Education Advisor

The Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) is the lead institution responsible for the implementation of Nepal’s School Education Sector Plan (SESP) and serves as the counterpart to the Joint Financing Partners (JFPs), including UNICEF, under the education Sector Wide Approach (SWAp). The Development Assistance Coordination Section (DACS), located within the Planning and Monitoring Division of MoES, serves as the focal point for development partner coordination, sector dialogue, aid effectiveness, and oversight of key SWAp mechanisms.
As Nepal enters a critical transition period with the completion of the first costed phase of the SESP (2022–2027) and the preparation and implementation of the second phase (2027–2032), there is an increasing need to strengthen and institutionalize government capacity to lead sector coordination, policy dialogue, planning, monitoring, resource mobilization, and partnership management. This transition coincides with broader efforts to strengthen decentralized education governance, improve local government service delivery capacities, enhance evidence-based planning and financing, and accelerate progress on learning outcomes, skills development, and school resilience.

The SESP Liaison Officer will support DACS and relevant government counterparts to strengthen institutional systems, coordination mechanisms, and organizational capacities required for effective implementation of the SESP and SWAp. The assignment will focus on supporting the gradual institutionalization of functions currently supported through external technical assistance, strengthening government ownership of sector coordination processes, enhancing engagement with development partners, and supporting knowledge management, monitoring, and evidence-informed decision-making. The role will contribute to ensuring that coordination and partnership functions are embedded within government systems and can be sustained beyond the duration of external support arrangements.

UNICEF, in its role as a JFP/LEDPG focal point within the education SWAp, will support the Government of Nepal in these efforts through technical assistance and capacity development support aimed at strengthening sustainable sector governance and implementation mechanisms.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of DACS, and in close collaboration with the UNICEF Chief of Education and the Education Specialist, the UN Volunteer will:

Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Development
• Support MoES DACS to strengthen and institutionalize systems, processes and capacities for coordination, planning, monitoring and implementation of the SESP.
• Support the documentation, refinement and operationalization of standard operating procedures, coordination mechanisms, and knowledge management systems related to SWAp implementation and development partner engagement.
• Contribute to strengthening organizational capacity within DACS to effectively fulfil its secretariat role for the education SWAp and LEDPG.

SESP and SWAp Coordination
• Support DACS in coordinating the transition from the first SESP implementation phase (2022–2027) to the second phase (2027–2032), ensuring continuity of sector dialogue and stakeholder engagement.
• Support MoES DACS to facilitate effective communication and coordination between MoES, development partners, civil society organizations, and other sector stakeholders in support of SESP implementation.
• Support the review, updating and implementation of key SWAp frameworks and instruments, including partnership coordination mechanisms, technical working group arrangements, and related governance structures.

Government Ownership and Institutionalization of Technical Assistance
• Support implementation and monitoring of the Common Framework for Technical Assistance and contribute to strengthening government leadership and oversight of technical assistance provided to the education sector.
• Assist MoES DACS and sector stakeholders in identifying opportunities to consolidate and institutionalize capacities, systems and functions developed through externally supported technical assistance initiatives.
• Support efforts to strengthen coordination between federal, provincial and local government actors to improve implementation of education sector priorities.

Evidence, Knowledge Management and Sector Monitoring
• Support the organization and documentation of sector reviews, thematic consultations, technical working groups, and partnership meetings.
• Assist in the preparation of briefing materials, analytical summaries, progress updates, lessons learned and knowledge products to inform sector decision-making.
• Contribute to strengthening the use of sector data, evidence and monitoring information to support planning, policy dialogue and resource mobilization.

Partnership Engagement
• Support country-level engagement with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and other development partners, ensuring effective information sharing and follow-up on agreed actions.
• Contribute to implementation of stakeholder engagement and communication approaches that strengthen transparency, accountability and collaborative sector governance.
• Undertake any other related duties, as assigned by the supervisor.

Results/expected outputs:

• Strengthened institutional capacity of MoES DACS to fulfil its coordination, partnership management, and SWAp secretariat functions.
• Key SESP and SWAp coordination mechanisms functioning effectively and increasingly led through established government systems and processes.
• Updated and operational sector coordination frameworks, guidance materials and knowledge management resources supporting sustainable implementation of the SESP.
• Improved documentation, monitoring and follow-up of sector coordination processes, thematic working groups and development partner engagements.
• Strengthened government ownership and oversight of technical assistance coordination through implementation of the Common Framework for Technical Assistance.
• Enhanced use of evidence, sector data and analytical products to support planning, policy dialogue and decision-making.
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) principles systematically integrated into all activities and outputs.
• Final documentation of achievements related to capacity development, institutional strengthening and support to sustainable sector governance.