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For every child, the right to Education

How can you make a difference?

Mozambique has one of the youngest populations in the world, with 65 per cent of the population under the age of 24. This demographic profile presents a major opportunity for national development, but only if children, adolescents and young people acquire the foundational, transferable, digital and market-relevant skills needed for further learning, decent work and civic participation. Despite progress in expanding access to education, learning outcomes remain weak, completion rates are low, and many learners leave school without basic literacy and numeracy skills or the competencies required to transition successfully to adulthood.

The education system is increasingly overstretched by rapid population growth, limited fiscal space, climate shocks, insecurity and persistent inequities. Schools often lack safe, inclusive and resilient learning environments, sufficient trained teachers, adequate materials and effective accountability systems. Adolescents and young people, particularly vulnerable girls, young people with disabilities and those affected by crisis, also face limited access to relevant skills, second-chance learning, safe spaces, services, information, earning opportunities and meaningful participation.

The UNICEF Mozambique Country Programme 2027–2030 responds to these challenges through the Learning, Skills and Engagement programme, which aims to strengthen the education system and youth participation mechanisms so that children and adolescents access quality learning opportunities, acquire relevant skills and participate meaningfully in shaping their futures. The programme is structured around three mutually reinforcing outputs: inclusive digital learning solutions; school and system level accountability, safeguarding and preparedness; and pathways for adolescents and young people—especially vulnerable girls—to move from learning to earning while strengthening agency, resilience and civic engagement.

Within this architecture, youth engagement, digital transformation and Learning-to-Earning are not stand-alone streams, but mutually reinforcing approaches that support more flexible, inclusive and resilient learning and skills pathways. UNICEF will support government-led efforts to embed these approaches in national systems, using evidence, partnerships and coherent programme standards to improve quality, accountability, continuity during shocks and opportunities for adolescents and young people.

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative, Programmes, the Chief Education (Learning, Skills and Engagement) provides strategic leadership and oversight for UNICEF Mozambique’s LSE programme. The Chief is accountable for the quality, coherence and results of integrated strategies that improve foundational learning, expand inclusive learning and skills pathways, strengthen education system resilience and accountability, and enable adolescents and young people to participate meaningfully and transition towards further learning, work and earning opportunities.

The role translates the Country Programme vision into scalable programme strategies; provides authoritative advice to government and partners; ensures clear delegated accountabilities across the section; and uses data and evidence to support adaptive management, policy dialogue, institutionalisation and scale. The Chief leads a diverse multidisciplinary team and fosters an inclusive, ethical and results-oriented culture.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Strategic leadership, accountability and management of the LSE section
Integrated programme design, planning and quality assurance across the three LSE outputs
Programme management, monitoring for results, evidence generation and demonstration of impact
Policy dialogue, systems strengthening and institutionalisation of scalable models
Partnerships, advocacy and resource mobilisation for learning, skills and engagement
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity development

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File JD_Chief Education (Learning, Skills and Engagement), (P-5), FT, #00047093, Maputo, Republic of Mozambique.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Education, International Development, Social Science, Development Studies, Economics, Public Policy, Public Administration, Youth Development, Educational Planning, Skills Development and any other related fields.
Work Experience: At least 10 years of relevant work experience in Education, Learning, Programme Management, Skills Development, Adolescent Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Fund Raising, International Development, Education Policy, Systems Strengthening, Resource Mobilization, Partnership Management, Education Emergencies and any other related fields.
Demonstrated experience in strategic leadership, programme design, management, monitoring and resource mobilization for large-scale education or adolescent development programmes is required.
Demonstrated experience using data, monitoring and evidence to improve programme quality, demonstrate results and inform policy dialogue, financing or scale-up is required.
Experience providing senior policy advice and working with ministries of education, youth, labour or related government institutions on systems strengthening, sector planning, institutionalization or reform priorities is required.
Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating complex partnerships with government, development partners, private sector, civil society, academia and technical partners is required.
Experience working in a developing country context is required.
Skills: Strategic Leadership, Capacity Development, Innovation, Knowledge Management, Adolescent Development.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

Additional relevant training in Education Systems Strengthening, Programme Design, Youth Engagement, Public Sector Management or Results-based Management is an asset.
Language: Knowledge of Portuguese, or another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
Experience providing strategic oversight for innovation, flexible learning pathways, adolescent skills or learning-to-earning initiatives is a strong asset.
Experience working with major education sector donors and partners, such as the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), World Bank and European Union, is a strong asset.
Experience in fragile, climate affected or emergency contexts is an asset.
Relevant experience in a UN system agency or international development organization 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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct.UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable.Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks.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 candidates 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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

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.