UNESCO Job Opportunity: Lead Inclusive Education Programmes in West Africa – Apply by 15 June 2025

UNESCO Job Opportunity: Regional Programme Coordinator for Inclusive Education in West Africa

Parent Sector: Education Sector (ED)
Duty Station: Dakar, Senegal
Job Family: Education
Contract Type: Project Appointment
Duration: 1 year (renewable)
Application Deadline: 15 June 2025 (Midnight Paris Time)
Recruitment Open To: Internal and External Candidates

UNESCO Core Values:

• Commitment to the Organization
• Integrity
• Respect for Diversity
• Professionalism

About the Role

The International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP-UNESCO), a specialized institute of UNESCO, invites qualified candidates to apply for the position of Regional Programme Coordinator for the “Planning for Inclusive Education – Regional Program in West Africa.” The position is based at the IIEP-UNESCO Africa Office in Dakar, Senegal, under the leadership of the Head of Office and IIEP Director.

The selected candidate will play a key role in the strategic planning, coordination, and management of a €3 million programme funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). The programme aims to strengthen the capacity of education systems in eight West African countries to become more inclusive, particularly for children and youth with disabilities.

Programme Overview

Programme Title: Planning for Inclusive Education – Regional Program in West Africa
Implementation Period: 3 years
Target Countries:

• Cabo Verde
• Gambia
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone

Programme Objective:
To ensure that education systems in West Africa are inclusive, enabling girls, boys, young women, and young men with disabilities to access and benefit from the same learning opportunities as others.

Programme Components:

• Component 1: Hybrid Training Program
• Component 2: Knowledge Sharing
• Component 3: Evidence Generation
• Component 4: Technical Support to Countries

Main Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior Education Policy Analyst and in close collaboration with other IIEP-UNESCO teams, the incumbent will:

1. Provide Strategic Leadership and Coordination

• Lead the coordination of programme activities and team members.
• Supervise and guide team members and consultants.
• Facilitate collaboration with key stakeholders, including planners, trainers, civil society actors, and organizations for persons with disabilities.
• Coordinate annual programming and identify necessary technical assistance.
• Serve as liaison with the programme steering committee and AICS.
• Oversee financial planning and budget execution.
• Ensure timely and quality reporting to AICS.
• Monitor implementation with the MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning) manager.
• Maintain documentation of all technical and financial activities.

2. Lead Programme Design, Implementation and Monitoring

a. Capacity Building for Inclusive Planning:

• Identify training needs of national officials.
• Design and deliver training and capacity development initiatives.
• Collaborate with partners to implement training across all eight countries.

b. Community of Practice and Knowledge Exchange:

• Develop a vibrant Community of Practice (CoP) on disability-inclusive education.
• Facilitate production and sharing of relevant knowledge products (country notes, thematic and methodological guidelines).
• Organize a high-level policy forum on disability-inclusive education.

c. Data Generation and Research:

• Develop and institutionalize data collection tools aligned with Washington Group standards.
• Lead studies on the inclusion of youth with disabilities in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

d. Technical Assistance to Countries:

• Engage in policy dialogue and participatory planning processes.
• Support the development of sector analyses and inclusive education strategies.
• Collaborate with national authorities on inclusive education plans and policies.

Terms of Appointment

• Contract Duration: One (1) year with a six (6) month probationary period.
• Renewal: Subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.
• Location: Dakar, Senegal.
• Travel: The position requires travel to participating countries as needed.

Who Should Apply to this Job Oppotunity

This position is open to both internal and external candidates with relevant experience in:

• Educational planning and management, particularly in inclusive education.
• Capacity development, programme coordination, and stakeholder engagement.
• Working in regional, multicultural, and multilingual contexts.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application by 15 June 2025 (Midnight, Paris Time). Applications must be submitted through the official UNESCO Careers portal. Please ensure all required documents are included and submitted before the deadline.

APPLY NOW

For more information about IIEP-UNESCO Africa and its initiatives, please visit the official IIEP-UNESCO Africa website.

Join UNESCO in shaping inclusive and equitable education systems across West Africa. Your expertise can help make education accessible for all.

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