/early childhood education, and renewed involvement in secondary education, especially for children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded in society. The incumbent leads a group of professional and support staff to develop and manage the education programme in the country.
The Chief is responsible for establishing the plans of action and overseeing work progress to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable programme/project results, according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.
Moreover, the role provides extensive coordination and collaboration with key stakeholders in Government, civil society, academia, UN agencies and development partners, to leverage partnerships and resources to deliver results for children.
By excelling in this role, you will contribute to the overall achievement of transformative results for children by delivering on the following key responsibility areas, but not limited to:
1. Managerial leadership
2. Programme development and planning
3. Programme management, monitoring and quality control of results
4. Advisory services and technical support
5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
Chief Education P4 Malawi.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education:
- A completed advanced university degree in education, economics, psychology, sociology, development studies or other social science field is required.
Work Experience:
- A minimum of eight years of professional experience in education programme planning and management at the international level is required.
- Relevant experience in leading education coordination platforms with participation
- Government, civil society, academia, UN agencies and/or development partners is required.
- Proven experience in effectively leading and managing a technically professional team to deliver results is required.
- Experience in strategic planning, risk management, and policy development is also required.
Skills:
- Technical experience in pre-primary education, foundational literacy and alternative learning pathways for adolescents is required.
- Technical experience in education system strengthening, including advocacy for improved effectiveness and efficiency of domestic education financing, is essential.
- Knowledge of global developments in education and adolescent development, including the application of the equity lens and human rights perspectives to programming, is required.
- Ability to support Government in leading policy dialogue: translation of analytical findings and evidence into development programmes and policy discussions around equity and learning with partners, is required.
- Proven skills in management and leadership, motivating and developing people under your supervision to perform at their best and live the core values (care, respect, integrity, trust and accountability) is required.
- Ability to manage multi-sectoral programming, including design, costing, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, is required.
- Ability to actively engage with partners (Government, Development Partners, NGOs, CSO, academia, other UN agencies) is required.
- Strong track record of mobilizing resources, including experience with the Global Partnership for Education is required.
- Knowledge of education sector planning is required.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English, both strong verbal and written skills, is essential.
Desirables:
- Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
- Experience working in a low-income country is preferred.
- Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is highly desirable.
- Experience with emergency programming is an asset.
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts is considered an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, West and Central Africa as well as Europe and Central Asia regions are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.