National Project Officer (Education)

JOB DETAILS

Parent Sector : Education Unit, UNESCO Phnom Penh Office

Duty Station : Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Type of Contract : Service Contract

Grade Level : SC-9

Duration of contract : 1 year, with possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance and fund availability

Hiring open to : Cambodian nationals only

Application deadline : 15 September 2026 (Midnight Paris time)

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

I.    BACKGROUND
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) in Cambodia, together with its partners, is committed to providing inclusive, quality education and lifelong learning for all, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4). This, in turn, supports the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC)’s development agenda, the Pentagonal Strategy - Phase I, which was launched in August 2023 as the country’s long-term socioeconomic strategy, to be implemented in phases over the next 25 years. Building on the success of the Strengthening Teacher Education Programmes in Cambodia (STEPCam), UNESCO and the MoEYS are implementing the second phase of STEPCam from 2024 to 2026, financed by the Global Partnership for Education. STEPCam Phase II aims to improve student learning outcomes in Cambodia by improving the quality of education through support for robust systems of initial and continuous teacher education and mentoring for classroom teachers and the advancement of digital strategies for teaching, learning, and education management.

The programme focuses on a set of interventions across four components:
•    Component 1 supports the national reform of the pre-service teacher education system, including the shift to a 12+4 system, to ensure new teachers enter the profession qualified and well-trained
•    Component 2 strengthens and expands the CPD system and its connections to the Teacher Career Pathway (TCP), supporting and incentivising teachers to upgrade their knowledge and competencies leading to career advancement
•    Component 3 supports the training and mentoring of classroom teachers in early grade learning (EGL), including strengthening systems of formative assessments and student tracking to better monitor learning and support all students
•    Component 4 promotes a uniform approach to digital transformation in Cambodia’s education system and the effective use of digital tools for quality teaching, learning, and education management.

II.    SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Under the overall authority of the UNESCO Representative in Cambodia, the supervision of the Chief of Education Unit and direct supervision of the STEPCam Programme Manager, the National Project Officer will provide technical and operational support to the STEPCam programme in the following areas of work:

1.    Provide technical support to the STEPCam Programme Manager, in close coordination with the Component leads under the programme, for the coordination, implementation and monitoring of the STEPCam programme, including but not limited to:
a.    Provide technical support to liaise and coordinate with MoEYS technical departments, consultants, experts and/or institutional partners for the timely implementation and monitoring of project activities, including conducting regular monitoring meetings and follow-up;

b.    Provide technical assistance for the preparation of workplans and activity budgets in line with the programme objectives and targets
c.    Contribute to the identification of international and national consultants, experts and service providers and provide technical assistance for the development of Terms of Reference and the procurement and recruitment processes under the STEPCam programme;
d.    Work closely with counterparts in relevant MoEYS technical departments and development partners, including liaising between departments as necessary and facilitating communication between international experts and national counterparts
e.    Contribute to the preparation of STEPCam progress reporting, other programme reporting to the UNCT and sector coordination groups, presentations and communication materials

f.    Support the development and dissemination of communication and visibility materials, including programme briefs, presentations, official letters, meeting minutes, visibility materials and programme-related content (e.g. press releases, web articles) to promote visibility of the programme results
g.    Participate in and support preparation for programme-related meetings and activities arranged both by government counterparts and other partners as required
h.    Support the engagement in GPE processes including coordination meetings, consultations, presentations, Partnership Compact dialogue, preparations for the new funding cycle and reporting, among others.

2.    Provide technical assistance in close collaboration with the Component lead and the MoEYS technical departments for the planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of activities and sub-activities under STEPCam Components 1 and 2, including but not limited to:
a.    Assist the Component lead for the on-site technical oversight and monitoring of the delivery of activities by programme counterparts, consultants and experts, to ensure its alignment with the programme objectives and targets;
b.    Assist with the monitoring and evaluation activities of Components 1 and 2 to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of timely resolutions as necessary to ensure that activity implementation under Components 1 and 2 is on track and in line with the STEPCam results framework
c.    Provide technical support for the technical review and quality assurance of deliverables from consultants and institutional partners
d.    Undertake monitoring missions as necessary for the oversight of programme activity implementation

3.    Provide technical support for the implementation, technical oversight and quality assurance of research initiatives supported through STEPCam, including:
a.    Work in close collaboration with the consultants, experts, institutional partners and MoEYS technical departments for the end-to-end design and implementation of two policy research studies focusing on teachers and student learning outcomes, providing technical assistance for the literature review, primary data collection, data analysis and drafting of the research report

b.    Provide technical support for the translation of official documents, data collection tools (e.g., questionnaires, interview questions), and primary data as required to contribute to robust and comprehensive data analysis and report drafting
c.    Provide technical support for the development of documents and materials (e.g., presentation slideshows, policy briefs) for the dissemination and uptake of research findings by the MoEYS technical departments, development partners and other key education stakeholders at national and subnational levels
d.    Support the organisation and facilitation of consultation workshops for the policy research studies, in close collaboration with the STEPCam programme team and MoEYS technical departments

4.    Carry out any other tasks assigned by the Chief of Education and STEPCam Programme Manager to facilitate the implementation of programme activities.

III. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education
•    Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in education, research, social sciences or other relevant fields

Professional experience
•    At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of education, teacher education or other relevant fields
•    Demonstrated experience in the planning, management, implementation and monitoring of programmes in the education sector in Cambodia focusing on primary education, teacher education or policy research

Skills and competencies
•    Excellent coordination and interpersonal skills with demonstrated expertise in leading multi-stakeholder initiatives in education, teacher education and research
•    Solid understanding of the education and teacher development context in Cambodia, its key challenges and possible solutions
•    Demonstrated experience in engaging and coordinating with government counterparts and technical departments, particularly with a focus on teacher education and policy research
•    Ability to take initiative, establish priorities and capacity to work efficiently under pressure
•    Ability to work effectively in a multicultural and interdisciplinary team to achieve shared objectives

Language skills
•    Excellent proficiency in (written and spoken) English and Khmer

IV.    DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
•    Relevant experience in conducting statistical data analysis would be an added advantage
•    Demonstrated knowledge of quantitative and qualitative analysis software packages (i.e., Stata, SPSS, R)
•    Experience working with the UN, and knowledge of UN regulations and guidelines
•    Good understanding of UNESCO’s mandate, procedures and policies

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS 
Please note that all candidates must complete an online application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 
UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.