OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Office in Kabul has been providing technical assistance to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan including Ministries of Education, Higher Education, Labour and Social Affairs as well as Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Authority in the areas of system building, policy and planning, curriculum reform (both formal and non-formal education), TVET, and improved access to literacy.

With the financial support from the Government of the Republic of Korea, UNESCO Office in Kabul sets up a project to support the development of non-formal TVET in Afghanistan by scaling up the Afghan Korea Vocational Training Institute (AKVTI) in Kabul, established in 2004, into a National Centre for Excellence for TVET in Afghanistan. This will enable the center to expand its function from simply the delivery of TVET programmes to a center for capacity development and a model of best practice for other vocational training centers across Afghanistan.

Under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Office in Kabul and Representative of UNESCO to Afghanistan and direct supervision of the Head of Education Unit, the incumbent will be responsible for the management and implementation of the project. In particular, the incumbent will perform the following tasks:

1.   Project implementation
Finalize the operational plan in consultation with national stakeholders and UNESCO;
Supervise administrative matters concerning the activities of the project, including development of terms of reference, contract and budget management;
Provide overall coordination of the project by liaising with the main government counterparts and ensure regular communication and consultation with national stakeholders and UNESCO staff, including at the International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, UNESCO Headquarters, and UNESCO’s Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, to implement project activities in a high quality and timely manner;
Organize and coordinate seminars, national conferences, consultation meetings and other activities for diverse target groups according to the approved project work plans and prepare and document minutes of key internal and external meetings;
Work with the Head of Education Unit to maintain active presence in meetings and events with donors and international partners such as other UN entities and NGOs on matters relating to TVET; and
Ensure synergy among National Technical Assistants (NTAs) and staff from the MoLSA, TVET-A and AKVTI.
 
Long Description
2.    Technical assistance to the project
Provide necessary technical input and policy advice to project areas relating to upgrading AKVTI into a National Centre for Excellence for TVET in Afghanistan, including but not limited to needs assessments, establishment of a certification system, development of a master plan, development of curriculum of trades, management of support for non-formal TVET graduates and labour market assessments;
Keep abreast of TVET sector development in Afghanistan and in the region and identify best practices to advise AKVTI and relevant national stakeholders on implementation of the project; and
Support the capacity building of relevant staff from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), the TVET Authority and the AKVTI.
3.    Project monitoring and reporting
Develop a monitoring and evaluation plan as well as a communication plan for the project;
Periodically review and refine project activities and adjust programmatic and financial plans as necessary;
Analyze, edit and compile project documentation and prepare briefing papers, website articles, and other supporting documents for internal use, particularly with a view to making strategic decisions and adding technical value and input to project activities; and
Prepare periodic narrative reporting to the donor and liaise with UNESCO Headquarters to ensure that periodic financial reporting is submitted to the donor in a timely manner.
4.    Provide input to strategic planning of UNESCO Office in Kabul’s country strategy and resource mobilization initiatives, bringing in experience gained from the project.
5.    Perform any other tasks in regard to contributing to the planning and implementation of other projects concerning education in general as well as for TVET in Afghanistan.