Project Officer

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Yangon

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff - Service Contract

Level :  SB-4, SC-9 Min

Duration of contract : 1 year (Three (3) months probationary period; renewal subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds)

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 22 October 2025

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

Only candidates who have the right to live and work in Myanmar may apply to this position. 

Background

Under the overall authority of the Regional Director of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific , and direct supervision from Head of Myanmar Project Antenna, the incumbent will be responsible for providing programme implementation support to the Project on "Education Sector Programme Implementation Grant" (ESPIG). 

Given the evolving political and operational environment, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Education Sector Plan Implementation Grant (ESPIG) was reprogrammed in 2023, making much needed funding available towards ensuring that children and youth in Myanmar can safely continue or re-engage in learning. ESPIG is jointly implemented by three Grant Agents (UNESCO, UNICEF and Save the Children). ESPIG is aligning to achieving the outcomes detailed in the Myanmar Joint Response Framework (JRF) for the Education Sector 2022 – 2025. 
UNESCO’s programming through ESPIG will contribute to the following outcomes, and addresses Sustainable Development Goal 4 Targets 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7 and 4.C. 

•    Outcome 1: Ensuring safe and equitable access to learning for children and youth in Myanmar;
•    Outcome 2: Ensuring quality teaching and learning for children and youth in Myanmar by strengthening the capacities of education staff and fostering context-responsive, equity-focused learning resources and modalities adapted to the evolving situation; and
•    Outcome 3: Ensuring systems strengthening, management, coordination and monitoring.

The incumbent support the implementation of all outcomes as needed, with a focus on outcomes entioned above, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of ESPIG with other Grant Agent and partners overall.       

Major Duties and Responsibilities

1.    Project Implementation and Monitoring & Evaluation

Provide technical advice to design, plan, coordinate, and implement all activities of the ESPIG Project. Provide substantive, logistical and administrative support to projects, consultations, meetings, events and missions.

Plan and coordinate work activities under Outcomes mentioned above. 

Review and identify areas for improved programme and project alignment with UNESCO, national, regional and global Education goals (e.g. Education for Sustainable Development).

Compile and analyze data and evidence of the implementation progress of project activities, produce progress reports and draft appropriate narratives and impact stories for inclusion in reporting, actively participate in the joint monitoring the evaluation and monitoring of ESPIG with other Grant Agents and various partners in the education sector. Ensure that the results, findings and lessons learned in the course of implementing the activities are well discussed and understood by the project team members at the office for continuous improvement in the planning and implementation through regular team meetings and presentations.

Act as lead worker with project consultants and other service providers, and local staff following through on the dissemination of project results. Participate in cross group activities as assigned, maximize synergies in the work of the UNESCO Field Office.

Monitor activity and programme implementation and outputs, as assigned, ensuring that UNESCO’s work is implemented in a timely, coherent and integrated manner consistent with sector-wide development frameworks and in collaboration with other UNESCO offices when required.  

Assist in the evaluation of and reporting on projects and programmes: Provide input to the preparation of reports on the implementation of programmes and projects and other briefings as may be required by the UNESCO Field Office or Headquarters, using relevant tools, including CORE manager, Contribute to the coordination of reporting to the Education Sector in HQ, and/ or prepare inputs to documents for the Executive Board and the General Conference and reporting and ad hoc documents of concerned services (internal) to UNESCO and UNCTs, Funds and Programmes, Donors and other external Development Partners.

Technically contribute to UN related initiative such as CCA, Transitional Cooperation Framework (TCF) and UN Joint Programme in particular monitoring and evaluation, attend the thematic meetings under UNCT and working group, represent UNESCO at these meeting when required.

Long Description

2.    Research and Knowledge Management, Public Information

Develop and maintain thorough knowledge of policies, strategies and plans of action in Education and maximise use of this knowledge in the design of locally delivered Education Sector Field activities.

Conduct situational analysis and research, compile data and inputs to concept notes, publications, briefings and documents for Field and HQ use. Analyze best practices and trends to contribute to knowledge base.

Contribute to the design of project and activities performance/ progress monitoring and reporting both internally and to project donors.

Contribute to public information and outreach tasks, writing, inputting to social media, hosting information points, facilitating exchanges/ meetings.

Upload to automated systems (Sharepoint) and other platforms the institutional memory of own office.

3.    Partnership and Resource Mobilization

In an increasingly competitive international and multilateral environment, further resource mobilization and develop alternative funding mechanisms by developing concepts and project proposals in accordance with the C/5. Deal with UN Agencies seeking or marketing joint programmes, bilateral and multilateral partners, continental development Banks (e.g. ADB or others) and International Institutions (WB, EU). 

Track submissions and coordinate donor meetings when necessary. Mobilize extra budgetary resources to support sector-wide planning, education policy analysis, education sector assessment and sector management   in line with country needs and priorities, the regional Education Support Strategy and UNESCO’s overall resource mobilization strategies, by preparing project proposals and cooperation frameworks with Member States and donor agencies and by engaging in fundraising activities.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education
•    Bachelor’s degree or advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in any of the fields of Education, Social Sciences, International Relations or related fields.

Work Experience
•    Minimum of 4 years of professional experience with a Bachelor’s degree, or 2 years with a Master’s degree.Proven experience in gathering, organizing and analyzing information for producing comprehensive and informative analytical reports.
•    Experience in the field of education at the national and/or international level(s).  

Skills and competencies
•    Excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skills.
•    Ability to work independently on delegated tasks and to meet deadlines
•    Excellent drafting and report writing skills
•    Appreciation of diverse identities.
•    Excellent ICT skills with proficiency in the use of MS Office
•    Creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
•    Ability to work well with team members across different types of activities
•    Ability to work efficiently, under pressure, and in a multi-cultural environment.
•    Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals towards common goals.
•    High sense of responsibility and willingness to take initiative.
•    Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards.

Languages
•    Excellent knowledge of English and Myanmar (spoken and written) 

Long Description

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education
•    Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in any of the areas of education development, health education, human rights, gender, public policy, social development or related field.

Work Experience
•    Minimum of 9 years of professional experience with a Bachelor’s degree, or 7 years with a Master’s degree.
•    Experience within the UN system or international organizations.
•    Experience in human rights, inclusive education, gender equality and youth engagement.
•    Experience in conducting desk research and online surveys will be an advantage.
•    Experience in planning, preparation and organization of workshops and meetings under the framework of education-related projects.

Skills and competencies 
•    Familiarity with UN programming policies and procedures. 
•    Working knowledge of results-based and budget management tools.

Languages:
•    Basic knowledge of an additional language from the Asia-Pacific region will be an advantage.
•    Knowledge of other official UN languages (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) will be an advantage.

Assessment

An assessment exercise may be used in the evaluation of candidates. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested and qualified applicants are invited to submit through careers.unesco.org:
•    a cover letter;
•    a full resume (stating details of educational qualifications and work experience, present income, home and office contact addresses, email address, telephone numbers and three references) or UNESCO CV (Form HR 5-1); and

Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. 

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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