SESP Liaison Officer

Job Description

UNICEF works in over 190 countries to protect children's rights and ensure their survival, development, and wellbeing, with a strong focus on the most vulnerable.

In Nepal, UNICEF supports the Government’s School Education Sector Plan (SESP) through a Sector Wide Approach (SWAp), in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) and development partners. The Development Assistance Coordination Section (DACS) leads sector coordination, policy dialogue, and aid effectiveness.

The SESP Liaison Officer will support DACS in strengthening institutional capacity, coordination mechanisms, and government ownership of sector processes, particularly during the transition from the current SESP phase (2022–2027) to the next phase (2027–2032).

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of DACS and working closely with UNICEF Education teams, the Liaison Officer will:

Institutional Strengthening & Capacity Development

• Support the development and institutionalization of coordination systems, processes, and knowledge management tools.
• Strengthen DACS capacity to fulfil its SWAp secretariat role.

SESP & SWAp Coordination

• Support coordination of the transition between SESP phases.
• Facilitate engagement among government, development partners, and sector stakeholders.
• Contribute to updating and operationalizing SWAp frameworks and coordination mechanisms.

Technical Assistance & Government Ownership

• Support implementation of the Common Framework for Technical Assistance.
• Promote institutionalization of capacities developed through external support.
• Strengthen coordination across federal, provincial, and local levels.

Evidence & Knowledge Management

• Support sector reviews, consultations, and working groups.
• Prepare analytical briefs, reports, and knowledge products.
• Promote data-driven planning and decision-making.

Partnership Engagement

• Support engagement with development partners, including the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
• Strengthen communication, transparency, and accountability mechanisms.

Requirements

• Education: Master’s degree in education, development, or a related field
• Experience: Minimum 6 years of relevant professional experience in coordination roles in education/development
• Languages: English – Fluent (required); Nepali is an asset

Skills and Competencies

• Strong coordination, stakeholder engagement, and partnership-building skills
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills
• Solid experience in education sector programming and development contexts
• Ability to manage complex workloads and multiple stakeholders

Special Notice

UN Volunteers serve full-time in their professional expertise, supported by a benefits package, including a monthly living allowance (MLA) to ensure a secure standard of living at their duty stations.

Current MLA: US$ 2,380 to US$ 2,830

Check out UNV's Entitlement Calculator on UVP, the Unified Volunteering Platform, and learn more about related benefits.