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,  education…

UNICEF Malawi Country Programmes (2019-2023 and 2024-2028) are aligned with the Government of Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS III) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The programme supports the Government of Malawi to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children’s rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion, and resilience and supports evidence-based, integrative, and innovative programming. The vision is that ‘all girls and boys in Malawi, especially the most disadvantaged and deprived, realize their rights’.  The programme focuses on early childhood (parenting, high-impact social services, early stimulation and learning), middle childhood and adolescence (learning, multi-sectoral services, active citizenship), communities (decentralized services and systems, community ownership, social norms), programme effectiveness (monitoring, evaluation, HACT, Innovation, Social Protection and Social Policy and External Communication.  The programme is based on ‘leaving no child behind,’ realizing ‘rights for all children in Malawi’.

The Education & Adolescents Development and Participation (EADP) Programme in Malawi aims to ensure every child accesses education and learns to reach their full potential. As the Education Specialist (Data, Monitoring, and Reporting), you will be at the forefront of supporting the  Ministry of Education (MoE) in strengthening the Education Management Information System (EMIS). You will work collaboratively with the EMIS team to support the annual school census, data cleaning, capacity building of district education management information officers, and coordination of development partners supporting the EMIS, especially the transition from paper-based to web-based EMIS.

How can you make a difference?

The Malawi Country Office offers an exciting and rewarding career opportunity for you to join our dynamic Education & Adolescents Development and Participation Programme (EADP) team, where you will provide technical leadership to support the MoE to further strengthening the Education Management Information System (EMIS). Your role includes supporting the  MoE in transitioning from paper-based to web-based EMIS, as well as meeting the data needs of the EADP team, including monitoring the Joint Programme on Girls Education. Additionally, you will support the EADP team in the quality assurance of donor and UNICEF reports.

Working under guidance and supervision of the Chief Education, Adolescents, and Participation Programme, youwill collaborate with the Programme Planning and Monitoring and Research Evaluation and Knowledge Management teams.

This position offers  a unique opportunity for a qualified,  motivated and committed individual to make a significant impact on children’s educational outcomes. By excelling professionally, you will contribute to the overall achievement of transformative results by delivering on the following key responsibility areas, but not limited to:

     1. Support the functionality of the web-based EMIS and wider EMIS operations

• Monitor and evaluate the performance of the web-based system with stakeholders and coordinate and recommend refinements.
• Support the dissemination of EMIS reports at the national and sub-national levels.
• Ensure full implementation of the  web-based EMIS system in at least  50% of education districts.
• Provide technical leadership to the MoE EMIS team in harmonizing and integrating data systems.
• Contribute to data collection and analysis for education emergency responses.

     2. Support EADP internal and external planning, monitoring, and reporting tasks as well as Funding Proposals  

• Establish a robust system for enhancing EADP data collection, analysis, monitoring, and reporting.
• Analyse data from multiple sources to identify child deprivations related to education indicators.
• Provide data requirements to the EADP programme and review donor reports for quality assurance.
• Aid the UNICEF Research and Knowledge management team in the mid-term evaluation of the Joint Programme on Girls Education III.
• Take the lead and convene the JPGE III monitoring task team.

You are encouraged to download the detailed job description JD_TA_NOC Education Specialist (Data Monitoring Reporting).pdf in order to view the full role and its requirements.

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

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Education, Statistics, Population Studies, Monitoring and Evaluation, Social Sciences, or a related technical field is required.
• *A first-level university degree in a relevant field combined with at least seven additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Training and/or familiarity with information systems and communication technologies is highly desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum of five years of experience in designing, managing, implementing, and monitoring education programmes in developing countries, with expertise in  systems design and research using  Statistical Package for the Social Sciences or Microsoft Access is required.
• Experience in education programme planning, monitoring, and reporting is required.

Technical knowledge and skills:

• Excellent knowledge of computer applications,including programming, Microsoft Excel, and Access is required.
• Familiarity with digital data gathering platforms and software; with an understanding geospatial data is required.
• Capacity for education and policy sector analysis, including the understanding of core education data sets, indicators, tools for equity analysis, determinants of student access and learning, budgeting, cost and financing, education system management, political economy, and application to education policy and strategic planning is required.
• Knowledge/ability in education  sector planning , including  modalities for delivering education, linkages between different sub-sectors (e.g., Early Childhood Development, Primary, Secondary, Inclusive Education), cost-effectiveness and efficiency, key institutional structures, components and processes, as well as governance issues is highly desirable.
• Excellent skills in collecting and analysing disaggregated data and managing data systems, such as EMIS, and report writing skills is required.
• Ability to support policy dialogue,  translating analytical findings and evidence into development programme and policy discussions on  equity and learning with partners, including government, development partners, Civil Society Organisations and academia in relevant areas is highly desirable.
• Understanding of gender, inclusion and equity issues in education, with the application of gender / equity analysis to policy and planning in education is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to manage relationships with partners, including government ministries, youth coalitions, universities, intellectual leaders, UN organizations, NGOs and the private sector is required.
• Proficiency in effective communication across diverse audiences and contexts is essential.

Language:

•  Fluency in English and Chichewa, both strong verbal and written skills, are essential.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (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.

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

The position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates as well as suitable persons living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID).

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, medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.

The vacancy announcement is a re-advertisement and is open to all candidates – both internal UNICEF staff holding permanent, continuing and fixed term appointments and external candidates. Previous applicants need not to reapply. 

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

To effectively contribute to the delivery of results for the children of Malawi, the UNICEF Malawi Country Office operates within a dynamic and results-oriented setting. We foster an environment characterised by creativity, innovation, collaboration, teamwork, a commitment to professional growth, and a safe workspace. Consequently, we are actively searching for individuals who are driven to enact tangible change and dedicated to serving Malawi’s children with resourcefulness, resilience, agility, and a commitment to professional excellence.