Associate Project Officer (Education)

OVERVIEW

Position Number: 4KHED0005TA

Grade: P-2

Parent Sector: Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Phnom Penh

Job Family: Education

Contract Type: Temporary Appointment

Duration of contract: From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to: External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 13/10/2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Duration of contract: 11 months with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance 

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

UNESCO has been collaborating closely with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) to advance the Education 2030 / SDG 4 agenda in Cambodia and contribute to Education Strategic Plan 2024-2028. The MoEYS and UNESCO are jointly implementing the $27.02 million Strengthening Teacher Education Programmes in Cambodia (STEPCam). The second phase of STEPCam, launched in January 2024, is funded by the USD 12.62 million System Transformation Grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and encompasses four strategic components: 1) Teacher Education: supporting Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) to provide quality pre-service teacher education programmes and to serve as institutional leaders in the provision of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and teacher research; 2) Teacher Professional Development: expanding and strengthening the system of CPD to be able to match teacher development needs with quality professional learning opportunities; 3) Classroom Learning: building capacity for effective Early Grade Learning (EGL) so that teachers have the competencies – and support – needed to facilitate the development of strong foundational skills in their students; and 4) Digital Transformation in Education: preparing teachers and teacher educators with the strategies and competencies needed to facilitate learning that harnesses the effective and ethical use of digital technologies. 

Under the overall authority of the UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, under the supervision of the Chief of the Education Unit and the STEPCam Programme Manager, the incumbent will provide technical assistance, coordination and management for the implementation and monitoring of STEPCam, in close collaboration with the relevant technical departments of the MoEYS, and partners. 

Long Description

The Associate Project Officer will:

1.    Provide technical assistance for the overall management of STEPCam and other GPE projects and initiatives, including facilitating timely implementation of project activities and preparing project workplans, progress reports and budgets
2.    Assist in the management of STEPCam and other GPE projects and initiatives, including the development of terms of reference, supervising project contracts for international and national experts, institutional partners and service providers, ensuring close supervision and quality assurance for deliverables, products and services to implement programme activities
3.    Assist in overseeing the monitoring and evaluation plan and activities for STEPCam, in close coordination with the project team and international experts, to ensure that results are aligned with performance indicators of the projects and initiatives
4.    Support the Chief of Education Unit and project teams in preparing required internal and external reporting for GPE and donors, within UNESCO, the UN Country Team and government entities
5.    Assist the Chief of Education Unit in providing technical assistance in the expansion and resource mobilization of new programmes and initiatives in teacher education, skills development, non-formal education, climate change education and ICT and AI in education, including developing briefs, concept notes, proposals, presentations and other materials, in line with identified national priorities and gaps
6.    Provide technical assistance for UNESCO’s role as a strategic partner in UN planning mechanisms and Cambodia’s education sector coordination mechanisms with government entities and development partners such as the Joint Technical Working Group, Education Sector Working Group, the coordination and working groups for GPE processes and other coordination mechanisms. Facilitate the integration, monitoring and reporting of UNESCO’s programmes and initiatives in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2024-2028, supporting the coordination and participating in joint UN planning and reporting processes as well as joint education sector strategic dialogue, planning processes and coordination mechanisms.

7.    Support the Chief of Education Unit and project teams in developing and implementing visibility and outreach strategies to maximise the project results and impact, including through developing and disseminating communications and visibility materials such as articles, press releases, social media posts, posters, visual data, brochures, project presentations, among others. 
8.    Carry out any other relevant tasks as assigned by the UNESCO Representative in Phnom Penh, the Chief of Education Unit and the STEPCam Programme Manager

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• 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 the field of education, public policy, development studies or related social science field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

•    Minimum 2 years of relevant work experience in education and international development, of which preferably 1 year acquired at international level.
•    Experience in designing, management, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting of education projects, including providing technical oversight and quality assurance of deliverables, products and services for project implementation
•    Experience working in a coordination role, including engagement with governments, development partners and various other stakeholders

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

•    Excellent writing and communications skills, including drafting news items, articles, social media materials and reports
•    Excellent skills in consolidating and analysing various sources of information, synthesising into effective information tools for appropriate target audience
•    Ability to work effectively in a multi-skilled and multi-cultural environment
•    Strong strategic and analytical skills
•    Ability to work under pressure, manage heavy workloads and to meet tight deadlines, paying close attention to detail and quality of work
•    Proven capacity to build and maintain effective partnerships inside and outside the organisation
•    Knowledge of IT skills, including of MS software (Word, Excel etc.)

LANGUAGES

• Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

WORK EXPERIENCE

•    At least two years of experience in programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation in the context of UN system
•    Previous work experience in developing countries contexts
•    Previous work experience at the international level in strategic partnerships and resource mobilisation

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

•    Knowledge of issues and actions in thematic areas of teacher education, skills development, climate change education and non-formal education

LANGUAGES

•    Knowledge of a third official UNESCO language other than English or French would be an asset (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish).

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 70 786.

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.