National Project Officer

JOB DETAILS

Type of contract : Service Contract

Level : SC9

Hiring Unit : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station : Somalia

Work location : On site

Duration of contract : 6 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC−3 Time) : 21/08/2026

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

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Federal Government of Somalia, with the support of UNESCO and UNICEF and funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), will implement the project Building peace through religious education in Somalia. The aim is to support government efforts to enhance social cohesion and resilience amongst Somalis by integrating foundational, peace-centered pedagogy, safeguarding, and inclusive teaching practices into early childhood Quranic education.

To achieve this, the project will focus on three main results: (1) facilitating coordinated government leadership on improving and standardizing early childhood Islamic education across formal and informal schools, (2) integrating peacebuilding pedagogy and safeguarding standards into religious instruction and child learning spaces in target schools in Jubaland and Banadir; and (3) sensitizing parents, community members and community leaders to their role in supporting peacebuilding through early childhood Quranic education.

Long Description

The project will help girls and boys in Quranic schools develop relevant knowledge, skills and values that enable their inclusion, flourishing and social and economic empowerment in the society, in safe and secure learning environments.

The position will be based in Mogadishu, Somalia, and will operate within the organizational framework of the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa (Nairobi, Kenya).

MAIN TASKS AND SERVICES

Under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa (UNESCO Nairobi), the functional authority of the Chief of Education Sector of the Regional Office, and the direct supervision of the Project Manager in Mogadishu, the National Project Officer will be based in Mogadishu and supervise the day-to-day implementation of the project in Somalia on behalf of UNESCO, in cooperation with the Project Manager who will provide the project leadership, as well as the members of the joint project team consisting of education and other specialists from UNICEF. Specific responsibilities include:

Long Description

1. Ensuring the management and quality of the project from UNESCO’s side in line with the project specific objectives, activities, and expected outputs, in cooperation with the Project Manager.

• Supporting the Project Manager in the overall management of the project.
• Regularly monitoring and supporting the updating of the project workplan as necessary.
• Planning and organizing the procurement of goods and services to be carried out by UNESCO and closely monitoring their implementation.
• Identifying suitable project implementation partners and providers of goods and services.
• Monitoring the implementation of contracts, assessing the quality of services provided, and requesting disbursement of funds.
• In coordination with the Project Manager and team, liaising with other development partners, donors, and stakeholders in Somalia to ensure coordination, harmonization, and alignment of the project with other relevant initiatives and interventions in the country.

Long Description

2. Ensuring the monitoring and evaluation of project implementation and reporting on project activities:

• Regularly monitoring the financial status of the project for UNESCO’s side and promptly developing a budget revision if needed.
• Overseeing monitoring and evaluation efforts and reporting on progress.
• Supporting the Project Manager in regularly preparing, conducting, and following up on meetings with government and stakeholders, preparing their minutes and action plans with a clear division of responsibility and timeframe.
• Preparing reports on project activities for UNESCO, the donor, and partners.

Long Description

3. Contributing to the dissemination of the project's results and knowledge products through various channels, such as workshops, webinars, and publications, and ensuring that the information is accessible and usable by project stakeholders.

4. Providing policy advice and technical assistance to project stakeholders in Somalia on the project implementation, evidence generation, framework development, piloting and operationalization, and monitoring and evaluation in line with the government policies as well as the Sustainable Development Goals 4 (SDG4-Education 2030) and 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Somalia.

Long Description

5. Mobilizing UNESCO’s entities, including UNESCO Headquarters, UNESCO Nairobi, UNESCO Institutes, and others in support of ensuring expertise and successful project implementation.

6. Facilitating the sharing of international experiences and access to information, knowledge and good practices.

EXPECTED RESULTS

The National Project Officer is expected to supervise the day-to-day implementation of the project in Somalia and to ensure that the project outcome and outputs will be achieved according to the project document, in cooperation with the Project Manager.

Long Description

Long Description

DURATION OF THE CONTRACT

Initial appointment: 6 months, with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance and availability of the project fund

Long Description

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowlegde sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C) For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Academic qualifications

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in the field of education, social sciences, peace studies or closely related field(s).

WORK EXPERIENCE

Years of relevant work experience

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in technical assistance and project management in the field of education, teacher training or skills development.
• Experience in supporting educational and training reform/development agenda of governments.

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent understanding of the issues and challenges regarding religious education in Somalia.
• Good project management skills and ability to coordinate and support a complex project.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the Organization.
• Ability to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Strong IT skills.

LANGUAGES

Language requirement

• Fluency in English and Somali.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Education

• Specialization in education and/or peacebuilding.

Work Experience

• Work experience in a UN agency or international organization.
• Work experience in the field of education in Somalia or Horn of Africa.
• Experience in policy support and capacity development in education.

Skills and Competencies

• Procedures in international development cooperation, in particular in UNESCO.

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

Long Description

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted.

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course.

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of personnel shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
• lndividuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
• All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
• The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.