Education Specialist

Host entity: UNICEF

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Education

Application deadline: 09/09/2026

Mission and objectives

UNICEF is an international humanitarian agency for children established by the United Nations Charter in 1946. The organization is present in more than 192 countries and works in the areas of health, education, water and sanitation, child protection, HIV and AIDS, nutrition, policy, and social protection. UNICEF operates in both humanitarian and development contexts, addressing the needs of children and women—particularly girls and the most vulnerable.

UNICEF has been present in Cameroon since 1975. The organization works in the areas of education, water and sanitation, child protection, and HIV and AIDS. Meanwhile, its upstream efforts focus on advocacy and lobbying for budgetary conditions that benefit children and women, as well as on formulating policies to promote their growth and development. At the operational level, UNICEF Cameroon focuses on strengthening the capacity of stakeholders, service delivery, and building partnerships to improve services for children and women.

The Child Protection Program aims, overall, to ensure that children—particularly adolescent girls in vulnerable areas—are better protected against violence, exploitation, and harmful practices, including in the context of humanitarian emergencies. The program thus contributes to strengthening government and community child protection systems in order to identify and combat violations of children’s rights more effectively. Particular attention is given to birth registration, the prevention of and response to physical and sexual violence, and the elimination of child marriage, based on evidence.

Assignment context

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children
and adolescents and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Guided by the Convention
on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF supports governments and partners to ensure that every
child survives, learns, is protected, and can fulfill their potential.

In Cameroon, UNICEF supports the Government in strengthening equitable access to quality education and protective learning environments for children and adolescents, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalized populations affected by poverty, displacement, emergencies, exclusion, and protection risks.

Task description

Under the supervision of the Chief Field Office and the technical guidance of the Chief Education, provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for education programmes/projects within the Country
Programme from development planning to delivery of results, preparing, executing, managing and implementing a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks to facilitate programme development, implementation, programme progress monitoring, evaluating and reporting. Overall, the role supports the effective delivery of UNICEF education programmes to improve learning outcomes and expand access to quality, equitable and inclusive education.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

• Programme development and planning: Contributes to situation analyses, research, data collection and results-based planning for education programmes.
• Programme management and monitoring: Supports implementation, tracks progress, identifies challenges, prepares reports and monitors the use of programme resources.
• Technical and operational support: Conducts field visits, supports partners and stakeholders, and helps address bottlenecks affecting programme delivery.
• Partnership building and advocacy: Builds working relationships with government, UN, NGO and donor partners; prepares communication, advocacy and fundraising materials.
• Knowledge management and capacity building: Captures lessons learned, promotes good practices and innovation, and supports capacity-building initiatives for partners and stakeholders.

Skills and experience

A minimum of three (03) years of professional experience in
programme planning, management, and/or research in education is required.
• Programme planning and management
• Research and analysis
• Results-based management
• Technical education knowledge
• Communication and reporting
• Partnership and networking
• Field monitoring and problem-solving
• Knowledge management and innovation
• Resource monitoring

Competencies and values

(If competency‑based interviews are used, list only those competencies that are directly relevant to the assignment, using the host entity’s competency framework where applicable. The list below is only indicative.)
Core Values
• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability
Core Competencies (For Staff without Supervisory Responsibilities)
 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

Cameroon is a unique country It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

Buea offers a relatively affordable, cooler and livable environment with basic amenities, but the security context in the South-West Region significantly affects daily life, mobility, schooling, business activity and staff/family arrangements. Strong security discipline, flexible planning, and careful assessment of family/accompanied living arrangements are required.

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