Recruitment of an Education Finance Expert

Detailed description of project Back

The overall objective to which this action contributes is to support the SDG4-Education 2030 High-Level Steering Committee (HLSC) Inter-Agency Secretariat, hosted by UNESCO’s SDG 4 Global Cooperation Section, in effectively fulfilling its role, particularly in Functional Area 3 “Driving financing mobilization and improve alignment”.

As an education finance champion and a key member of the HLSC, the European Commission is committed to support the coordination of global actors, mobilizing greater levels and more diversified sources of equitable and efficient financing to education. Support for education translates into indirect support of key Commission cross-cutting objectives: equity and equality, environment and climate change, the green and digital transitions.

In line with this, an Education Finance expert will provide technical support, guidance and coordination for the IAS’ mandate in general and actions related to education finance, in particular, and support the European Commission in this area of work.

As an education finance champion and a key member of the HLSC, the European Commission is committed to support the coordination of global actors, mobilizing greater levels and more diversified sources of equitable and efficient financing to education. Having the direct link on a working level with the IAS through the support of the Education Finance Expert will enable better collaboration and transfer of information and knowledge, as well as complementarity between the EU’s actions and specific involvement in the GCM.

The European Commission participates in the deliberations of the Education Finance Technical Committee (FA3), supported by the Inter-Agency Secretariat. The Education Finance expert will support the European Commission in this role and complement and reinforce the IAS expertise, therefore allowing the Secretariat to meaningfully engage on education finance actions in support of FA3, and to effectively liaise with other relevant initiatives to help ensure alignment and value add. The Education Finance expert will further support the two-fold approach to be taken by FA3: a) aligning global-level resources (financial and technical) around existing and emerging opportunities for greater mobilization of resources and equity and efficiency in spending at country level; and b) mobilizing additional global-level resources (financial and technical), fostering new partnerships and joint support capacities for coordinated action around identified gaps anchored in national priorities.

A key role of FA3, and thus of the Education Finance expert, would be to support the advancement of the commitments made at the Transforming Education Summit in response to the Call to Action on Financing Education3. The Call sets out 21 actions for national governments and the international community to invest more, more equitably and more efficiently in education – both domestically and internationally.

Type of services provided

• Ensuring smooth information exchange and collaboration between the DG INTPA education team and IAS;
• Supporting the European Commission DG INTPA education team with expertise and advice on education finance, particularly linked to the FA3 policy priorities;
• Supporting the IAS’ technical work in advancing the HLSC’s three Functional Areas by:
  • Drafting technical documents and communication materials;
  • Collecting and synthesizing evidence and data, and monitoring trends in education finance;
  • Supporting the enrichment of the SDG 4-Transforming Education Knowledge Hub;
  • Preparing relevant documents for HLSC and other SDG 4-related meetings.
• Providing support to the Co‐Leads in the content development of activities and deliverables under the FA3 work plan and ensuring that HLSC’s decisions related to education finance are incorporated;
• Supporting the Co‐Leads in convening meetings and discussions around the FA3, participating in relevant meetings and supporting communications and collaboration;
• Providing support to the Sherpa Group, leading the FA3 process, as appropriate.

Main staff provided:

• Education Finance Expert (294 w/d).