Education Specialist (Sector Coordination)

UNICEF works in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines, we support child health and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, quality education and skill building, HIV prevention and treatment for mothers and babies, and the protection of children and adolescents from violence and exploitation. Before, during and after humanitarian emergencies, UNICEF is on the ground, bringing lifesaving help and hope to children and families. Non-political and impartial, we are never neutral when it comes to defending children’s rights and safeguarding their lives and futures.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to promote and protect the rights of every child, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. In Senegal, UNICEF supports the Government in strengthening equitable access to quality education, improving learning outcomes, and reinforcing system resilience, in alignment with national priorities outlined in the PAQUET-EF and broader national development frameworks.

The education sector in Senegal is coordinated through established mechanisms bringing together Government, development partners, civil society and other stakeholders, including the Groupe National des Partenaires de l’Éducation et de la Formation (GNPEF), the Groupe Thématique Éducation, Formation et Emploi (GTEFE) and related technical groups. In parallel, UNICEF co-leads, together with UNESCO, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) Results Group 4 on equitable access to quality basic social services and social protection. As a key development partner, UNICEF plays an active role in supporting sector coordination, policy dialogue, inter-agency collaboration and alignment of partner interventions.

In the context of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), UNICEF also serves as Grant Agent for the System Capacity Grant (SCG), which supports national capacities in sector planning, coordination, monitoring and financing. The SCG contributes to key sector processes, including sector reviews, operationalization of sector priorities and strengthening of coordination mechanisms at national and decentralized levels.

Within this framework, the UN Volunteer will be embedded in the Education Section of the UNICEF Senegal Country Office and will work under the supervision of the Chief of Education, supporting sector coordination efforts and contributing, as needed, to selected programme activities linked to sector dialogue, coordination and partnerships.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Education, the UN Volunteer will support education sector coordination, partnership engagement, strategic follow-up and selected programme activities, in close collaboration with Government counterparts, development partners, UN agencies and civil society organizations.

The UN Volunteer will contribute to the following tasks:

1. Support to education sector coordination and policy dialogue:

• Support the Chief of Education and the Education Section in the follow-up of education sector coordination processes, in alignment with national priorities and sector frameworks.

• Assist in the preparation and follow-up of sector coordination meetings and related documentation (e.g. GNPEF, GTEFE, RG4 and related technical groups).

• Contribute to information sharing and collaboration across Government, development partners, UN agencies and civil society organizations.

• Support the preparation of sector reviews, joint missions, briefing materials and key coordination outputs.

• Contribute, as required, to coordination efforts at decentralized level and to liaison with sector stakeholders.

2. Support to selected activities related to sector planning and monitoring:

• Support the follow-up of selected activities under the System Capacity Grant (SCG), in coordination with Government counterparts and partners.

• Assist in the organization and technical preparation of sector reviews and related processes.

• Contribute to tracking implementation progress and identifying issues requiring follow-up.

• Support documentation and follow-up related to sector coordination mechanisms supported through the SCG.

3. Support to sector analysis, partnerships and knowledge management:

• Monitor key sector developments and contribute to analytical notes, briefing materials and summaries to support coordination and programme discussions.

• Assist in the preparation of inputs for partner engagement, donor discussions and strategic exchanges, as required.

• Contribute to knowledge management, documentation of key processes and internal information sharing within the Education Section.

4. Flexible programme and operational support:

• Provide ad hoc technical and operational support to education programme activities, as required.

• Support cross-cutting initiatives and internal coordination within UNICEF.

5. Contribute to other tasks requested by the Chief of Education and the Education Section, in line with programme priorities and evolving operational needs.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote volunteerism through engagement with communities and partners during the course of their work.