South Sudan: Literacy and Life Skills Specialist, P3

REF:UB/ADM/14/01

| | | | **** | | Title | Literacy and Life Skills Specialist | | | Domain | Education | | | Grade | P3 | | | Organization Unit | UNESCO – Juba Office | | | Type of Contract | Project Appointment | |

Organization Unit:        UNESCO – Juba Office``

Duration:                     18 months ( Six Months probationary period )                            

Reporting to:               Education Specialist

Overview of the function of the Post

Background

With 1.3 million children out of school and the qualified teacher to pupil ratio at 1:117, South Sudan has some of the most challenging education indicators in the world. The female illiteracy rate is estimated to be close to 85%, the highest in Africa. 40% of girls are married before the age of 18 and only 6% of girls complete primary school. A 15-year-old girl in South Sudan has a greater chance of dying in childbirth than of finishing school. The recent crisis in the country has disrupted education further with fewer girls attending school and more at risk of drop-out. However, demand for education remains high, especially among girls and women.

The Literacy and Life Skills for Women project aims to provide girls and women in South Sudan with literacy and life skills, with a view to enhancing their life chances and opportunities. The project focuses on the educational needs of female youth aged 15-35, a group particularly affected by illiteracy as many have dropped out or never attended school. The project objectives, which will be achieved together with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and partners, are as follows:

1- Increase access to quality literacy and life skills as well as income-generation opportunities, by establishing learning centres, targeting women and girls aged 15-35;

2- Develop capacity of national institutions in the planning, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation of quality literacy and life skills programmes which promote young women’s empowerment;

3- Launch an advocacy campaign on literacy and empowerment of young women.

The project will complement UNESCO’s ongoing activities in the areas of Literacy and Life Skills, including the teaching of ex-combatants within the Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation (DDR) Programme; the Literacy Programme implemented in partnership with UN Women in 4 states; UNESCO’s CapEFA programme which builds institutional policy and strategy capacity development; as well as the ‘Skills for Life’ project which trains teachers and students in conflict affected regions.

The Literacy and Life Skills Specialist will provide both technical advice and project management and will ultimately be responsible for ensuring that the Literacy and Life Skills for Women project meets the needs of the beneficiaries, according to the project timeline.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Education Specialist and overall management of the Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to South Sudan, the incumbent will undertake the following tasks and responsibilities:

1. Manage the Literacy and Life Skills for Women project, including;
2. Together with MoEST, develop a detailed project work plan, timeline and monitoring and evaluation plan
3. Link project plans with UNESCO’s literacy and life skills initiatives at the national, regional and global level
4. Manage the establishment of literacy centres around the country, to provide literacy and numeracy, life skills, basic vocational skills, undertaking regular field missions and visits to project areas within South Sudan
5. Train trainers and develop literacy and life skills training materials (drawing on existing materials available)
6. Together with private sector companies and other partners, establish mobile phone learning platforms and monitoring networks
7. Design and implement an advocacy campaign through audio and print media, as well as mobile technologies
8. Manage the work of a project assistant and ensure timely implementation of project

9. Provide technical advice to ensure the Literacy and Life Skills for Women project

   is needs and beneficiary-based:

10. Together with the MoEST and UNESCO Juba’s Education Team, identify

    priorities and areas for growth within literacy and life skills planning and programming in South Sudan.

11. Contribute to strategic planning and fundraising plans of UNESCO Juba’s

    literacy and life skills initiatives.

12. Integrate education projects with Culture and Communications Sector

    initiatives underway.

13. Work in close collaboration and ensure complementary programming with partners, specifically those working on Alternative Education Systems (AES); Literacy; Learning outcomes and Girls Education, including DFID; USAID, UNICEF, EU and Save the Children.

14. Represent UNESCO in Literacy-related groups and initiatives, including the AES and Literacy Technical Working Group and others as requested.
15. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and experience

1. An advanced university degree in a relevant field;
2. A minimum of five years relevant professional experience, working on education;
3. Deep, field-based understanding of literacy and life skills programming in crisis-affected contexts;
4. Analytical approach to literacy and non-formal programming;
5. Experience in managing the project cycle;
6. Experience with monitoring and evaluation;
7. Experience working closely with Ministries of Education at central and local levels;
8. Readiness to travel and undertake regular field missions and visits to projects sites within South Sudan;
9. Strong interpersonal skills and willingness to work as part of a collaborative and growing education team;
10. Flexibility and adaptability to adjust to contextual challenges and needs accordingly;
11. Excellent oral and written communication skills, an analytical and strategic approach and ability to clearly articulate key ideas in simple and accessible language;

12. Fluency in English (verbal and writing);

    Familiarity with the context of South Sudan is an added advantage.

    UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment processes

One file of a complete application, including University Degree, CV and brief cover letter making reference of the post and title, to be emailed to Mrs. Bakhita Gore b.lado@unesco.org or deliver at UNESCO Juba Office, South of UNMISS Tongping, Juba by 15 March 2014

Please, note that only pre-selected candidates will be contacted