JOB OFFERS – UNESCO Cameroon: CONSULTANT IN CHARGE OF UPDATING REPORTS

CONSULTANT IN CHARGE OF UPDATING REPORTS ON LEGAL ASPECTS RELATING TO SDG 4
Sector: Education Sector (ED)

Place of employment: Yaounde

Job category: Education

Type of contract: Consultant

Duration of contract : 45 Days

Recruitment open to: External candidates

Closing date for applications (midnight Paris time): 18 June 2023

Core values ​​of UNESCO: Commitment to the Organization, integrity, respect for diversity, professionalism

SUMMARY OF DUTIES OF THE POST
 

Education is a fundamental human right established in international treaties. This right is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Agenda for Sustainable Development defines a new universal and transformative vision for education by 2030, with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) calling on States to “Ensure access for all to quality education, on an equal footing, and promote lifelong learning opportunities”. This commitment provides a valuable opportunity to highlight the role of education as a primary driver of development and its contribution to the achievement of other Sustainable Development Goals.

The realization of the right to education rests entirely on its concrete implementation and its effective application – a responsibility that rests with States. UNESCO develops, monitors and promotes education norms and standards and supports their application to promote the implementation of the right to education at the national level. One of UNESCO’s main responsibilities, as mandated by the Education 2030 Framework for Action, is to support Member States in meeting their international commitments regarding the right to education and SDG 4.

As such, UNESCO had developed Guiding Principles (which are currently being revised) for the review of national laws and policies to help its Member States strengthen the foundations of the right to education in national legal systems and to assess the compatibility of their legislation with the provisions of the international normative instruments to which they are legally bound.

With the new Education 2030 Agenda, a Strategy on Normative Instruments (2016-2021) was adopted by UNESCO’s Executive Board aimed at mainstreaming the right to education in the review of sectoral policies. It is in this context that a UNESCO pilot project was launched in 2016 within the framework of its Capacity Development for Education (CapED) Programme, aimed at supporting certain countries in their efforts to translate the and indicative SDG4 strategies in legal and policy provisions. An important component of this program focuses on legislation on the right to education as a means of fueling debates on the legal reforms needed to ensure sustainable and quality education. To date, in this context, the national legal frameworks of about fifteen countries were reviewed specifically targeting the legal aspects relating to targets 4.1, 4.2 and 4.5 and an analytical summary report based on the results of pilot countries was published, demonstrating that the improvement legal commitments, in line with SDG4, is highly desirable. This work has also been carried out in other forms in other countries depending on the requirements of local contexts.

With the Covid-19 pandemic, which has significantly affected the right to education, there is a risk of slowing progress and even regression. This pandemic has nevertheless been an opportunity to rethink the resilience and preparedness of education systems. Now more than ever, governments must adopt a rights-based and inclusive approach to their legal and policy frameworks to guarantee this right to every person and ensure that no one is left behind.

RATIONALE:

In 2020, the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Yaoundé had initiated the development of 8 national reports for the strengthening of the national foundations of the right to education and the objectives of the SDGs 4 in the Central African sub-region. . . To date, reports are available for the following countries: Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe and Chad. The Reports on the right to education in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which were produced in 2018 with the support of UNESCO/Headquarters, will complete this series. The objective pursued is to create a positive dynamic for the effective application of the right to education in the national legal frameworks, particularly in the countries of Central Africa.

Indeed, universal commitment to the goals of SDG 4 should now be translated into concrete action at the national level, including through appropriate legislative reforms supporting the right to education. Although SDG 4 does not in itself create legal obligations for countries, it calls for a comprehensive approach to education, including the adoption of legislative measures. This presents a key opportunity to further link policy and legal reforms, as called for in UNESCO’s Strategy on Normative Instruments in Education (2016-2021), and ensure that practices evolve accordingly. Legal gaps resulting from incomplete or outdated national legal frameworks can undermine efforts to achieve the

As such, with the Nairobi Declaration of 2018, African States committed to “Review the legislation on the right to education so that it meets the commitments of CESA 16-25 and SDG4-Education 2030” (paragraph 11(e)).

OBJECTIVES:
The UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office for Central Africa wishes to recruit a lawyer with expertise in education who is enthusiastic, hardworking and determined, for the update of the 10 available reports and the elaboration of a regional synthesis of the said reports on the legal aspects relating to SDG4.

