Project Assistant- Port Sudan (Khartoum, Sudan) contract

Parent Sector : [[Education Sector (ED)]]

Duty Station: [[Port Sudan, required to travel when needed within Sudan.]]

Type of contract : [[Service Contract]]

Level : [[4]]

Duration of contract : [[1 Year]]

Recruitment open to : [[Sudanese Candidates]]

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : [[17.10.2024]]

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Introduction

Within the project “SUD-INCA Invest in Capability in Sudan: Better employability for Sudanese youth through TVET” and in light of the challenging context in Sudan, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the donor, has entrusted UNESCO, the implementor,  with a generous donation to increase the quality and relevance of TVET delivery in Kassala and Red Sea states generating new employability opportunities for Sudanese youth, particularly girls and disadvantaged groups such as IDPs and people with disabilities, in Agri-TVET and related fields’, equipping them with relevant skills for better employment and livelihood. In order to address the deficiency of functioning TVET centres in the country, the project intends to rehabilitate and empower a Model Vocational Training Centres in Kassala and Model Technical Secondary School in Port Sudan. The project will introduce curricula in line with eight pre-identified trades to cater to the skills gap of youth, through the lens of gender, inclusion of People With Disability (PwD) and crisis-responsiveness

1. Background

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) connects education and the world of work, unlocking the potential of young people and adults for a brighter future. Yet, it is estimated that 267 million young people are not in employment, education or training. ln line with national development priorities, UNESCO helps to enhance the relevance of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to equip all youth and adults with the skills required for employment, decent work, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning.

UNESCO has been mobilising resources and implementing programs in addressing the above identified challenges, which have been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict which erupted in April 2023. UNESCO Sudan’s Education Sector has been supporting the national TVET system by working, in a participatory approach,  with a national team comprised of stakeholders representatives from government (federal and state level), private sector, professional and business unions, international and national organisations. Programmes are developed to enhance capacities of the national TVET stakeholders to better manage the TVET system and offer skills development to youth, women and vulnerable groups (IDPs, Persons with Disability, Refugees, rural communities etc) across Sudan.

Tasks

Under the general authority of the Head of UNESCO Sudan Office, and the direct supervision of the Program manager, the incumbent shall perform the following tasks:

• To provide specialized, comprehensive support to programme implementation in a timely, accurate and pro-active manner in line with relevant HR, Administrative and Financial rules and regulations of the Organization, practices, procedures, guidelines, protocols. A high attention to detail and accuracy will be required.
• Follow up on implementation of the projects plans and report on any amendments to the project manager.
• Support in organization of workshops and meetings arranging all required logistics and necessary follow ups and filing etc.
• Coordinate and facilitate arrangements according to plans, ensuring invitation and participation of all targeted individuals and smooth progress of activities covering meetings, workshops and events.
• Compile reports or minutes of meetings capturing agreed action points or recommendations and ensure sharing them with the project manager and relevant parties.
• Collection, tabulation and sharing of relevant data collected from activities and preparation of presentations.
• Report regularly to the project manager, escalating any issues.
• Support visibility of events and media coverage.
• Ensure all project documentation is maintained appropriately and helping the project teams manage resources and information and assist with scheduling and planning meetings and project activities.

• Support administrative work by
  • Coordinating with Admin Office ensuring all requirements are met.
  • Support ToRs and contracts development consultants and suppliers; and follow up on payments against deliverables.
  • Ensure contractors’ deliverables are received, and payments and commitments are met in due dates.
• Maintain smooth communication with all relevant parties and stakeholders, including WhatsApp groups.
• Perform translation of intermediate and final documents under supervision of the project manager. Provide verbal translation from Arabic to English and vice versa during events for international participants.
• Ensure UNESCO Khartoum office is present in and informed about all communications with the different counterparts in the projects including stakeholders, the national team and experts.
• Support and facilitate international and national experts in preparation for missions, workshops and meetings agendas including the people to meet and discussion points.
• Support the Project Manager in arranging meetings and scheduling events on calendar and ensuring update on projects activities.
• Other assigned tasks in the Education Sector.

a)    Level of autonomy: To work under Project Manager’s guidance and perform tasks as described above.
b)    The Service Contract holder exchanges information, Project stakeholders, vendors, government, NGOs, IOs, Private Sector, the general community
 

Education

Secondary education/University degree in management, education, social sciences or a related field.

Number of years of relevant work experience:
At least 3 years of relevant work experience in the field of project support, or project assistance.

Knowledge, skills and competencies:
–    Excellent communication and coordination skills.
–    Excellent organizational and planning skills.
–    Capacity for accuracy and attention to detail in preparation of correspondence and documents. 
–    Good interpersonal skills, discretion, good sense of judgement and capacity to deal efficiently and tactfully with people of different cultural backgrounds.
–    Cooperative behaviour and attitude to work in a team successfully.
–    Excellent IT skills with proficiency in the use of MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel. PowerPoint, etc.).
–    Ability to work under pressure and flexibility to adjust work schedules and priorities.

Language requirement:
Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English and Arabic; knowledge of other official UN language would be an asset.