3 Associate Programme Specialist (Education Finance)P-2 Positions at UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) – Apply Today!
Position: Associate Programme Specialist (Education Finance)
Grade: P-2
Parent Sector: Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station: Multiple
Job Family: Education
Contract Type: Project Appointment
Contract Duration: 1 year (renewable)
Recruitment Open To: Internal and external candidates
Application Deadline: 26-FEB-2025 (Midnight Paris Time)
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
Overview of the Role
The International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) of UNESCO, a specialized organization supporting educational policy, planning, and management, is seeking to fill up to three positions for Associate Programme Specialist (Education Finance) (IEP/PA 160/161/6SNIEP0094PA). The positions will be based in Paris and Dakar.
As part of the Education Sector, IIEP helps governments and their partners worldwide strengthen education systems through training, technical assistance, research, development, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. This role aligns with IIEP’s Medium-Term Strategy (2022-2025) to support ministries of education in building effective education systems.
Key Responsibilities
Under the general authority of the IIEP Director and direct supervision from the Head of the Cost, Finance, and Budget Unit, the Associate Programme Specialists will be responsible for implementing various projects that strengthen the planning and management capabilities of Ministries of Education and other educational partners.
Key duties include:
- Supporting the implementation of projects focused on education financing, costing, and budgeting.
- Ensuring integration of gender, equity, and climate change considerations into education sector programming.
- Collaborating with IIEP’s Education Finance team to enhance research, training, and capacity-building activities.
- Engaging in training sessions related to education finance and sharing knowledge within IIEP and external partners.
- Contributing to public debates and networking with global education financing stakeholders.
- Coordinating research and knowledge-sharing activities with various IIEP offices and external partners.
Required Qualifications
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, statistics, public policy, public finance, or a related field.
Professional Experience:
- At least 2 years of relevant professional experience (preferably including 1 year at the international level) in education finance and public financial management.
- Expertise in areas such as education finance analysis, budget planning and reporting, costing, and simulation models.
- Experience in providing technical assistance to national or subnational entities in education financing analysis.
- Familiarity with public financial management (PFM) reforms in developing countries.
- Knowledge of gender-responsive budgeting and the ability to use sex-disaggregated data in financial decision-making.
Skills and Competencies:
- Strong analytical and synthetic skills with the ability to produce policy briefs and training materials.
- Experience in designing and implementing training programs.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and statistical software such as STATA, R, or Python.
- Ability to manage complex multi-component projects and work in a multicultural environment.
- Excellent written and spoken English skills.
Desirable:
- Working knowledge of French.
Competencies
- Communication
- Accountability
- Innovation
- Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
- Planning and organizing
- Results focus
- Teamwork
- Professionalism
Benefits and Entitlements
UNESCO’s benefits package includes a competitive salary (approx. USD 77,283 annually), medical insurance, pension plans, family allowances, and 30 days of annual leave. For a full breakdown of benefits, please refer to UNESCO’s Guide to Staff Benefits.
Selection and Recruitment Process
Candidates must submit an online application via the UNESCO careers website. The recruitment process may include assessments, competency-based interviews, and reference checks.
UNESCO is committed to promoting workforce diversity and is an equal-opportunity employer, with special encouragement for individuals from under-represented groups, including minorities, indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities.
For further details about the vacancy, please visit the UNESCO careers page.
UNESCO Commitment
UNESCO emphasizes the importance of efficiency, technical competence, and integrity in the recruitment process, and adheres to a zero-tolerance policy against harassment. The organization is committed to achieving gender parity and a diverse geographical representation among its staff members.
UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and all applications are treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