The Update Reports and the regional synthesis should examine the national legal framework relating to the three targets of SDG 4 (4.1, 4.2 and 4.5) based on a rights-based approach. A broader approach and analysis of other targets could be planned depending on specific requests. The primary objective of these documents is to serve as a basis for diagnoses and to inform national debates on future legal reforms concerning the right to education.

Each country report will present the national legal framework relating to the right to education in relation to the three targets of SDG4 (section 1), as well as a summary of the most recent country-relevant specific observations and recommendations made. by United Nations human rights bodies (section 2). The report offers conclusions and recommendations (Section 3) that highlight the most essential legal measures to address the identified gaps.

Specific tasks:

Under the general authority of the Director of the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office for Central Africa based in Yaoundé, the technical supervision of the Regional Coordinator of the Education Program in close collaboration with other specialists in the Education sector at UNESCO Headquarters, the consultant will:

Plan working sessions with the right to education team at UNESCO headquarters in order to discuss, train and familiarize themselves with the methodology for preparing analyzes and preparing country reports;
Communicate regularly with the Right to Education team at UNESCO Headquarters to ensure harmonization and consistency across all reports;
Identify, collect and analyze all relevant documentation for the update of the 8 reports for the following countries: Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe and Chad;
Organize informal meetings with actors likely to contribute to the content of the Country Reports and the regional summary;
Update the 8 country reports on the right to education;
Prepare the two remaining reports;
Participate in the face-to-face and online facilitation of Report validation meetings and support the Office in discussions with national authorities and all other key players on the finalization and validation of recommendations;
Produce a regional summary document of the 10 updated reports.

Ensure all other tasks and activities requested by the Supervisor.

Organizational environment and partnerships
The Job Holder enjoys a certain autonomy in daily work; however, regular interaction with the Head of the Education Sector in Yaoundé, the Education Program Specialist and the Manager at UNESCO Headquarters takes place for the development of work plans, the implementation strategy and tracking progress on key achievements and challenges. He will be required to master the rules and regulations governing the implementation of the report, as stated in the objectives.

Internally, he or she will work in close contact with the Program Specialist, Project Focal Point in Yaoundé and the Senior Reporting Officer at UNESCO Headquarters. The incumbent interacts with colleagues in the Education Sector when needed.

Expected results and duration of the commitment
Deliverables

The 10 Central African country reports, together with recommendations, are returned by the Consultant, reviewed by UNESCO, validated by the national authorities.
A regional summary document of the 10 reports produced.
SKILLS (Fundamental / Managerial)
Responsibility (F)
Communication (F)
Innovation (F)
Knowledge sharing and constant desire for improvement (F)
Planning and organization (F)
Culture of results (F)
Teamwork (F)
Professionalism (F)
For more information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master 2 minimum) preferably in the field of law, human rights, social rights, etc. (possession of a doctorate in law will be an asset).

Professional experience:

Minimum five years of relevant professional experience in the legal or human rights field;
Excellent knowledge of education and development issues in Africa, and in particular the Central African region;
Excellent research, analytical and writing skills;
Excellent knowledge (written and oral) of French and good knowledge of English;
At least 2 years of relevant professional experience, with progressive responsibility, in the field of education;
Experience in planning, managing and implementing major education projects and programs;
Abilities and skills:

Good understanding of the education context in Central African countries and the main challenges;
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with external partners (national/local authorities, relevant institutions, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations);
Ability to work effectively and maintain effective working relationships in a multicultural environment;
Excellent ability to communicate and negotiate effectively with various stakeholders, inside and outside the organization;
Ability to provide timely advice in the process of implementing activities;
Strong computer skills, including knowledge of office software (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Language :

Excellent knowledge of French and good knowledge of English.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Professional experience:

Excellent knowledge of education and development issues in Africa, and in particular the Central African region;
Excellent research, analytical and writing skills;
Excellent knowledge (written and oral) of French and good knowledge of English;
Professional experience in the legal or human rights field;
Very good knowledge of research, analysis and writing;
Professional experience in Central African countries.

Capacities and skills :

Good knowledge of programming policies and procedures in the field of international development cooperation, in particular within the United Nations;
Excellent ability to present effectively to a diverse audience.

Language:

Knowledge of another official working language of the United Nations Organization.