Associate Project Officer ( Education)

OVERVIEW

Position Number: 6ETEDPA029CB

Grade: P-2

Parent Sector: Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: IICBA Addis Ababa

Job Family: Education

Contract Type: Project Appointment

Duration of contract: 1 year

Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates

Application deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 06/11/2026

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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) is a Category I Institute of UNESCO and is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Institute works to meet the goals and targets of the 2030 SDGs by supporting Member States with their education policies, teacher professional development, and the capacity of education institutions in Africa. UNESCO-IICBA has been actively engaged in capacity-building interventions in areas of research and knowledge, policy and advocacy, and capacity enhancement.

With its commitment to empowering teachers for all learners to thrive, the Institute supports education institutions including in emergency settings. UNESCO IICBA has expanded its programs substantially in the last three years, including most recently with a new grant focusing on improving learning among others through accelerated learning programs for children out of school.

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Education (ADG/ED), with the functional authority from the Director of the International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA), and under the direct supervision of the IICBA Senior Project Coordinator, the incumbent will be responsible for the planning and implementation of the Japan-funded projects, including the recently approved project focusing on accelerated learning programs, . The incumbent will focus among others on information and knowledge management, coordination, monitoring, reporting, and communication.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Internally the incumbent will also work closely with the UNESCO country offices and regional offices. Externally, the incumbent will liaise with government counterparts, and national stakeholders Ministry of Education, Teacher Training Colleges/ Institutions, Universities, Teacher Unions, and Academia Institutions) Global Partners, Donors, UN offices mainly with UNICEF, RECs IGAD, and the African Union.

The post also highly requires cooperation with the funding agencies in this case the government of Japan.

Long Description

KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Knowledge Management, Innovation, Research and Capacity Building

• Support the implementation of Japan-funded projects through planning, coordination, and information and knowledge management.
• Coordinate interventions to generate evidence and lessons learned for Japan-funded projects to inform decision-makers for better planning, supervision, and monitoring, as well as scale-up.
• Assist in the conceptualization and implementation of information and knowledge management for the overall implementation of the projects.
• Coordinate the timely and quality development, production, and dissemination of communications materials and contents to support the goals and priorities of the projects including UNESCO IICBA's other projects.
• Write and edit stories, press releases, speeches, brochures, factsheets, etc. for different platforms, including the UNESCO websites and donor’s platform.
• Support the project in developing communication materials both offline and online, ensuring high-quality standards.
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns of issues and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables, and reports, using data visualization to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation, and reporting.
• Plan and facilitate strategic advocacy and program activities in coordination with partners including the African Union, Donors, and other relevant agencies about the projects.
• Support the IICBA team in the production of training material, brochures, and virtual campus development.

Long Description

Networking and Partnership Building

• Act as the focal point for communication with the project donor and contribute to donor relations, as well as resource mobilization.
• Establish and sustain effective and close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, and national stakeholders such as Ministries of Education, Teacher Training Colleges/ Institutions, Universities, Teacher Unions, and academic institutions.
• Support target countries and colleagues in identifying success and narrative stories from their work and ensure they are featured in relevant publications and platforms (e.g., website, social media, annual reports, and external media).
• Support the planning and organization of advocacy events, ensuring the coordination with partners, authorities, media representatives, members of the academia, and other relevant stakeholders for high visibility and impact.

Long Description

Resource Mobilization

• Identify and develop opportunities to mobilize extra-budgetary resources for the institute by developing concept notes and project proposals based on situational analysis and needs assessments, following the Institute’s programme results framework, priorities, and strategic approaches.
• Perform additional duties as required to enhance teamwork in the institute.

Long Description

COMPETENCIES - Core (C)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)
• Professionalism (C)

Short Description

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Education, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or related area.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

LANGUAGES

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Familiarity with the work and general functioning of international organizations and/or the UN System particularly in the African Context
• Familiarity with teacher development in Africa, as well as resource mobilization.

LANGUAGES

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 is USD 80 368.

For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.

SELECTION AND HIRING PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted.

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course.

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• 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 to 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.
• lndividuals 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.
• Geographical mobility is required for staff members appointed to UNESCO’s international posts.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. UNESCO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO. The list can be accessed through the link: https://www.whed.net
• The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
• UNESCO appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by the Organization, is required for International Professional positions.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.