Associate National Project Officer (Education)

The Associate National Project Officer will support the implementation of UNESCO's Education Programme in Uzbekistan, focusing on strengthening teacher training and professional development to improve education quality. The role involves technical support, coordination with partners, monitoring and evaluation, and capacity building activities aligned with competency-based education reforms.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical inputs in the preparation and implementation of detailed work plans to facilitate the timely delivery of projects’ activities in accordance with the approved project documents and budget of UNESCO’s Education Programme particularly pre service teacher education.
• Provide technical support for the review and revision of teacher education curricula and programmes, including the development of new courses and the strengthening of methodology courses that promote learner-centered and competency-based approaches.
• Assist the Education Unit in coordinating and overseeing day-to-day programme activities to ensure they are carried out in line with agreed-upon work plans and timelines.
• Support the design and implementation of activities aimed at reforming pre-service and teacher education and establishing systems for continuous professional development aligned with Competency-Based Education (CBE) principles.
• Contribute to the design, testing, validation, and endorsement of a Competency-Based Education (CBE)-aligned practicum model that strengthens the link between theory and practice in teacher education programmes.
• Contribute to the institutional capacity building of pre service teacher training centres, education faculties, and professional development centers to deliver and sustain quality learning for educators at scale.
• Maintain regular communication with local implementing partners (pedagogical universities) to support the quality and timely delivery of project activities at the regional level.
• Ensure that all policy reform, curriculum revision, practicum development, and institutional capacity-building initiatives integrate UNESCO's priorities on quality, equity, inclusion, and gender equality.
• Facilitate strong communication and collaboration between UNESCO, the line ministries and its institutions and other national stakeholders involved in the Education Programme.
• Support the Education Unit in liaising with international and national development partners, to ensure synergies between UNESCO’s interventions and broader development efforts in Uzbekistan.
• Provide the technical inputs in the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the progress and impact of programme.
• Assist in the analysis of programme performance data, identifying key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned to inform future interventions.
• Support the preparation of regular progress reports and donor briefs in collaboration with the Education Unit.
• Participate in organizing workshops, training sessions, and other capacity-building activities for government counterparts and education stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products and resources that will help national stakeholders sustain and expand the impact of UNESCO’s education interventions.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in the field of education, social sciences, international relations, ICT or other relevant field. An advanced university degree may be replaced by a first level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) and at least four (4) years of additional relevant experience.
• Minimum 4 years of relevant professional experience in the field of general education.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Good knowledge of results-based and budget management tools.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage heavy workloads and meet tight deadlines, paying close attention to details and quality of work.
• Strong IT skills including good knowledge of standard office software.
• Strong analytical, problem solving and organizational skills.
• Ability to work as part of an international team in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to engage and form effective working relationships with counterparts and colleagues.
• Ability to work in a complex, rural and remote areas.
• Excellent knowledge of English and Uzbek languages (written and oral).
• Work experience in pre-service teacher training (desirable).
• Work experience in in-service teacher training (desirable).
• Familiarity with the administrative procedures of UN preferably UNESCO (desirable).
• Knowledge of UNESCO’s mission and the Education Sector’s Programme (desirable).
• Good knowledge of Russian (desirable).

Skills

• General Education
• Result-Based Management
• Budget Management
• Standard Office Software
• Analytical Skills
• Problem Solving
• Organizational Skills
• Pre-Service Teacher Training
• In-service Training
• Project Coordination
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Capacity Building
• Competency-based Learning
• UN Administrative Procedures
• Education Programme Implementation

Languages

English, Uzbek, Russian