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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a Future

The long-term vision for change in the Education and ADAP area is that, by 2027, all children and adolescents in Kyrgyzstan, including those with disabilities, have equitable access to inclusive quality education from early years, improve learning outcomes, develop skills for life and work and participate in decision-making. This result will directly contribute to UNSDCF Priority One.

To achieve this, UNICEF will support the Government and CSO partners to:

• Strengthen the education system capacity at central and regional levels to implement gender-responsive and inclusive curriculum reforms, competency-based teaching learning standards from early learning to secondary education and financing for efficiency, and to enhance quality assurance and accountability for community-based preschool governance.
• Improve teacher professional development and learning environment, including gender-sensitive inclusive WASH infrastructure and quality materials, contribute to enhancing foundational literacy, numeracy and competencies, and optimizing school safety, climate resilience and disaster risk management, especially for those most disadvantaged.
• Improve line ministries and multi-sectoral stakeholders’ inter-sectoral coordination and institutional capacities to promote policies, strategies and opportunities for participation and skills development for adolescent boys and girls aged 10-19 years, with a focus on the most disadvantaged.

How can you make a difference?

The Chief of Education (ADAP) is based in Bishkek and responsible for leading the Education and ADAP programme. This position will have responsibility to ensure high quality technical support is provided to significant education reforms underway, including with Global Partnership for Education (GPE) support and digital learning component. Climate change and WASH are integrated into this outcome area. The Chief provides strong management and leadership to the Education and ADAP team to deliver timely and quality results against the annual workplan and in line with the CPD. S/he will also be responsible for effective team budget management, as well as ensuring compliance with donor conditionalities and effective coordination with development partners in the areas of responsibility.

The Chief will need to proactively and strongly coordinate and collaborate skills to effectively and efficiently manage education, ADAP and climate change programming across two offices - Bishkek and Osh field office – and in coordination with other sectionssections.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• an advanced University degree in one of the following fields is required: education, economics, psychology, sociology or another relevant technical field.
  
  • bachelors’ degree with two additional years of experience will also be accepted. 

• A minimum of 8 years of proven professional experience in planning and management in education systems strengthening and reforms in Middle Income Country contexts. Experience in supporting system reforms through GPE engagement will be considered highly advantageous.  
• Evidence of proactive leadership, agility and strategic thinking to ensure timely and effective programme delivery, including in complex policy and donor coordination contexts.
• Proven experience in partnership building with government, IFIs, other UN agencies.
• Evidence of strong understanding of ADAP programming, especially linking it to education programming and system reforms.
• Evidence of adequate understanding of climate change programming/
• Developing country work experience is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Russian is an asset. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability(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...
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness(3)Drive to achieve results for impact(4)Innovates and embraces change(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity(6)Thinks and acts strategically(7)Works collaboratively with others and (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. AtIn UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable male candidates are encouraged to apply.

 Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.