Senior Regional Operations Assistant, GPE

Are you a very passionate advocate for education? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children? The Global Partnership for Education Secretariat (GPE) would like to hear from you.

 

GPE is a shared commitment to end the world’s learning crisis. It is the only global partnership and fund dedicated entirely to helping children in lower-income countries get a quality education, so they can unlock their potential and contribute to building a better world. We bring together governments, teachers, civil society, donors, United Nations agencies, development banks, businesses and private foundations to transform education systems so that every girl and boy can have hope, opportunity and agency. 

 

GPE helps low- and lower-middle-income countries to build stronger education systems so that all children can get the education they need to thrive. We currently support nearly 90 countries where the needs are greatest and focus on reaching the children who are the most vulnerable, including girls, children with disabilities and those affected by extreme poverty or conflict. Our unique approach works. Since 2002, 160 million more children in GPE partner countries have set foot in classrooms for the first time, more than half of them girls. GPE is also the largest provider of education grants in the global COVID-19 response, providing partner countries with vital resources to ensure that learning can safely continue. 

 

Now, GPE is working to help governments transform their education systems to get the most vulnerable children in school, improve teaching and learning, and build equitable, inclusive and resilient education systems fit for the 21st century. Between 2020-2025, GPE will support transformative change in up to 90 countries and territories, which are home to 1 billion children. Transforming education is about creating lasting changes and achieving impact at scale. GPE sets  out to deliver this transformative change by convening partners, mobilizing funds and catalyzing  reforms to help partner countries accelerate access, learning outcomes and gender equality. 

 

In July 2021, the Global Education Summit put GPE firmly on the path to be fully-funded by 2025, by raising a record US $4 billion from donors for GPE’s Raise Your Hand campaign. At the Summit, Heads of State and Government from partner countries made historic commitments to education financing and GPE also mobilized an unprecedented number of pledges from businesses, private foundations and development banks.

A fully funded GPE would support transformed education systems in up to 90 countries and territories, enable up to 175 million children to learn and help get 88 million more girls and boys in school by 2025. In the longer term, this investment could add $164 billion to economies in GPE partner countries, lift 18 million people out of poverty, and protect 2 million girls from early marriage.

 

The GPE Board of Directors includes ministerial-level board members and alternates representing 20 constituencies that reflect the Partnership’s breadth. The Board Chair is HE President Jakaya Kikwete and the Board Vice Chair is Ms. Christine Hogan. The Board of Directors, with its three standing committees, provides policy and strategic oversight and approves or delegates funding decisions.

The GPE Secretariat, with 160 employees and hosted by the World Bank, is responsible for translating the policies and strategies set by the Board into practical support for partner countries, coordinating with diverse stakeholders and galvanizing global support for SDG4. The Secretariat’s headquarters are in the World Bank’s offices in Washington, D.C., with a European office in Paris, a Regional Hub n Africa office in Nairobi,  a satellite office in Brussels, and a support office in Chennai.

 

 

There are three GPE regional teams. The regional teams set GPE's regional engagement strategy, coordinate relationships with GPE member countries and partners, manage GPE's regional grant portfolio, help countries identify and access GPE and external resources, and support evidence-informed policy dialogue at country level, including on the development and implementation of inclusive Education Sector Plans, Partnership Compacts, Joint Sector Reviews, etc. to accelerate transformative progress in policy priorities. They also inform design of GPE practice offerings with country feedback & lessons. The regional team comprises a Regional Manager, Regional Coordinator, Senior Regional Operations Assistant, Regional Gender and Inclusion Specialist, Regional Grant Finance Officer, and multiple pairs of Country Engagement Leads (CELs) and Country Program Officers (CPOs) handling multi-country portfolios.

 

 

This position will be based initially in Nairobi but may be relocated if business needs arise that make it necessary to do so. Successful candidates will need to relocate to Nairobi for this position. 

 

The Senior Regional Operations Assistant’s (ROA) main responsibility is to provide operational and knowledge management support to the country teams.  The ROA works closely with country teams to ensure robust knowledge management and archiving so that GPE stakeholders can find up-to-date and accurate information in GPE systems.

 

• Understands GPE’s protocols and processes related to grant cycle including data capture, file organization and other knowledge management.

• Supports Country Program Officers and Country Engagement Leads with timely handling of knowledge management and archiving.

• Supports Regional Coordinator in maintaining and pulling together regional pipeline data for regular reports.

• Assists country teams in scheduling and preparing for review meetings.

• Assists teams in completing templates and documents for review and approval.

• Maintains regional portal or website.

• Assists Regional Coordinator in tracking Secretariat queries and projects pending for delivery.

• Assists country teams in observing protocols for regional alignment.

• Supports other ad-hoc regional team needs.

High school Diploma + 6 years of experience or Bachelors degree + 3 years of experience.

 

Accountability & Results Focus -  Manages own work; takes responsibility for own decisions, deliverables and deadlines. Doesn’t let the pursuit of perfection prevent forward progress. Seeks clarity when needed to move work forward.

 

Adaptability -  Is flexible and willing to change routines and direction. Learns new skills. Remains calm in stressful situations.

 

Collaboration & Teamwork -  Works cooperatively and displays and open, helpful disposition. Acts as a teammate, stepping in to support colleagues when asked. Is aware of impact of work on wider Secretariat.

 

Communication & Interpersonal Skills -  Has experience & success working in multicultural environments. Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Shares information and keeps people informed. Maintains productive working relationships with colleagues.

 

Planning & Organizing -  Able to work independently and in teams. Plans and prioritizes own work effectively, meeting individual timelines. Able to work under pressure, against tight timelines.

 

Foundational Technical Knowledge in Education & Development -  Some awareness of education and/or development issues and stakeholders. Some awareness of unique considerations in fragile and conflict affected contexts.

 

Grant Process and Operational Policy Knowledge -  Some awareness of grant lifecycle, instruments and processes. Basic understanding of grant related operational policies, such as conditions and processes to access GPE grants and requirements with regards to implementation & reporting. Ability to advise Secretariat teams, with support from senior GO colleagues, on appropriate use of policies, procedures and instruments. Some awareness of needs related to supporting and evaluating education-related programs.

 

Knowledge Asset Management -  Demonstrates good understanding of knowledge management and archiving systems, processes, practices, policies, procedures and guidelines of GPE and the World Bank Group to support regional team in capturing, accessing, curating, sharing, storing and reusing knowledge and information.

 

Quantitative and Analytical Skills -  Able to gather, process and organize information and data and respond to demands at varying levels of detail. Able to identify key issues, weigh pros and cons, and make informed decisions. Checks assumptions against facts and evidence.

 

 

Term appointments include, but are not limited to, medical benefits, including dental and vision, Staff Retirement Plan, financial assistance program, life & disability insurance, comprehensive leave policy (minimum 26 days/annum) and parental leave policy (50-100 days).  

 

 

Poverty has no borders. Neither does excellence. This is why we continually search for qualified individuals with a diverse set of backgrounds from around the globe. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, creed, race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability.

 

GPE has a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in line with its Policy on Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) policy.

Individuals with disabilities may be provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions of the role and support in receiving other workplace accommodations.

 

Please contact the DAF-Disability Accommodation Fund at disabilityfund@worldbank.org for further information and support.