Project Officer (Education Finance)
Project Officer (Education Finance)
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Job Description
OVERVIEW
Post Number:IEP/PA/164
Grade:P-3
Parent Sector:Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station:Paris
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):16-OCT-2025
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization Integrity Respect for Diversity Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
As the only specialized organization with a mandate to support educational policy planning and management UNESCOs International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) plays a unique role within the United Nations system. IIEP was established in 1963 as an integral part of UNESCO. It supports ministries of education and their partners around the world in planning and managing education systems through four types of capacity development programmes: training technical assistance research and development and knowledge sharing. IIEP has offices in Paris Dakar and Buenos Aires. To achieve its goals and objectives IIEP relies on voluntary contributions from major donors and project funding.
Under the overall authority of the IIEP Director and under the direct supervision of the Lead of the Education Finance Senior Programme Specialist the Education Project Officer will be responsible for the implementation of a variety of funded projects and activities that support the capacity of Ministries of Education and other partners to better plan and manage education sectors.
All IIEPs technical experts provide direct technical support to governments and partners on planning and management while also contributing to research and analytical work training programmes and knowledge sharing activities. More specifically the incumbent will support IIEP activities related to costing financing and Public Financial Management (PFM) for education which includes but is not limited to i) conducting education cost and funding analysis cost-effectiveness analysis public expenditure reviews (PER) national education accounts (NEA) and ii) financial costing and programming activities such as simulation models sectoral medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) costed action or operational plans sectoral budget programming PFM diagnostics and support to budget implementation and monitoring.
Long Description
The candidate should have experience in one or more of the following areas:
1. Analyses of education cost and financing and experience with costing/modeling and programming: Expertise in the utilization of education cost and finance diagnostic tools such as cost-effectiveness analysis public expenditure reviews (PER) national education accounts (NEA) including quantitative data analysis of costs and financing of education from various sources (public households private entities external donors and grants). Expertise in using long-term oriented macro-financial simulation models and mid-term costing and budget programming tools including the costing of operational plans preparation of medium-term expenditure frameworks results-based budgeting programme-based budgeting.
2. Public Financial Management (PFM) in the Education Sector and Capacity Building of Ministries of Education for the Implementation of Integrated Planning Programming Budgeting Monitoring and Evaluation Tools and Processes in the Context of Results-Based Budgeting: Expertise in technical support and advice to Ministries of Education on key PFM reforms aimed at improving the volume equity and efficiency of public spending and to enhance overall sectoral financial governance. Expertise in public finance and/or public financial management including the use of financial governance diagnostic tools such as Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Public Expenditure Reviews (PER) Public Expenditure Monitoring Surveys (PETS) etc. Expertise in policy advice and support to managers and ministries on public financial management issues relevant to the education sector.
Long Description
The incumbents will support the implementation of a portfolio of technical cooperation research and development and training activities related to education financing costing and particular the incumbents will be responsible for:
- Support the implementation of a portfolio of projects in educational planning and management and/or the implementation of reforms in the educational sector with a strong focus on education financing and budgeting.
- Contribute to the identification of strategic priorities and provides technical inputs on IIEPs core technical offer to countries in support of their planning and implementation management capacities.
- Support regular consultation across IIEPs Offices and with IIEP partners (Member States Donors external institutes etc.) about IIEPs country facing research and development capacity development and technical cooperation activities by adopting a problem-driven and collaborative approaches to improving IIEPs line of activities in education finance.
- Work with the Education Finance lead to ensure alignment of IIEPs research and development training and capacity development activities and maintain a strong corporate focus on programme effectiveness resource mobilization and strategic impact.
- Take ownership of specific strategic objectives and quantified targets thematically geographically according to her/his portfolio and missions.
- Contribute to public debates and establish network with relevant actors and organizations in education finance.
- Contribute to and support IIEPs internal budgeting and costing processes including on financial reporting to donors the Governing Board and UNESCO HQ.
- Contribute to mentoring of colleagues in areas related to costing budgeting and financial management.
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in economics statistics public policy public finance or related fields.
Professional experience
- A minimum of four (4) years of relevant professional experience in the field education financing and public financial management including budget planning and reporting education financing diagnostics financial costing and simulation.
- Working experience in one or more of the following areas of expertise:
a. Analyses of education costs finances and budget costing and projections
b. Public Financial Management (PFM) in Education. - Experience in providing technical assistance in support of national or subnational entities in the analysis of education financing
- Experience in the functioning of public administration and education systems including experience with PFM reforms in developing countries.
- Experience in the field of public finance (budget preparation execution and reporting); with a strong command of texts and guidelines for the preparation and execution of the budget (budget laws public finance governance framework manual of procedures etc.).
Long Description
Skills and Competencies
- Demonstrated knowledge of issues related to education and education financing in the context of developing and/or emerging countries.
- Demonstrated knowledge of contemporary developments in the field of global education and effective strategies to improve education planning and management including in crisis-affected contexts.
- Proven ability to design and implement training materials and courses
- Proven ability to design and implement action research.
- Strong analytical and synthetic skills and good ability to undertake analytical and synthetic writing including preparation of training materials and policy briefs.
- Ability and willingness to travel regularly on missions in complex environments.
- Ability to develop coalitions and partnerships with a wide range of relevant actors within and outside IIEP-UNESCO.
- Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Excel and statistical packages such as STATA R Python etc.
- Excellent project management skills with the ability to support the implementation of complex and multi-component projects.
Language
- Excellent knowledge of English or French (written and spoken) with working proficiency in the other.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Skills and Competencies
- Proven knowledge in public financial management diagnostic tools or expertise in supporting governments to build capacities in budget formulation execution monitoring and reporting.
BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS
UNESCOs 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 111 707 US $.
For full information on benefits and entitlements please consult ourGuide 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 an 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 mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.
UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization.
Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority
Employment Type
Contract
