Mission and objectives

UNESCO is an intergovernmental organization committed to fostering intellectual and moral solidarity for peace through cooperation in education, culture, the sciences, and communication and information. The organization is headquartered in Paris, France, and has a network of over 50 regional, cluster, and national field offices. UNESCO New Delhi is presently designated as a Cluster Office and is a platform for delivery of activities in all areas of UNESCO’s competence, namely, education, the natural and social sciences, culture, communication and information. It implements a biennial Cluster programme that is aligned with the overall goals of the Organization as defined in its quadrennial programme and budget, and medium-term strategy. The implementation of the cluster programme is undertaken through a fundamental operating principle – consultation and consensus with the National Commissions of the Member States, Regional Bureaus, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders and partners. The New Delhi Office is now mandated to cover six countries of South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Context

As the only UN agency with a mandate that covers all levels and aspects of education, UNESCO is uniquely positioned to help countries take the vision of advancing quality education, not only as a right in itself, but also as a means for rethinking and rebuilding humanity’s relationships with each other, with the planet, and with technology. To meet this commitment to transform education at the national and sub-regional level, the UNV will contribute to deliver high-quality technical support on education issues, particularly on SDG 4.7 which highlights the power of transformative education, education that promotes global citizenship, sustainable development, human rights, gender equality, peace and appreciation of cultural diversity. Under the guidance of the Programme Specialist for Education, the UNV will work with Member States, external partners, and other UNESCO field offices, to support the implementation of UNESCO’s Programme on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), particularly through the implementation of the Greening Education Partnership. The UNV will also coordinate sub-regional efforts to implement the Recommendation for Peace Education, Human Rights and Sustainable Development, through developing activities that focus on global citizenship education (GCED), prevention of violent and hateful ideologies, and in promoting safe and inclusive learning environments, including online forms. The UNV will also be focal point for the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) reporting for the UNESCO New Delhi Office’s Education Sector, and assist in maintaining an updated record of reporting, monitoring, and evaluation of its education activities in the four countries under the New Delhi Office’s regional responsibility: Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Task description

1) For the UNESCO New Delhi Regional Office’s activities on Education on Sustainable Development and the Greening Education Partnership: • Assist the ED Sector in the development, implementation, monitoring and external communication of activities on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the countries under the responsibility of the New Delhi Regional Office (Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka). • Support the implementation of existing projects under the first phase of the Greening Education Partnership in India to develop the new “UNESCO Greening Curriculum Guideline” and “the UNESCO Green School Quality Standard”.

• Develop the activities for the second phase of the Greening Education Partnership in India and the expansion of the Partnership in Bhutan.

• Support the implementation of activities within the framework of the ESD Country Initiatives in Bhutan and the Maldives.

• Support efforts to mobilize extrabudgetary resources, engage with key stakeholders, and create new partnerships to expand the scope of UNESCO’s ESD projects in India, Bhutan, and Maldives.

• Contribute to the development of concept notes and project proposals.

• Maintain a record of all documents related to the projects for internal circulation and provide related administrative support.

2) For the UNESCO New Delhi Regional Office’s activities on Global Citizenship Education and Sustainable Development Goal Target 4.7:

• Assist the ED Sector in the development, implementation, monitoring and external communication of UNESCO’s Global Citizenship Education (GCED) programme in the countries under the responsibility of the New Delhi Regional Office, particularly on Addressing Hate Speech through Education, Happy Schools Project, and Digital Citizenship.

• Contribute to the development of concept notes and project proposals; maintain regular coordination with UNESCO Headquarters’ colleagues; support efforts to mobilize extrabudgetary resources and create new partnerships.

3) For the 2024 UNESCO State of the Education Report for India on Culture and Arts Education:

• Contribute to the conceptualization and development of the 2024 State of the Education Report for India (SOER 2024), which will focus on Culture and Arts Education.

• Coordinate with the UNESCO New Delhi Office’s Culture Sector colleagues, the SOER Research Team, officials at national/state levels, and contracted experts to gather information and audio/video documentation for the Report.

• Support communication activities, including preparing speeches/web articles/Op-eds as required and in collaboration with UNESCO New Delhi Office’s Communications and Public Engagement Unit colleagues. • Organize and record proceedings of all meetings between UNESCO colleagues, SOER Research Team, relevant partners and Editorial Board members. This would entail coordinating with UNESCO New Delhi IT staff to create and share the link of such meetings, and to provide meeting participants with the meeting agenda, PowerPoint presentations, key outcomes of related meetings.

• Contribute to the editing and designing processes of the Report together with the Research Team and contracted experts.

• Contribute to undertake administrative tasks, including establishing and tracking contracts, monitoring budget expenditure related to the 2024 SOER.

• Support the logistical arrangements for the launch of the 2024 SOER.

4) For UNESCO New Delhi’s reporting and monitoring work:

• In coordination with all UNESCO New Delhi Office’s Programme Sectors, provide support to update reporting of UNESCO’s activities in India in the UNINFO system to improve coordination, transparency and accountability.

• Support regular reporting to the UNCT focal points in Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka on UNESCO’s Education Sector activities in the respective countries and attend online UNCT Education Group meetings

Age

27 – 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Required experience

3 years of experience in the field of education. • Proven experience in formulating education related policies and in implementing and monitoring education programmes/projects • Knowledge and understanding of education and socio-economic systems in a developing and Least Development Income Countries context, especially in South Asia. • Good knowledge of issues related to Education for Sustainable Development, and Global Citizenship Education. • Excellent coordination, interpersonal and negotiation skills, as well as an ability to network with a range of partners, donors and other stakeholders. • Proven ability to draft high quality, clear, concise documents and reports. • Excellent presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively and persuasively in a multicultural environment. • Good IT skills.

Area(s) of expertise

Development programmes, Education

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Master degree or equivalent in Education, Social Sciences or in a related area.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Communication • Results focus • Teamwork • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Entitlements

• Volunteer Living Allowance : 2,511.31USD

• Entry Lump Sum : 4,000USD (paid based on route for travel to the duty station and repatriation)

• Exit Lump Sum : 2,25USD (paid on completion of contract)

• Learning : Access to UNV’s learning and career development resources

• Annual Leave : 2.5 days per month

• Insurance : Comprehensive coverage for health, life and malicious acts