Education Expert (UNICEF Accelerate)

Host entity: UNICEF KIR

Volunteer type: International

Areas of expertise: Education

Application deadline: 25/08/2026

Mission and objectives

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child; in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work to translate that commitment into practical action, especially for the most disadvantaged children.

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada.

Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria. All 14 Pacific island countries have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations.

Assignment context

This UNV assignment is part of UNICEF Pacific’s Education programme under the Multi-Country Programme (2023–2027), implemented through the UNICEF Pacific Multi-Country Office. The Expert will be based in South Tarawa, Kiribati, and will support efforts to strengthen the national education system, improve learning outcomes for children, and advance early childhood development (ECD) priorities.

The assignment involves close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, development partners, UN agencies, and civil society organizations. The programme focuses on strengthening equitable, inclusive, and climate-resilient education systems, with particular attention to foundational learning, teacher capacity development, and continuity of learning in the context of climate-related risks and emergencies. In Kiribati, children face persistent education challenges linked to geographic dispersion, overcrowding in South Tarawa, unequal access to quality learning, and the growing impacts of climate change, including coastal erosion, flooding and drought.

The Expert will contribute to addressing these challenges through support to education system strengthening, programme implementation, monitoring, and partnerships, while promoting multi-sectoral integration across education, ECD, WASH, climate resilience, and child protection. The Expert will play a key role in advancing UNICEF’s education programme objectives, including strengthening national capacities for education planning and data use, improving inclusive and equitable access to quality education, and supporting coordination with donors and partners. The assignment will be implemented within a small island developing state context characterized by high vulnerability to climate-related shocks, requiring adaptive, context-specific approaches and strong collaboration across sectors.

Task description

Under the guidance and general supervision of the Chief of Field Office, in coordination with the Chief of Education, the Expert supports the development and preparation of the Education and Multi-sectoral early childhood development programmes and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting the progress of education and early childhood development programmes within the multi-country programme. The Expert provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of results on education and early childhood development programmes to improve holistic development, learning outcomes and equitable and inclusive education, especially for children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded in society.

The Expert contributes to achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework. The Expert plays a key role with in-country donor relations, as well as resource mobilization initiatives.

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Expert to programme preparation, planning and implementation, contributes to the achievement of sustainable results to improve learning outcomes and universal access to quality, equitable and inclusive education and holistic early childhood development.

Skills and experience

Eligibility criteria
• UNICEF National staff (NO & GS) holding a Fixed-Term, Continuing or Permanent Appointment
• 1 year of service on FT under the national staff category within UNICEF
• Solid/ outstanding performance as per the last PER


• A minimum of seven years of relevant professional work experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education is required.
• Demonstrated experience in education programme management, including planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting within a results-based management framework, as well as the ability to manage multiple grants and programmes simultaneously.
• Strong technical expertise in education sector system strengthening, including areas such as data systems, policy development, sector planning, financing, and coordination, as well as early childhood education (ECE) and multi-sectoral early childhood development (ECD) programming.
• Experience with foundational learning, including in early childhood and primary education, is desired; experience with parenting programmes and multi-sectoral approaches (e.g. school health and wellbeing) is highly desirable.
• Experience supporting climate-resilient education, including integration of disaster risk reduction, infrastructure considerations, and continuity of learning in emergencies, is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience working with government counterparts and development partners, including donor engagement, resource mobilization, and partnership management in the education sector.
• Strong communication, analytical and coordination skills, with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams and sectors (including WASH, climate, and child protection).
• Proven ability to operate in complex, multi-stakeholder environments and navigate institutional processes within government and partner systems.
• Experience working in low-income settings is required; experience in a Pacific or small island developing state (SIDS) context is highly desirable, including familiarity with challenges related to remoteness, geographic dispersion, and climate vulnerability.
• Experience with Global Partnership for Education (GPE)-funded programmes is highly desirable, as is experience with EU and other, diverse funding mechanisms, as is relevant experience within a UN system agency or international organization.

Competencies and values

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness
• Works Collaboratively with others
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships
• Innovates and Embraces Change
• Thinks and Acts Strategically
• Drive to achieve impactful results
• Manages ambiguity and complexity

Living conditions

South Tarawa is a remote duty station within a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) context, classified as a D-duty station. As the administrative and economic center of Kiribati, it hosts the UN presence and serves as the primary hub for government engagement and programme delivery. However, like many atoll-based capitals, it operates within significant structural constraints shaped by geography, climate vulnerability, and limited domestic capacity.

Living conditions can be basic compared to larger urban duty stations. Essential services, including healthcare, accommodation, and transport, are available but limited in scope and quality. Access to specialized medical care often requires referral abroad, housing options for international staff are constrained, and securing suitable accommodation may take time.

Infrastructure and service delivery systems are affected by remoteness, supply limitations, and resource constraints. This can impact the availability of goods and services, as well as the reliability of utilities, connectivity, and financial services. Power disruptions, limited internet access, and inconsistent transport and banking services are part of the operating environment.

Geographical isolation is a defining characteristic of the assignment. Kiribati is one of the most geographically dispersed countries in the world, with vast distances between islands. Travel to and from the country, and between islands, is limited, often requiring careful advance planning and subject to flight schedules and weather conditions.

Within South Tarawa, high population density, narrow land areas, and environmental pressures—such as coastal erosion, flooding, and water scarcity, further shape the living and working context. These conditions require flexibility, initiative, and practical problem-solving in both day-to-day life and programme implementation.

Despite these constraints, the assignment offers a unique and highly rewarding professional experience. It provides direct exposure to complex development challenges at the frontline of climate change, service delivery, and systems strengthening in a resource-constrained setting. The UN Volunteer works in a high-impact environment, supporting national systems and engaging closely with government counterparts, civil society, and communities.

Success in this role requires adaptability, resilience, and strong cultural awareness. Working effectively in Kiribati means navigating ambiguity, building trust in a close-knit society, and understanding the interplay between formal institutions and community-based systems.

At the same time, South Tarawa offers a distinctive cultural experience, characterized by strong traditions of community, mutual support, and deep connections to land and ocean. Living and working in this context provides a meaningful opportunity to engage closely with local realities, contribute to national development efforts, and gain first-hand insight into the challenges and strengths of small island contexts.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.