Project Coordination Officer (Education)

The Project Coordination Officer will support the coordination and implementation of the Climate Smart Education Systems Initiative (CSESI) in Pakistan, ensuring timely delivery of project activities and collaboration with UNESCO HQ, UNESCO-IIEP, government counterparts, and partners. The role involves project planning, monitoring, reporting, stakeholder engagement, and compliance with UNESCO and GPE procedures.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the day-to-day implementation of CSESI activities in accordance with the approved work plan.
• Maintain regular communication and follow-up with government counterparts, consortium partners, consultants, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate and participate in regular internal UNESCO and meetings with UNESCO-IIEP and Save the Children to facilitate communication, monitor progress, and ensure effective collaboration among partners and follow-up on agreed decisions and action points.
• Facilitate coordination among national and international partners to ensure timely implementation of agreed actions.
• Consolidate, review, and disseminate project documents, technical inputs, and stakeholder feedback as requested by UNESCO HQ or IIEP when relevant.
• Plan and coordinate the logistical and administrative arrangements for technical meetings, workshops, consultations, and missions in close consultation with the Administrative Officer of UNESCO Islamabad Office and in line with Organization’s mission policy.
• Prepare participant packages, meeting documentation, agendas, presentations, and other resource materials.
• Liaise with venues, service providers, participants, and partners to ensure the smooth organization of CSESI workshops, consultation and other events in consultation with the Administrative Officer of UNESCO Islamabad Office.
• Provide on-site coordination and administrative support during workshops and technical meetings.
• Prepare meeting reports, summaries, and records of key decisions and recommendations.
• Monitor the implementation of CSESI activities and track progress against the approved work plan and results framework.
• Develop, disseminate, and compile monitoring tools, including surveys and evaluation questionnaires for project activities.
• Coordinate the collection and consolidation of project information and stakeholder inputs for the preparation of the mid-term and annual CSESI reports, ensuring timely and accurate reporting on project progress and achievements.
• Prepare workshop outcome reports and quarterly progress reports highlighting achievements, challenges, risks, and recommended corrective actions.
• Maintain project documentation, records, and knowledge products to support effective project management and reporting.
• Contribute to evidence generation, documentation of good practices, and knowledge-sharing activities.
• Contribute to the preparation of policy briefs, technical reports, lessons learned, and the project's final outcome report.
• Compile and submit documents developed during each reporting period together with planned activities for the subsequent quarter.
• Provide technical and administrative support in response to reporting and information requests from UNESCO and consortium partners.
• Contribute to the formulation of recommendations to strengthen education policy, planning, and project implementation based on lessons learned and emerging priorities.
• Undertake any other assignment or responsibility as needed by the Head of Education.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in Education, Project Management, Social Sciences, or a related field from a recognized institution.
• Minimum five years’ experience working on issues related to the field of education and development or humanitarian situations, including in contexts involving forced displacement, emergencies, conflict, and disaster.
• Strong knowledge of educational planning and management, especially in the above-mentioned contexts with experience in climate change, considered an asset.
• Strong understanding of conflict-sensitivity and risk management in education including with governments, donors, NGOs, the UN system and relevant international organizations.
• Experience in development and delivery of training materials.
• Experience with training in educational planning and/or crisis-sensitive planning is an asset.
• Strong organization and coordination skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with proven ability to maintain effective working relations within a multi-cultural environment.
• Effective communication skills for preparing and presenting reports, briefs, and progress updates.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to work effectively, set priorities, and work within tight deadlines.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation methodologies (including data collection, analysis, and evidence-based decision-making).
• Ability to draft high-quality, clear, concise documents, and reports.
• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively.
• Excellent IT skills, including office productivity tools and online collaboration tools.
• Proven ability in contract and financial management, including budgeting and reporting.
• Good knowledge of English and Urdu is required.
• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Education, or a related field from a recognized institution (desirable).
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in project planning, implementation, management, and coordination within the education sector (desirable).
• Experience and knowledge of working with UN agencies, or GPE project management procedures and standards (desirable).
• Experience in coordinating with multiple stakeholders, including government counterparts, implementing partners, and contractors (desirable).
• Experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) frameworks (desirable).
• Good knowledge of other local/ provincial languages spoken is desirable.

Skills

• Educational Planning
• Project Management
• Humanitarian education experience
• Conflict-sensitive Education
• Risk Management in Education
• Training Development
• Training Delivery
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Data Analysis
• Report Writing
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Partnership Building
• Presentation Skills
• Office Productivity Software
• Collaboration Tools
• Contract Management
• Finance Management
• Budgeting
• UN Project Procedures
• GPE Project Procedures

Languages

English, Urdu