Project Officer- Education (Islamabad, Pakistan) contract

Parent Sector: Education

Duty Station: Islamabad

Type of contract : Service Contract

Level : SC8

Duration of contract: 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to:  External as well as Internal

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time): 21 April 2025

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

  
UNESCO, as a specialized agency of the United Nations and an integral member of the UN family, works in close coordination with other UN agencies, funds, and programmes in Pakistan. Operating within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023–2027, UNESCO supports Pakistan in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring no one is left behind, upholding fundamental rights, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, strengthening resilience, enhancing accountability, and advancing sustainability. Through its Strategic Note 2024–2027, UNESCO aims to deliver high-impact results across three interlinked and mutually reinforcing pillars in Pakistan:

1. Equity, Social Cohesion, and Economic Growth
2. Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), Digital Inclusion, and Digital Transformation
3. Climate Change, Environmental Sustainability, and Resilience

UNESCO is dedicated to promoting inclusive, equitable, and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all in Pakistan. As the global lead for the Education 2030 Agenda and SDG-4, UNESCO works to strengthen Pakistan’s education system with gender equality and inclusion at its core. Its strategic education priorities include: (a) Equity and Inclusion, (b) Climate and Resilience, (c) Digital Transformation, and (d) Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).  Youth empowerment and gender equality are cross-cutting themes, ensuring all UNESCO initiatives contribute to building a more just and equitable society.

Under the overall guidance of the Head of the UNESCO Pakistan Office and the direct supervision of the Head of the Education Unit the Project Officer for Education Unit plays a critical role in advancing UNESCO’s education agenda in Pakistan. As part of the Education team, this position is responsible for supporting the results-based planning, implementation, and monitoring of education sector programmes, ensuring alignment with UNESCO’s strategic priorities and donor requirements. As a key contributor to programme effectiveness, the Project Officer for Education Unit works in close coordination with internal teams, implementing partners, and vendors to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of activities. The officer also supports reporting by producing accurate and timely progress and financial reports, enabling evidence-based decision-making and enhancing the Education team’s overall performance and delivery.

In addition to project management responsibilities, the Project Officer for Education Unit is expected to provide substantive technical expertise in the field of education. This includes contributing to policy dialogue, conducting research and analysis, supporting the development of technical documents, and advising on evidence-based approaches to address national education priorities. The Officer will stay abreast of global and regional education trends, ensuring that UNESCO’s interventions are informed by current knowledge, best practices, and contextual understanding.
 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

More specifically, the Project Officer for Education Unit in Islamabad Office will be responsible for the following functions: 

Planning, Coordination and Management
1. Assisting in updating the Education Unit work plans for Regular Programme (RP) and Extrabudgetary (EXB) initiatives, outlining key activities, timelines, milestones, and deliverables, while ensuring alignment with Education strategic priorities of Education and donor requirements.
2. Coordinating closely with internal teams, including Education, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), Procurement and Admin, as well as implementation partners and vendors to ensure that planning and implementation processes are harmonized, efficient, and clearly communicated.
3. Facilitating the prioritization of Education programme activities, allocating resources efficiently, and addressing logistical needs of the Education programme team. 
4. Tracking implementation progress against established work plans, analysing performance data to support evidence-based decision-making, and preparing regular progress updates and reports to promote transparency and accountability to stakeholders and donors.
5. Identifying risks and implementation challenges, developing appropriate mitigation strategies, and adapting plans proactively in response to emerging issues or changing contextual dynamics.

Technical Support and Knowledge Management in Education
1. Providing support by contributing to education related programme development aligned with UNESCO’s mandate and strategic priorities for education.
2. Conducting desk research and analysis on key education issues in Pakistan to inform programme design, policy recommendations, and advocacy efforts.
3. Developing and reviewing technical documents, including concept notes, policy briefs, and training materials, ensuring accuracy, relevance, and alignment with international standards and best practices.
4. Supporting capacity development initiatives for education stakeholders through the design and facilitation of workshops, training sessions, and knowledge exchange activities.

Contract and Financial Management

1. Drafting, reviewing, and managing contracts with implementing partners, consultants, and vendors in compliance with UNESCO’s policies, ensuring clarity in scope of work, deliverables, timelines, and payment terms.
2. Supporting the development of detailed RP and EXB programme budgets, monitoring expenditures against approved budgets, and ensuring that allocated budgets are utilized efficiently, with final verification of the Administrative Officer, and in accordance with UNESCO’s financial regulations.
3. Coordinating procurement processes for goods and services, including preparing Expression of Intertest (EOI), Invitation to Bids (ITB), Request for Proposals (RFPs), Request for Quotations (RFQ) and ensuring timely processing of payments and disbursements in line with approved contracts and financial procedures.
4. Ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting by collecting and verifying supporting documentation, tracking financial transactions, and contributing to periodic financial reports for internal use and accountability with close coordination of the Administrative Officer.
5. Developing financial benchmarks, terms of references for external vendors and partners and in the recruitment of consultants and experts.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
1. Maintaining a robust tracking system to monitor compliance with contractual and partnership agreements, performance benchmarks, and delivery schedules; proposing amendments or contract extensions as needed to support timely programme delivery.
2. Collecting, analysing, and reporting data as per MEAL requirements to assess the effectiveness of education programme interventions, identifying areas for improvement, and ensuring evidence-based decision-making.
3. Preparing and submitting quality narrative and financial reports with close coordination of the Administrative Officer for both internal use and external stakeholders, effectively communicating programme progress, challenges, and impacts.
4. Monitoring implementation of the contracts, assessing the quality of services provided and requesting disbursement of funds.
5. Monitoring financial and contractual activities to ensure compliance with internal controls, audit requirements, and financial regulations; flagging irregularities, proposing corrective actions, and supporting the implementation of risk mitigation measures.
6. Undertaking additional tasks assigned by the Head of the Office and/or Head of Education, ensuring adaptability to evolving priorities.
 

• Strong organization and coordination skills. 
•  Strong interpersonal skills, with proven ability to maintain effective working relations within a multi-cultural environment.
•  Effective communication skills for preparing and presenting reports, briefs, and progress updates. 
• Strong analytical skills and ability to work effectively, set priorities, and work within tight deadlines.
•  Experience with monitoring and evaluation methodologies.
•  Ability to draft high-quality, clear, concise documents and reports.
•  Ability to build and maintain partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
•  Excellent presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively.
•  Excellent IT skills, including office productivity tools and online collaboration tools.
• Proven ability in contract and financial management, including budgeting and reporting.
•  Excellent skills in project monitoring and evaluation, including data collection, analysis, and evidence-based decision-making.

Education
Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) in Education, Public Policy, Social Sciences, or a related field from a recognised institution. 

Work Experience
1. Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in project planning, implementation, management and coordination in the education sector.
2. Proven experience of collaborating with government agencies, international organizations, UN agencies, or other key stakeholders in the education sector.
3. Hands on experience in financial management, contract negotiation and enforcement.
4. Practical knowledge of results-based project management, monitoring, and reporting requirements for donor-funded programmes and projects.
Languages
Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English and good knowledge of Urdu.
 

Education
Advanced university degree (Master degree or equivalent) in Project Management, Development Studies, or a related field from a recognized institution.

Work Experience
 Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in the UN system or intergovernmental organizations in managing and coordinating projects.
 Experience in SDG-4 related programmes national, education sector plans, and key global education frameworks.
 Experience in supporting or leading data collection, analysis, and reporting for education programmes.

Languages
Proficiency in the local working language is preferred.