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Senior Project Assistant (Education for Health and Well-being)

OVERVIEW

Position Number: 6ZAED 0019PA

Grade: G-6

Parent Sector: Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Johannesburg

Job Family: Education

Contract Type: Project Appointment

Duration of contract: 1 year

Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates

Application deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 06/03/2026

 

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.

 

INSTRUCTIONS

Only candidates who are entitled to work in South Africa may apply to this position.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

UNESCO’s new strategy, Education for Health and Well-being, provides the overarching framework for concerted action by UNESCO and its partners at global, regional and country levels during 2016-2021. While the strategy reflects UNESCO’s continued commitment to HIV, it also reflects the shift towards situating HIV within the framework of comprehensive sexuality education. Furthermore, UNESCO recognizes that the education sector cannot achieve better health and well-being alone and thus will also support education sector collaboration with other sectors and with the health sector in particular. UNESCO will engage political leaders and the Regional Economic Communities, especially Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to sustain the response and provide a platform for collaboration and accountability.

 

The Senior Project Assistant will be responsible for providing programme and administrative support to ensure effective, planning, implementation, and monitoring of UNESCO’s work in the Education for Health and Wellbeing (EHW) unit.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

This position is under the overall authority of the Director of the Regional Office for Southern Africa and the direct supervision of the Regional Advisor for Education for Health and Well-Being. The incumbent will be responsible for providing programme and administrative support and contribute to the effective, planning, implementation and monitoring of UNESCO’s work in the Education for Health and Well-being (EHW) Unit. Specifically, s/he will be responsible for providing support to the “Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3)” and the “EU Prevention of GBV in Schools (EU SRGBV)” projects in East and Southern Africa (ESA) countries.

 

The incumbent will work in close collaboration with the Johannesburg Project Office as well as the team in the UNESCO Regional Office in Harare (Zimbabwe), for effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to resolving complex programme/project-related issues and information delivery. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNESCO programming, financial, procurement and administrative regulations, rules, policies and strategies as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems, working with the team in UNESCO Harare Office. Support will be provided in the following key administrative and programmatic areas:

KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Programme Administrative Project Implementation and Administrative Support (Regional)

  • Pro-actively contribute to day-to-day project implementation and ensure conformity to expected results and project work-plans.
  • Provide substantive project support for the implementation and assessment of the O3 pogramme.
  • Review consultants’ work ensuring deliverables of high quality are submitted timely.
  • Attend, observe and participate in strategic programmatic meetings with internal and external partners.
  • Coordinate and prepare documents necessary for the launch of procurement processes and draft contact terms of reference.
  • Initiate payment requests upon satisfactory completion and/or delivery of goods or services.
  • Provide support on all administrative matters concerning the project including travel plans, travel authorization, monitoring of travel budgets, hiring of consultants liaising with appropriate units.
  • Provide support to administrative and logistical arrangements for all meetings, workshops and courses in connection with the projects.
  • Reconcile and acquittal of funds made available to support project workshops, seminars or meetings to ensure proper and effective utilization in pursuit of expected results.
  • Establish and maintain a soft copy (e-filing) and hard copy filing systems to record all paperwork associated with the projects’ financial and administrative actions, for a complete and accurate audit trail.

Long Description

Project and administrative support (South Africa)

  • Support the formulation/development, coordination and execution of project activities to ensure timely delivery.
  • Provide support to administrative and logistical arrangements for all meetings, workshops and courses in connection with the projects.
  • Provide support to the projects in South Africa including programme planning and strategic activities.
  • Liaise with local vendors to ensure timely vendor registration, contracting and payments for vendors contracted on South African activities.
  • Provide logistical and administrative support to the O3 and EU SRGBV projects in South Africa, this includes assisting with organizing meetings, and travels.
  • Assist programme staff in the identification, recruitment of consultants and management of consultants’ contracts.

Long Description

Financial management

  • Monitor budget expenditures and maintain a proper record of approved project budgets and their revisions.
  • Ensure effective and efficient project activities budget formulation, requesting fund reservation for supporting programme implementation.
  • Ensure project activities acquittal reports are supported by original receipts, invoices or payment statements and timely submitted to the Finance and Administration Office and follow-up close of the activity/contract.
  • Ensure that all project related funds request and payments are accompanied by original supporting documents as per Financial Regulation and submitted to finance and administration office timely.
  • Maintain complete and accurate administrative records and contribute to the smooth running of the office by ensuring the provision and maintenance of office equipment, inventory of physical assets
  • Undertake other administrative tasks as required.

Long Description

Procurement

  • In accordance with the Project Work Plan coordinate and contribute to the procurement of equipment, supplies and services, following principles set forth in UNESCOs Administrative Manual to ensure competitive selection that achieves value for money.
  • Review procurement requests and initiate procurement procedures of project equipment, supplies and services in a transparent and cost-effective manner.
  • Liaise with project staff to ensure items are planned, procured, transported, stored, managed, and accounted for correctly for O3 and EU SRGBV projects.

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

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

Short Description

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

  • Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.

 

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

  • At least eight (8) years of relevant work experience in project /programme implementation, reporting and/or administration, or related field.

 

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

  • Professional integrity, tact, diplomacy and good sense of judgement.
  • Excellent planning, organizational and coordination skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including drafting skills.
  • Very good analytical and problem-solving skills, ability to deal with complex situations and to provide quality and timely support and services.
  • Ability to work efficiently under pressure and deliver under tight deadlines.
  • Strong service/client orientation.
  • Excellent IT skills with proficiency in the use of MS Office.

 

 

 

 

LANGUAGES

  • Excellent knowledge (oral and written) of English.

 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

  • Training/course in one or more of the following disciplines: project management and administration.
  • A first University degree or Masters’ degree in Development studies or any program administration related fields.

 

 

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

  • Prior experience in programme support functions is considered an asset.
  • Relevant experience in a UN system agency is considered an asset.

 

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

  • Knowledge of budgeting and financial management.
  • Understanding of UNESCO’s structure, Governing Bodies, Institutes, Commissions, etc.

 

 

 

LANGUAGES

  • Knowledge of one or more South African Local languages is considered an asset.

 

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 505 701 ZAR

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.

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