TVET and Skills Development officer

JOB DETAILS Type of contract : [[TypeOfPost]] Level : [[PositionGrade]] Hiring Unit : [[ParentsSector]] Duty Station : [[filter5]] Work location : [[WorkLocation]] Duration of contract : [[DurationContract]] Hiring open to : [[RecruitmentOpen]] Application deadline (Midnight [[custTimezone]] Time) : [[ClosingDate1]] UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT As a specialized United Nations agency, UNESCO has been working in Afghanistan as a long-term strategic partner. UNESCO’s education support to Afghanistan is built around the United Nations Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (2023-2027) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), meeting current educational needs while establishing the foundation for the sector's reconstruction and improvement going forward and aligning with global education priorities outlined in the UNESCO Medium-Term Strategy (2022-2029). MAIN TASKS AND SERVICES Under the overall guidance of the Officer-in-Charge and the Head of Education, and the direct supervision of the Project Officer/Team Lead for Skills for Jobs and the Private Sector, the TVET and Skills Development Officer will support the ongoing implementation of the skills interventions under the World Bank-funded Education Emergency Response in Afghanistan (EERA) project as well as the upcoming Human Capital and Jobs (HCJ) project within the wider Skill Development and Literacy (SDL) programme in UNESCO Kabul office. The ongoing implementation of the EERA project by UNESCO includes a 9-month integrated skills development and literacy program for 2100 learners, an Alternative Learning for higher education program to enable 300 learners to complete degrees via distance learning, a 6-month Skills-Based Literacy (SBL) intervention to support 4,950 learners and an Internship Programme to provide practical work based learning 180 interns in commercial banks and microfinance institutions. The Improving Youth Skills and Employment component under the upcoming HCJ project would promote employment by improving learning, skills, and work pathways for vulnerable female and male youth ages 15–25, women, and returnees. It will provide tailored packages of skills and non-skills support based on beneficiary profiles, needs, and market demand, including foundational learning, market-relevant skills, economic inclusion, access to finance, job intermediation, and pathways to self-employment and wage employment. A related system building pillar would strengthen the systems needed to deliver more targeted, market-relevant, and scalable skills and employment services. It will support a skills certification framework aligned with industry standards, stackable credentials, and recognition of prior learning, where feasible. Long Description It will also support a demand-responsive Skills Fund to select and finance market-relevant training through qualified providers, with stronger employer engagement to improve skills relevance, training quality, and links to completion, certification, and placement. The tasks and responsibilities expected to be undertaken by the TVET and Skills Development Officer include: 1.Project Implementation -Assist in the execution of key activities under the project workplan in line with the project document, budget and results framework, ensuring compliance with UNESCO’s administrative, financial and procurement rules. -Liaise with Implementing Partners/Service Providers and/or technical consultants as required and support the implementation of skills for work programs, Assessment and Certification pilot as well as engagement with industry chambers and employers 2. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting -Track the progress of project activities as per the M&E plan, and flag any lapses/delays and potential bottlenecks -Coordinate field visits, remote and third-party monitoring and manage all follow-up on the Complaint and Feedback Mechanism as required -Contribute to narrative and financial reporting and document lessons learned to strengthen implementation and guide future programming. Long Description 3. Technical Assistance and Policy Support - Contribute substantially to the conceptualization of the key project activities especially the Skills Certification framework and the administration/scale-up of the Skills Fund 4. Knowledge Management, Communication and Visibility - Organize consultations, learning events and technical meetings based on the priorities of the project/Education Programme - Support communication and visibility activities and draft technical briefs, progress updates and thematic products. 5. Coordination and Partnership - Coordinate with internal teams within UNESCO Kabul office, UN agencies, NGOs, community representatives and national/international technical bodies to ensure alignment with global standards. - Share project tools and findings through sector coordination mechanisms and contribute to discussions on TVET and skills development. EXPECTED RESULTS The following results are expected from the assignment: Effective and timely implementation of assigned TVET, skills development, literacy and employment-related activities under the EERA and HCJ projects, in accordance with approved workplans, budgets, results frameworks and UNESCO procedures. Project implementation is regularly monitored, with progress, implementation challenges, risks and bottlenecks identified in a timely manner and appropriate follow-up actions undertaken in coordination with implementing partners, service providers and relevant stakeholders. Quality technical inputs are provided for the design and implementation of key skills-system strengthening interventions, including the Skills Certification Framework, industry-led assessment and certification, recognition of prior learning, and the Skills Fund. Effective coordination and partnerships are maintained with implementing partners, employers, industry chambers, UN agencies, development partners and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen the relevance, quality and sustainability of skills development interventions. Reliable programme information, monitoring data and implementation evidence are generated and used to support results-based management, programme improvement, reporting and informed decision-making. High-quality and timely technical inputs are provided to project reports, briefs, presentations, communication materials and other knowledge products, with key achievements, lessons learned and good practices appropriately documented and disseminated. Consultations, technical meetings, learning events and coordination activities are effectively supported, contributing to knowledge exchange, stakeholder engagement and alignment of UNESCO's TVET and skills development interventions with relevant national needs and international good practices. Assigned project deliverables are completed to the required quality standards and within agreed timelines, contributing to achievement of the overall objectives and expected results of the EERA, HCJ and wider Skills Development and Literacy programme. DURATION OF THE CONTRACT 1 year with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance. COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M) Communication (C) Accountability (C) Innovation (C) Knowlegde sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework . REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION University degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in education, social sciences, development studies or a related field. WORK EXPERIENCE