Education Associate

Mission and objectives

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is a specialized agency dedicated to strengthening our shared humanity through the promotion of education, science, culture, and communication. Education transforms lives and is at the heart of UNESCO’s mission to build peace, eradicate poverty and drive sustainable development. It is a human right for all throughout life. The Organization is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to cover all aspects of education. It has been entrusted to lead the Global Education 2030 Agenda through Sustainable Development Goal 4. UNESCO provides global and regional leadership in education, strengthens education systems worldwide and responds to contemporary global challenges through education with gender equality as an underlying principle. Its work encompasses quality educational development from pre-school to higher education and beyond.

Context

In close collaboration with Pacific Ministries and Departments of Education, UNESCO works with the Pacific Community (SPC), the University of the South Pacific (USP), UN agencies, development partners and other key stakeholders to advance the SDG 4-Education 2030 agenda and ensure alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the Pacific 2023-2027. Central to these efforts is the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) 2018-2030, endorsed by Pacific Education Ministers, which provides a shared roadmap for strengthening education systems with an emphasis on quality, equity, resilience, inclusion, and teacher professionalism. Guided by these frameworks, UNESCO supports transformative education initiatives across the region. This includes providing technical assistance to Global Partnership for Education (GPE) projects advancing digital transformation, sector planning, education data systems, early childhood and primary education, TVET, teacher development, inclusive learning, and climate-smart education. UNESCO also contributes to UN Joint Programmes on inclusive education, as well as various projects and initiatives promoting STEM education, transversal competencies, social and emotional learning, higher education mobility, and lifelong learning. Together, these initiatives advance system strengthening, gender equality, innovation, climate resilience, and digital readiness—critical enablers of equitable education in the Pacific.

Task Description

The Education Associate shall support the UNESCO Regional Office in Apia’s Education Sector by providing technical assistance for the effective coordination, monitoring, and reporting of priority initiatives across the 18 Pacific States. The Education Associate will contribute to these efforts by supporting planning, implementation, and documentation processes, ensuring coherence, sustainability, and visibility of UNESCO’s education work in the region. Under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist for Education, the Education Associate will undertake the following tasks: 1. Assist UNESCO’s participation in Pacific education coordination mechanisms, policy dialogues, and joint UN programming under the UN Country Implementation Plans, ensuring integration of UNESCO’s work into regional and UN system reporting: a. Facilitate timely delivery of UNESCO Regular Programme and extrabudgetary activities, including the organization of consultations, workshops, and meetings; b. Coordinate with technical experts and partners; prepare terms of reference; and follow up on action points. c. Support data collection and analysis to track progress towards national, regional, and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4 ) targets. 2. Maintain and expand strategic engagement with Ministries and Departments of Education, National Commissions for UNESCO, Pacific regional bodies (e.g., SPC, USP), UN agencies, civil society, and development partners to ensure coherence and joint action. 3. Contribute to the development of knowledge products and outreach activities—such as policy briefs, presentations, and reports—to highlight achievements and lessons learned from UNESCO’s education work in the Pacific. 4. Contribute to the development of concept notes and strategy papers for new and ongoing initiatives aligned with UNESCO’s mandate and regional priorities. Provide technical assistance for the monitoring and evaluation of education projects, including the preparation of monitoring and evaluation (M&E ) frameworks to measure impact and disseminate progress on project outcomes. 5. Perform other related duties as required to support the effective implementation, monitoring, and sustainability of UNESCO’s education programmes in the Pacific.

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Building Trust
• Client Orientation
• Commitment and Motivation
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Communication
• Creativity
• Empowering Others
• Ethics and Values
• Integrity
• Judgement and Decision-making
• Knowledge Sharing
• Leadership
• Managing Performance
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
• Self-Management
• Technological Awareness
• Vision
• Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

The post is based at UNESCO’s duty station in Suva, Fiji. Living conditions reflect those of a developing country. The dress code ranges from business casual to formal, depending on the occasion. The UN Multi-Country Office in Samoa is situated in an area with adequate accommodation, reliable utilities, medical facilities, banking services, communication infrastructure, and proximity to the international airport. Working in Fiji requires cultural awareness, flexibility, and resilience, as the environment can involve physical hardship and limited comfort. Staff should be prepared to adapt to challenging conditions while maintaining professionalism and commitment.