UNICEF is recruiting a Programme Specialist. Proficiency in programme management, coordination, and education sector development is required.
How can you make a
difference?
- Under the guidance and general supervision of the Chief, Education,
with a dotted reporting line to the Deputy Representative, Programme, the
Programme Specialist provides technical leadership, programme management
and coordination support to advance RISE Kenya’s objective of establishing
multiple, flexible and safe learning pathways to quality formal and
non-formal secondary education, skills development and transition
opportunities for out-of-school adolescents and youth. The role will
support system capacity building, technology-enabled learning, data and
evidence generation, and youth engagement to drive scalable, inclusive and
sustainable education.
- The Programme Specialist contributes to achievement of results
according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and
methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of
performance, and accountability framework.
- The position will serve as Programme Specialist for the RISE program
signed between UNICEF and Mastercard Foundation. The position is the
central coordination point across government, UNICEF, Mastercard
Foundation, consortium partners, development partners, and private sector
stakeholders, and carries accountability for program results, risk
management, and reporting to the Program Steering Committee.
Key Functions/Accountabilities:
Support
to programme development and planning
- Support the design, adaptation and implementation of multiple,
flexible and safe learning pathways, including formal and non-formal
secondary education, accelerated learning, digital learning and skills
development options that respond to diverse needs of out-of-school
adolescents and youth.
- Support meaningful adolescent and youth engagement, including peer
mobilization, youth-led advocacy and feedback mechanisms, to encourage
return to learning, strengthen life and employability skills, and
contribute to Kenya’s productive workforce and economic transformation.
Support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for
the education programmes to ensure that current and comprehensive data on
education issues is available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy,
advocacy, intervention and development efforts on education programmes.
Help supervisor set priorities, strategies, design and implementation
plans.
- Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management,
efficiency and delivery. Participate in strategic programme discussion on
planning of education programmes. Formulate, design and prepare programme
proposals for the sector, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans
and Country Programme and coherence/integration with UN Development
Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies and national priorities,
plans and competencies.
- Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies and implementation
plans for the sector using results-based planning terminology and
methodology (RBM).
- Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
Work closely and collaboratively with cross-sector and partners to discuss
strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities to
ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
- Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of
programming processes and to ensure integration, coherence and
harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and
achievement of results as planned and allocated.
Programme
coordination, management, monitoring and delivery of results
- Plan and collaborate with internal colleagues and external partners
to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other
UNICEF/UN system indicators to assess/strengthen performance
accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results
for the assigned sector on education programmes.
- Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme
reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to
assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve
results. Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify
gaps, strengths and weaknesses in programme management. Identify lessons
learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely
intervention to achieve goals.
- Lead generation, analysis and use of programme data, learning
evidence and implementation insights to inform decision-making, guide
adaptive management, support scale-up and contribute to broader education
system reform.
- Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits and
surveys, and exchange information with stakeholders to assess progress,
identify bottlenecks and potential problems, and take timely decisions to
resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
- Monitor and verify optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme
resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming
compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor
commitments, standards of accountability and integrity, ensuring timely
reporting and liquidation of resources. Prepare regular and mandated
programme reports for management, donors and partners to keep them
informed of programme progress.
Technical
and operational support to programme implementation
- Provide technical guidance and operational support to government
counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and country office partners
and donors on interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF
policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches on
education, adolescent and youth empowerment and livelihood to support
programme management, implementation and delivery of results.
- Coordinate capacity-building initiatives for government,
implementing partners, education providers and community structures to
deliver flexible, inclusive and technology-enabled secondary education and
skills development pathways at scale.
- Liaise with technical experts in HQ/ centre of excellence to ensure
timely and appropriate support throughout the programming process.
Participate in relevant programme meetings including programme development
and contingency planning to provide technical and operational information,
advice and support. Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic
programme materials for management use.
Networking
and partnership building
- Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant
government counterparts, national stakeholders, global partners, donors,
academia, youth groups and private sector through active networking,
advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange
knowledge/expertise and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable
and broad results on education programmes.
- Map and mobilize private sector actors to join efforts and co-invest
in digital platforms, safe spaces, and youth skilling programs, ensuring
that market-driven opportunities continue to be available to graduates
long after program’s initial investment period. Prepare communication and
information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness,
establish partnerships and support fund raising for education programmes.
Innovation,
knowledge management and capacity building
- Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to
build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the
implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in
education management, edtech and livelihood programmes targeting youth.
- Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge
learned.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and
procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable
programmes and projects. Organize and implement capacity building
initiatives to enhance competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote
sustainable results on education and related programmes/projects.
Minimum requirements
- Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in
Education, management, development economics, psychology, sociology or
another relevant technical field and any other related fields.
- Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in
education systems reform, workforce development or large-scale social
sector program leadership, including in a program leadership or
country-level coordination role; demonstrated experience in managing
multi-partner, multi-donor high-value programs at national scale; track
record of translating program delivery into policy influence and
institutional change; experience in managing multi-million program
budgets. and any other related fields.
- Skills: Technical skills: Understanding of global development issues
and their linkages with education, youth skilling, employability, and
inter-sectoral programming. Knowledge of global development in secondary
education, youth empowerment, equity, human rights-based programming, and
international engagement strategies.
- Ability to support policy dialogue: translate evidence and analysis
into policy dialogue with government, partners, private sector, CSOs and
academia. Knowledge of education and policy sector analysis, including
data, equity and gender analysis, access and learning, costing, financing,
political economy and strategic planning. Proven experience managing
multi-partner, multi-donor programmes and high-value budgets at national
scale. Experience with EdTech, digital learning or technology-enabled
service delivery at scale.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
Desirables
- Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French,
Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset
- Prior experience working with either UNICEF, UN, Mastercard
Foundations, Private Sector, or organizations with comparable
UN/foundation governance and reporting systems is strongly preferred.
- Experience with EdTech, digital learning, or technology-enabled
service delivery at scale is an advantage.
- 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…
- Builds and maintains partnerships
- Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
- Drive to achieve results for impact
- Innovates and embraces change
- Manages ambiguity and complexity
- Thinks and acts strategically
- Works collaboratively with others
Deadline: 22 Aug 2026 E. Africa
Standard Time
How to Apply
