Country Program Officer, 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 (GPE) Secretariat 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 low and lower middle-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 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.

 

The Country Program Officer (CPO) leads on the grant processes, portfolio management, grant performance monitoring, and grant agent relationship.  They are responsible for driving pre-grant effectiveness and grant implementation from allocation to close. They bring knowledge of program design, aid alignment, implementation, and monitoring; experience in helping countries and grant agents with GPE grant processes, rules and guidelines.  The CPO is skilled at resolving obstacles to keep review processes—and proactive in taking measures to keep grant implementation—on track.

 

• Focal point for countries on GPE grant application, implementation phases and timelines.

• Relationship coordinator for Grant Agents in country.

• Coordinates all Secretariat review processes, facilitating communications between contributors, defining timelines, tracking and reporting, and ensuring high quality of Board decision documents.

• Leads all compliance (PDG; EOI for Multiplier; Extensions) and hybrid (SCG; final Compact; QAR3 for STG, Multiplier and GEA; Restructurings) reviews, including drafting and preparing documents for review and submitting CEO/Board packages for approval.

• Leads on grant implementation phase from start to close. This includes:

o Grant performance monitoring: regular portfolio reviews with grant agents, monitoring missions, regular drafting of Monitoring Updates in relevant GPExchange module (including Secretariat rating of grants).

o Grant reporting: advising grant agents on progress and completion reporting requirements, ensuring reporting accountability of grant agent is adhered to; ensuring audit and PSEAH reports received and shared with Risk and Compliance Team.

• Provides continuing support to country on questions and issues related to grant processes, including grant agent selection.

• Leads grant restructurings and consults CEL when significant program redesign is required.

• Works closely with the Aid Alignment specialist and CEL on aid alignment and financing modalities for GPE funding.

Master’s/Bachelor's degree in economics, international development or a relevant related field.

 

Minimum 5 years’ experience (with Master's degree) OR minimum 7 years’ experience (with Bachelor's degree) in education sector, program management and/or grant monitoring with a similar organization, such as a development agency (desirable).

 

Accountability & Results Focus -  Engages in productive consultation without losing sight of 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 and takes initiative to remove obstacles. Takes ownership of own mistakes, failures or oversights, and seeks to correct them. Manages differences of opinion to productive resolution so as not to impede progress. Works to ensure group efforts produce clear actions and decisions and tasks conclude.

 

Adaptability -  Models flexibility - responds to changing circumstances by innovating and altering behavior to better fit different situations. Learns new skills and performs work in different ways. Remains calm in stressful situations and influences others do so. Professionally deals with personal discomfort in a changing work environment.

 

Collaboration & Teamwork -  Actively collaborates with others and models and open, helpful disposition. Acts as a teammate, proactively stepping in to support colleagues as needed. Recognizes and values the role of each team in delivering on GPE’s mission. Approaches challenges and obstacles as shared challenges to be overcome. Sincerely contributes to productive group dynamics and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.

 

Communication & Interpersonal Skills -  Has experience & success working in multicultural environments. Speaks and writes clearly and effectively, adapting language, tone, style and message to diverse, multicultural audiences. Skilled at communicating complex information in succinct and digestible ways. Shares information and keeps people informed; Models transparency, in a way that builds trust in a culturally diverse environment. Maintains productive working relationships with colleagues and models this behavior for junior staff. Engages in active listening and two-way conversation. Asks questions for clarification and responds to others appropriately.  Learns from others’ ideas and expertise.

 

Planning & Organizing -  Works well independently and in teams. Plans and prioritizes work effectively, making adjustments as needed to accommodate changes. Sets and meets individual and team deadlines. Works well under pressure and against tight timelines, and still delivers high-quality work. Foresees risks and identifies mitigation strategies and contingencies.

 

Foundational Technical Knowledge in Education & Development -  Experience supporting work on education and/or development issues in low and middle income countries. Understanding of the policy process. Understanding of unique considerations in fragile and conflict affected contexts. Knowledge of stakeholders, major issues and challenges. Knowledge and/or experience in one or more of the following GPE focus areas: Education finance, education planning and management, education in fragile contexts, girls' education, inclusive education, learning, teacher development, other areas relevant to work of GPE.

 

Grant Portfolio Tracking and Reporting -  Thorough understanding of the grant lifecycle, from pre-grant through grant close, and of grant instruments and processes; Able to be a advise more junior team members. Extensive experience tracking, analyzing and reporting on grants and grant portfolios at all stages, including pipeline and grant implementation. Deep understanding of key milestones and related data and metrics; Excellent data manipulation and reporting skills and attention to detail. Adept at working cooperatively with multi-disciplinary teams and staff and managers at all levels and communicating and representing the team’s products and work.

 

Grant Process and Operational Policy Knowledge -  Strong knowledge of the grant lifecycle, instruments, and associated processes. Experience in one or more of the following areas: grant implementation modalities, program evaluation, or other areas relevant to the work. Solid understanding of grant related operational policies, such as conditions and processes to access GPE grants and requirements with regards to implementation & reporting. Experience developing, supporting, managing, and evaluating education-related programs. Some knowledge of procurement and disbursement, fiduciary, safeguard, governance and anticorruption - and their application to the grant cycle. Ability to advise Secretariat teams and country partners on appropriate use of policies, procedures and instruments.

 

Knowledge of Aid Alignment -  Working knowledge of aid effectiveness and the alignment of aid with national systems, Knowledge of alignment modalities. Understands importance of aid alignment to system transformation.

 

 

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).

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 Disability Accommodation Fund (DAF) at disabilityfund@worldbank.org for further information and support.