UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Education

Ethiopia is situated in the Horn of Africa and is the second most populous country on the continent, with an estimated population of 115 million. It borders six African countries—Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan—and covers 1,104,300 square kilometers. Approximately 85 per cent of the population lives in rural areas. Ethiopia represents a melting pot of ancient cultures, with Middle Eastern and African influences evident in the religious, ethnic and linguistic composition of its people.

You will be working in a context where children and their families across Ethiopia have faced multiple and complex emergencies, including the conflict in northern Ethiopia and severe drought, resulting in millions of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. UNICEF implements programmes in Child Protection, WASH, Health, Nutrition, Social Policy and Education, serving over 15 million children across the country. By joining UNICEF Ethiopia, you will contribute directly to improving the lives of children and women.

How can you make a difference?

The System Transformation of Education Programme (STEP) Programme Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will provide expertise, direct field support and capacity building in the areas of education programme planning, monitoring and evaluation, equity focused and results-based programming and results-focused reporting, and education sector analysis with a focus on the key results areas of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) funded STEP for Girls and Learning.

Specifically, the incumbent will work closely with the Ministry of Education (MOE), the UNICEF Education Team, Regional Education Bureaus, GPE Programme Management Office Team, and STEP Target Woredas to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate the STEP programme. This role will contribute to enhancing monitoring, evaluation accountability and learning across the STEP programme.

The Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (GPE) will be part of the STEP Programme Management Team of the UNICEF Ethiopia Education Section and will report to and work under the direct supervision of the GPE Programme Manager responsible for the GPE funded System Transformation of Education Programme (STEP) for Girls and Learning. The Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (GPE) will also work in close collaboration with the System Strengthening Result Area/Unit of the Education Section in particular and with other result areas/units of the section such as Early Childhood Education, Every Child Learning, and Quality Education and Skills Development for ensuring successful and coordinated planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the GPE funded STEP for Girls and Learning Programme.

Key Functions and Accountabilities

STEP for Girls and Learning Programme planning, engagement, and coordination with authorities.

STEP for Girls and Learning Programme Management, Budgeting, Monitoring and Reporting.

Advocacy, Networking and Partnership building for the GPE STEP Program.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File JD STEP NOC_Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist 6 months.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: An advanced university degree in Education, Social Sciences, Curriculum and Instruction, Teacher Education, or another related technical field.
Work Experience:
- At least five years of professional work experience in monitoring and evaluation at the national or regional levels in curriculum and instructional materials development, pedagogy and teacher education, quality of education, social development, and/or management required.
- Familiarity with delivering results in challenging and close contexts such as quality education provision.
Language Requirements: Knowledge of English language at a Proficient/Fluent level is required.

Desirables:

1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset
2. Experience of working in government or other INGOs /NGOs programs and activities will be an added advantage.
3. Strong STEP and our GPE project experience and knowledge of UNICEF systems is desirable.
4. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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 and persons with disability 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.

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.

Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, NO-3, TA, #00138052, Ethiopia, 6 months, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, (For Ethiopian Nationals only)