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.
WHO WE ARE
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.
WHAT WE DO
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.
HOW WE WORK
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 on a 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.
GOVERNANCE AND ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
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 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. and the European office is in Paris with a satellite office in Brussels and a support office in Chennai.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The External Relations team (EXR) responsibilities include donor relations, communications, advocacy, civil society outreach, private sector and private foundation outreach and it has the primary responsibility for overseeing GPE's Financing Campaigns.
The Global Advocacy Team is part of EXR and is responsible for the advancing GPE’s advocacy priorities and strategically positioning GPE in key global and regional fora and public policy discourse; developing and managing relationships with advocacy partners and champions, including senior government officials; and managing advocacy relationships with global CSOs, including support to CSO board constituencies.
The Donor Relations Team is responsible for all aspects of sovereign donor engagement via a “whole of country” relationship management approach, including fundraising for the GPE Fund and support to the six donor board constituencies; engagement with all relevant branches of government, parliaments, private sector, foundations & national advocacy partners.
ABOUT THE JOB
This position will be located in the office of the World Bank Special Representative to the United Nations, in New York, USA.
Duties and Accountabilities
UN Liaison
• Act as GPE’s primary representative at the UN in New York, engaging with senior-level UN and Member State actors to influence key agendas and outcomes and promoting GPE’s policy priorities in major UN processes and outcome documents.
• Track developments on key UN processes and events relevant to GPE’s mission. Develop strategies to position GPE and advance GPE’s policy advocacy priorities within these processes, particularly in the context of GPE’s 5th Replenishment.
• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with key UN offices and Member States to rally support for GPE’s 5th replenishment campaign. Develop and implement a UN engagement strategy for GPE and its senior leaders, aligning with the overall replenishment campaign goals.
• Coordinate and advise on meetings between GPE’s leadership and high-level UN and Member State officials and provide strategic advice on building relationships and visibility for GPE leadership.
• Leverage opportunities to increase visibility for GPE’s mission, expand brand awareness, and highlight GPE’s contributions to global development, including through cross-sectoral partnerships.
• Represent GPE in UN meetings, events, and informal sessions and speak on GPE’s behalf as requested.
• Collaborate closely with New York offices of UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Bank, the Group of Friends of Education, GPE replenishment co-hosts, and other key partners to ensure a coordinated approach across the education sector.
• Prepare position papers, briefings, background documents, and meeting summaries to keep GPE leadership informed on relevant UN developments.
Donor relations
• Lead on relations with GPE donor countries’ New York missions, including building and managing relationships with key stakeholders.
• Propose and implement strategies for GPE’s engagement with donor missions in support of national strategies.
Reporting Relationship
The position will report directly to the Head of Communications and Advocacy and work closely with the Global Advocacy Team Lead and Donor Team Lead. The consultant will work in collaboration with other members of the External Relations Team and other Secretariat teams.
The position will also coordinate closely with the World Bank Special Representative to the United Nations.