National Programme Coordination Officer

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Established in July 2010, UN Women serves as a global champion for women and girls, aiming to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. The organization works to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, fostering empowerment and equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, peace, and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. UN Women coordinates and promotes the UN system’s work in advancing gender equality, linking it to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. In Timor-Leste, UN Women focuses on promoting women’s human rights and gender equality, ensuring women’s right to live free from violence, strengthening economic empowerment, and supporting international commitments to gender equality through gender-responsive planning and budgeting. The organization addresses challenges faced by marginalized youth, particularly rural girls, in accessing education and economic opportunities, and has launched initiatives like the ASEAN-UK SAGE Skills Training for Economic Empowerment (STEP) pilot project to equip youth with essential skills.

Job Overview:
The National Programme Coordination Officer will be embedded within the Ministry of Education in Timor-Leste, providing day-to-day technical support for the implementation and coordination of the STEP project. This role is crucial for ensuring effective collaboration between UN Women, the British Council, and the Ministry of Education, facilitating the integration of project results within national systems and strategies. The officer will serve as the focal point for the UK STEP project, coordinating activities, monitoring progress, and supporting stakeholder engagement to promote the enrollment of marginalized girls in the entrepreneurship training program. The position requires strong coordination skills, the ability to manage relationships across various stakeholders, and a commitment to gender equality and social inclusion.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure effective coordination and provide implementation support: Act as the Ministry of Education's focal point for STEP project activities, coordinating with UN Women and the British Council on logistics and delivery of the entrepreneurship training program. Ensure timely roll-out of teacher trainings, curricula dissemination, and student recruitment in collaboration with Community Learning Centres (CLCs) and vocational schools. Monitor training delivery and provide field-based mentoring support to teachers.
• Carry out stakeholder engagement: Regularly liaise with school directors, teachers, curriculum departments, local authorities, and civil society organizations (CSOs) to support project implementation. Participate in community outreach and mobilization sessions to encourage the enrollment of marginalized girls. Support coordination with technical departments within the Ministry of Education.
• Ensure policy and institutional alignment: Provide technical inputs to ensure project alignment with Ministry of Education priorities and national education strategies. Support the institutionalization of the pilot training model, including feedback to curriculum development and monitoring tools. Contribute to planning for the integration and scale-up of the project within Ministry systems post-pilot.
• Support project monitoring, reporting, and documentation: Monitor implementation progress and provide regular updates to Ministry leadership and UN Women. Contribute to reports, data collection, site visits, and feedback loops, including mid-term and end-line reviews. Maintain documentation of lessons learned and best practices.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Education, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree will be considered an asset.
• Experience: A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in programme implementation, coordination, or project management, preferably in education, youth development, or gender equality. Demonstrated experience working closely with government counterparts, particularly the Ministry of Education or other line ministries in Timor-Leste, at both national and municipal levels. Proven ability to engage and coordinate with diverse stakeholders, including civil society organizations (CSOs), local authorities, community-based groups, and development partners. Experience in community outreach, mobilization, awareness raising, and training with local communities. Familiarity with TVET, non-formal education systems, and/or community learning centres (CLCs) in Timor-Leste would be an asset.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in Education, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree will be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in programme implementation, coordination, or project management. Candidates should have experience in the education sector, youth development, or gender equality, with a strong background in working with government counterparts, particularly the Ministry of Education in Timor-Leste. Experience in community outreach and mobilization, as well as policy formulation and curriculum development, is essential.

Languages:
Fluency in Tetum and working proficiency in English is required for this position. Knowledge of Portuguese is considered an advantage, enhancing communication capabilities within the diverse linguistic landscape of Timor-Leste.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and involves working closely with the Ministry of Education. The National Programme Coordination Officer will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures, including a commitment to gender equality and social inclusion. The role may involve international collaboration and requires a strong commitment to the values and competencies outlined by UN Women, including respect for diversity, integrity, and professionalism.