Education Programme Associate

General

Description of assignment title: Education Programme Associate
Assignment country: Georgia
Duty stations: Tbilisi
Work location: On UN premises
Expected start date: 02/01/2027
Duration: 12 months
Sustainable Development Goal: 4. Quality education
Host entity: UNICEF GEO
Modality: Onsite
Type: International
Volunteer category: Associate UCoS from Apr2026
Work schedule: Full-time
Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives

UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to uphold the rights of every child, everywhere. Guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals, UNICEF supports efforts to ensure that every child is protected, healthy, educated and able to reach their full potential. UNICEF places particular emphasis on reaching the most disadvantaged and excluded children and addressing inequalities that limit children's opportunities and outcomes.

In Georgia, UNICEF works with government institutions, academia, civil society organizations and development partners to support children’s rights and well-being. Through its education programme, UNICEF contributes to strengthening equitable, inclusive and quality education systems, improving learning opportunities and outcomes for children and young people, and supporting evidence-informed policies and partnerships that help ensure no child is left behind.

Context

The UNICEF Georgia Country Programme for 2026–2030 sets out UNICEF’s priorities for advancing the rights and well-being of children in Georgia, with learning and skills development as one of its key programme areas.

The Learning and Skills Development component aims to support national efforts to provide high-quality and inclusive education for all children, particularly the most vulnerable, and to equip children and adolescents with the skills needed for education, work and life. Key areas of work include strengthening early childhood education and care; inclusive and bilingual education; pre- and in-service professional development; support for children with disabilities, developmental delays and those at risk of dropping out; The programme also supports adolescents in developing relevant skills, including digital, leadership, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, and in transitioning from school to further education and employment.

The programme is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth, municipalities, universities and other partners, with particular attention to vulnerable and underserved children and young people. It also promotes equitable opportunities for ethnic minority students, especially girls, and meaningful engagement of children and young people in environmental and climate-related issues.

The Learning and Skills Development component has an indicative five-year budget of US$4.82 million, comprising US$0.82 million in Regular Resources and US$4.0 million in Other Resources. Effective implementation requires strong programme coordination and technical support, sustained partnerships and resource mobilization to translate programme priorities into sustainable results for children.

Within this context, the UN Volunteer will support UNICEF Georgia’s Education Section in programme implementation and monitoring, partner coordination, research and evidence generation, documentation and knowledge management. Working closely with UNICEF colleagues and external partners, the Volunteer will contribute to the effective implementation of activities across the Education Section’s areas of work.

The assignment offers an opportunity for a young professional to gain practical experience in programme implementation, partnership engagement, research, knowledge management and advocacy within the United Nations system. The Volunteer will work under the direct supervision of the Education Specialist / Head of Section and will receive regular guidance and mentoring.

The UN Volunteer will be based on-site at the UNICEF Georgia Country Office in Tbilisi. As an entry-level and learning-oriented assignment, the position will not carry independent authority to make programme commitments, approve or sign agreements, commit UNICEF resources, or represent UNICEF externally without prior authorization.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of Education Specialist / Head of Section, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Programme implementation and coordination
   • Support the implementation and monitoring of Education Section activities and follow-up on agreed actions with partners.
   • Support coordination with government counterparts, academic institutions, civil society organizations and development partners, including through meetings, consultations, workshops and field visits.
   • Support the organization and documentation of programme activities, capacity-building events and learning initiatives.
   • Collaborate with colleagues across relevant UNICEF programme areas to support integrated approaches to children’s learning, development and well-being.
2. Support to priority education areas
   • Contribute to activities aimed at strengthening early childhood education and care through research, coordination and programme support.
   • Support activities promoting inclusive and equitable education, with particular attention to vulnerable and underserved children and young people, including children with disabilities and ethnic minority children.
   • Contribute to activities supporting adolescent skills development and transition from education to further learning and employment, including approaches that promote gender equality and meaningful youth participation.
3. Research, evidence and knowledge management
   • Support the collection, organization and analysis of programme information related to children’s learning, skills development and inclusion, including information used for programme planning, proposals and donor reporting.
   • Contribute to research and desk reviews on relevant education topics, including inclusive education, early childhood education, digital learning and skills development.
   • Contribute to documenting programme results, lessons learned and promising practices, and support the preparation of reports, briefing notes, presentations and other programme materials.
4. Communication and advocacy
   • Contribute to communication, knowledge-sharing and advocacy activities promoting children’s right to quality and inclusive education.
   • Perform other related tasks as assigned by the supervisor to support effective programme implementation and learning.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 - 80
Required experience: 1 month
Donor priorities: -
Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Additional eligibility criteria

This assignment is funded by the Government of the Czech Republic and therefore specific criteria apply:

• Only nationals of the Czech Republic can be considered.
• Candidates who already served on a UN Volunteer assignment funded by the Government of the Czech Republic are not eligible.

APPLICATION

• You may apply to a maximum of three assignments and indicate the order of preference in the ‘Additional remarks’ field when filling in the application form.

SELECTION

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The selection will be done by the UN Host Entity at the level of the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience: No experience required
Languages: English, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level: Bachelor's degree in Education, Psychology, Sociology, Child Rights, or another relevant field.

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Building Trust
• Client Orientation
• Commitment and Motivation
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Communication
• Creativity
• Ethics and Values
• Integrity
• Knowledge Sharing
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
• Self-Management
• Technological Awareness
• Working in Teams

Skills and experience

Demonstrated interest and/or experience in:

• Education programmes, projects or research
• Child rights, social development, inclusion or related fields
• Data collection, report writing, knowledge management or stakeholder engagement
• Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Skills in:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to collect, organize and synthesize information from multiple sources
• Report drafting and documentation skills
• Strong organizational and event coordination skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in multicultural environments

Area(s) of expertise: Community development, Education
Driving license: -

Other information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living conditions and remarks

This is a volunteer assignment, not employment. By sharing your time, energy, and talents, you can support communities in need and become part of something greater than yourself — a global movement for peace, development, and humanitarian aid. Volunteering strengthens trust, solidarity, and reciprocity among citizens, and it can promote a sense of belonging and purpose.

The UN Volunteer will be based in Tbilisi and responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials. The full entitlements at the duty station: https://app.unv.org/calculator.

The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service: https://explore.unv.org/cos

Summary of National UN Volunteer Entitlements:

• Current Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) is USD 1,996
• Private insurance coverage by CIGNA
• Family allowance (if applicable): USD 250
• Entry allowance: USD 3,500
• Exit allowance: USD 225 per month, and upon the satisfactory completion of assignment
• Free access to different learning platforms and UN & UNV network

Notes:

1. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the volunteer work.
2. It's important to note that UNV assignments are volunteer assignments, not employment.

The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service.

Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is a safe and welcoming city that offers a comfortable quality of life, affordable housing, reliable public transportation, and access to quality healthcare and other essential services. The city combines a rich cultural heritage with a vibrant social scene, diverse dining options, and a growing international community. English is commonly used in professional settings. Surrounded by scenic landscapes and outdoor recreation opportunities, Tbilisi provides an enjoyable environment for both work and leisure.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Reasonable accommodation

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.

Scam warning

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