The annual Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM Report) is the world’s foremost publication on education. Since 2016, it has been monitoring the new post-2015 education goal and targets, which are part of the Sustainable Development Goals agenda. The Report delivers on the mandate based on three principles: it is universal, inter-sectoral, and equity oriented. Informed by the latest evidence and research on education, the GEM Report is a global public good that fulfils the need for an independent monitoring function, uncommon at the United Nations, which assesses progress towards the international education commitments of Agenda 2030.
Due to its earned reputation for quality and independence, the GEM Report seeks to use its outputs not only to inform global education stakeholders but also to contribute to policy change to help countries achieve SDG 4. The GEM Report prioritises activities that engage the global education agenda and stakeholders including governments (leadership and senior civil servants of ministries of education and finance, and implementing agencies), experts (including academic researchers, think tanks and consultants), multilateral, international, regional and national development organizations, teachers and their unions, youth, students and their organizations, civil society actors and non-government organizations engaged in education, and the general public opinion. Through its strategic research development and advocacy partnerships, an active communications programme, policy dialogue, and peer learning mechanisms, the GEM Report aims to tackle difficult topics in education and present evidence to inform debate and decision-making.
The GEM Report seeks to recruit a Project Officer (Advocacy Partnerships and Events) to co-lead the design and coordination of strategic partnerships to (a) strengthen stakeholder engagement in the development of the Report and its workstreams focusing on thematic papers related to PEER profiles (www.education-profiles.org), and (b) grow the coalition of advocacy partners to improve the resonance of and policy dialogue around the Report’s messages and recommendations. The duty station for the position is Paris (France).
Under the authority of the Director of the Global Education Monitoring Report, and the direct supervision of the Senior Project Officer (Communications and Advocacy), the staff member will be responsible for conceptualization and coordination of stakeholder engagement to support the development and dissemination lifecycle of an assigned annual GEM Report series and thematic papers related to PEER profiles.
In particular, s/he will :
Co-lead in the development of advocacy partnerships and events strategies, including managing an advocacy working group, the drafting of talking points, event concept notes, presentations and background briefs for an assigned annual GEM Report series (starting with the 2023 GEM Report and its associated products including the Gender Report, the Youth Report, the regional reports and the policy papers) and thematic papers related to PEER profiles.
Lead in the consultation process in support of an assigned annual GEM Report series, built around the Report’s concept note and its associated products, including the Gender Report, the Youth Report and regional reports, including documenting the outcomes from the consultations in a way that can feed into the GEM Report research development process, and the advocacy and communications strategy upon launch.
Support the management of the daily communication taking place between the GEM Report team and UNESCO Delegations to ensure smooth collaboration aiming for greater engagement of Member States in events, in reviewing GEM Report PEER Profiles, engagement in consultation processes and in fundraising activities.
Support the overall communication efforts of the GEM Report including:
by sourcing guest blogs specific to the products being launched at that time,
providing input into donor reports on events, partnerships and consultations,
feeding into the client relationship management system in development (CRM on Salesforce),
identifying media spokespeople and drafting relevant Q&A and other press material as required.
Required Qualifications:
Education:
Advanced university degree (equivalent to Master) in the field of education, journalism, development, politics, sociology or other relevant discipline.
Work Experience:
Minimum of four (4) years of professional experience communications on development & partnerships, of which at least 2 years acquired at the international level.
Experience in events management, including budget management
Experience in writing speeches, key messages and issue briefs on development issues.
Skills:
Excellent written and spoken communications skills for different audiences.
Broad understanding of a wide range of public policy issues in education.
Strong background in events management and policy advocacy at the global level
Demonstrated ability to work innovatively to tight deadlines with minimal supervision and in a self-motivated manner.
Excellent IT skills to carry on the work (eg. Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Eventbrite).
Language:
Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English.
Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
