Education Officer

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF is a global organization established in 1946, dedicated to advocating for children's rights and ensuring their well-being. With a mission to promote the rights and welfare of every child, UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, employing approximately 13,000 staff members worldwide. The organization focuses on various areas, including education, health, nutrition, and protection, aiming to create a better future for children and their families. UNICEF's work in Guinea-Bissau is particularly crucial, given the country's challenges in education and child welfare, as highlighted by its low Human Development Index ranking.

Job Overview:
The Education Officer position is a stretch assignment aimed at providing technical support to the UNICEF Country Office in Guinea-Bissau, specifically within the Access to Learning Section. The role is designed to address critical issues in the education sector, which is facing significant challenges, including low enrollment rates, high dropout rates, and inadequate educational resources. The officer will work closely with the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Scientific Investigation (MENESIC) to support the end-year review (EYR) process and planning for the new Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2027-3

• The position requires a focus on quality education, foundational literacy and numeracy, curriculum development, community mobilization, and school management, while also considering emerging issues such as digital education and climate change. The officer will be expected to collaborate with various stakeholders to maximize the impact of UNICEF's educational initiatives in a challenging environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Education Officer will be responsible for several key duties, including: 1) Providing technical support for the quality education portfolio, focusing on foundational literacy and numeracy, curriculum development, inclusive education, community mobilization, and school management. 2) Supporting the implementation of activities related to the EYR process and planning for the new CPD 2027-3

• 3) Identifying and integrating emerging areas into the quality education portfolio. 4) Collaborating with MENESIC and other partners to implement responsible activities under the quality education portfolio, including GPE STG and AFD programmes. 5) Assisting in the delivery of supplies under the AFD programme, which includes the rehabilitation of secondary schools and related facilities. 6) Planning, implementing, and monitoring activities under the quality education portfolio. 7) Drafting inputs for the new CPD 2027-31 and UNSCDF 2027-31 development processes. 8) Ensuring that all activities are aligned with UNICEF's strategic goals and objectives in the education sector.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in international relations, international development, education, public policy, management, sociology, business administration, or related fields. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of two years of relevant experience in education programming, particularly in quality education, school management, and community mobilization. Familiarity with the education context in Guinea-Bissau or similar fragile or low and middle-income countries is essential. Candidates should also demonstrate the ability to engage with various stakeholders, possess strong analytical skills, and have experience in education programming and policymaking processes in the public sector.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in fields such as international relations, international development, education, public policy, management, sociology, business administration, or other related areas is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of education systems and the challenges faced in implementing effective educational programs in fragile contexts like Guinea-Bissau.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of two years of relevant experience in education programming, with a focus on quality education, school management, and community mobilization. Candidates should have experience working in similar fragile or low and middle-income countries, and familiarity with the education context in Guinea-Bissau is highly desirable. Extensive experience in education programming, planning, and policymaking processes in the public sector is also essential for success in this role.

Languages:
Fluency in English or French is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is considered an asset. Additionally, knowledge of Portuguese is advantageous, given the context of Guinea-Bissau and its linguistic landscape.

Additional Notes:
This stretch assignment is temporary and will last for a duration of two months, from 15 December 2025 to 15 February 202

• The position is office-based in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Selected candidates will retain their current post and status within UNICEF while temporarily located in Bissau. The organization will cover economy class travel and provide 100% of the UN DSA rate for the first four weeks, followed by 50% DSA for the remaining duration. Interested candidates must discuss this opportunity with their supervisors and obtain management approval before applying.