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For every child, the right to Education

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Nepal's Education Section works with the Government of Nepal and development partners to improve access, equity, quality, governance and resilience in school education. The School Education Sector Plan (SESP) 2022-2032 is entering a decisive transition: a realistic and costed second five-year programme for 2027-2032 and a successor Joint Financing Arrangement must be developed while foundational learning, digitalization, inclusive education and federal service delivery are translated into practical sector arrangements. From August 2026, UNICEF serves as the Development Partner focal point, with the Embassy of Finland as co-focal point, creating a time-bound need for strong coordination, analysis, representation and follow-up. The role will also help inform the Local Education Development Partner Group of the work done through the Nepal Education Cluster in terms of the response and early-recovery work following the August 2026 floods.

Join UNICEF Nepal's Education Section to support the country's long-standing sector-wide approach at a decisive transition. You will help UNICEF in undertaking its Development Partner focal-point responsibilities, coordinate closely with the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Embassy of Finland, and connect sector dialogue with UNICEF programme and field evidence.

Your key functions and accountabilities will cover:

UNICEF core-team and focal-point coordination. Support planning, preparation and follow-up for UNICEF's engagement with Government, Joint Financing Partners, LEDPG/LEG members and other stakeholders; maintain day-to-day coordination with MoES DACS and the Embassy of Finland; and prepare calendars, agendas, briefs, speaking points, meeting records, decision logs and action trackers.
Support to the second SESP programme (2027-2032). Coordinate UNICEF inputs to the Government-led roadmap, evidence review, consultations, drafting and decision calendar; promote foundational learning; facilitate meaningful federal, provincial and local consultation; and synthesize specialist inputs.
Support to the successor Joint Financing Arrangement. Organize UNICEF and partner contributions to the review and successor dialogue, improve the visibility of partner financing, coordinate specialist advice and maintain consultation records, comment matrices and action trackers.
Subnational participation and accountability. Help provincial education plans, Local Education Plans, budgets, implementation monitoring and frontline learning evidence inform federal dialogue, joint reviews and SESP II design.
Programme management, communication and risk management. Maintain an agreed workplan and milestones, provide decision-oriented analysis, identify and escalate risks, coordinate with UNICEF programme and operations colleagues and field offices, and undertake authorized official travel.
Education response and early recovery. Support regular updates to the LEDPG and coordination of response and early-recovery initiatives so that evidence and lessons from flood-affected areas inform joint sector reviews and planning.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD_Education Officer (Sector Coordination), NOB, TA, Kathmandu, Nepal #00138273.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: University degree (Bachelor's) in education, public policy or administration, economics, development studies, social sciences or another relevant field is required.

Work Experience: Minimum two years of relevant professional experience in education programme planning, management, partnerships, coordination, policy support or a related area is required. Experience working with Government institutions and/or development partners and supporting multi-stakeholder processes, experience organizing high level external meetings or consultations, synthesizing evidence and diverse inputs, and preparing clear briefs, records or action trackers is required. Experience managing several priorities and deadlines through collaborative work with different stakeholders is a requirement.

Technical skills required:
• Good understanding of Nepal's school education sector and federal governance context, including the respective roles of federal, provincial and local institutions.
• Ability to review policy, program, financing and implementation information and translate it into concise options, briefs and follow-up actions appropriate to the level of the post.
• Strong coordination, facilitation, relationship-management and teamwork skills, with sound judgment about institutional roles, clearances and escalation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint and familiarity with collaborative document, virtual-meeting and knowledge-management tools.

Language Requirements: English and Nepali - Proficient/Fluent level is required.

Desirables:

• Familiarity with Nepal's SESP, SWAp, JFA, JRM/BRM, LEDPG/JFP processes, IEMIS or Local Education Plans will be an asset.
• Exposure to foundational learning, inclusive education, digital education, public financing, results-based financing, partner-financing mapping or subnational service delivery is deired.
• Prior experience with UNICEF/UN or an international development institution is an asset.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates, candidates from underrepresented ethnic groups and candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Education Officer (Sector Coordination and SWAp), NO-B, #00138273, TA (364 days), Kathmandu - Nepal, APR (Open to Nepalese Nationals Only)