OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Education and MHPSS Partnership Officer will be stationed in Kyiv, Ukraine, closely working, under the overall supervision of the Liaison Officer, with the Senior Education Coordinator and HQ Ed Team in the Ukraine Education response, supporting the ED programme activities and project implementation.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Support the identification and relation building with key stakeholders relevant to UNESCO’s Education sector activities in Ukraine, including work in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).
• Facilitate meetings and activities of the Education Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Task Team, strategically led by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Education Cluster.
• Support the National MHPSS Coordinator and UNESCO country team in conceptualizing and implementing MHPSS-related activities, particularly focusing on ongoing MHPSS reform efforts in the education sector.
• Support the National MHPSS Coordinator in ensuring that UNESCO’s work in education and MHPSS is clearly communicated and understood by key stakeholders and the wider audience, including regional and local educational actors, teachers, learners, parents and community members.
• Support the development of strategies and tools to ensure meaningful participation of the education actors, particularly children and youth, in all project lifecycle phases.
• Support the National MHPSS Coordinator in preparing draft inputs for programme/donor reporting.
• Contribute to identifying, capturing, synthesizing, and sharing lessons learned for knowledge development and capacity development of stakeholders.
• Provide support in translation and interpretation between Ukrainian to English.
• Assist to develop and maintain project-related information, assisting in disseminating key information to UNESCO’s partners.
• Undertake other tasks as deemed relevant by the direct supervisor and/or UNESCO Education management.

EXPECTED RESULTS AND DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Expected results:

• Enhanced cooperation and synergies between different stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, and local communities, leading to more integrated and holistic approaches in the education sector.
• Increased capacity of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Education Cluster members to address mental health and psychosocial challenges, benefiting students, teachers, and the broader education community.
• Development of innovative and contextually relevant MHPSS initiatives, setting a precedent for future educational reforms in Ukraine and potentially in similar contexts globally.
• Establishment of a strong foundation for UNESCO’s mid-term objectives in education and mental health, with a focus on sustainability and local empowerment.
• A more inclusive education system that takes into account the voices and needs of marginalized groups, especially children and youth, leading to more equitable educational opportunities.
• Creation of a robust knowledge base and best practices repository that can be leveraged for future projects and initiatives within and beyond Ukraine.
• Effective management of information and resources, leading to more strategic decision-making and resource allocation within UNESCO and its partner networks.
• Increased organizational agility and responsiveness to changing needs and priorities in the education sector, demonstrating UNESCO’s commitment to addressing emerging challenges.

Contract duration:

12 months (with the possibility of extension subject to performance and resource availability)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Academic qualifications

• Completed university degree in Psychology, Pedagogy, Education Science, or a related field.

Professional experience   

• A Minimum of two (-2) years of work experience in education project management, preferably within a humanitarian or development context.

Skills and competencies

• Ability to manage information objectively, accurately, and confidentially.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work schedules and priorities according to workload, emergencies, and deadlines.
• Ability to design, work and execute tasks independently with thoroughness, care, and method.
• Excellent coordination and interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a team and in a multicultural environment.
• Very good IT skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Intranet, Internet, etc.).

Languages

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English and Ukrainian

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in implementation of education projects with strong MHPSS component.
• Experience working in the education system of Ukraine as a school psychologist, pedagogue or/and technical bodies of the MESU dealing with the MHPSS area.
• Excellent understanding of the educational ecosystem of Ukraine, at the central, regional and local levels including the elements of educational reform (‘’Нова українська школа’’).
• Relevant professional experience in UN System or at the international level.