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 (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 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. 

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 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. 

Raise Your Hand 

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.

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 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, an Regional Hub in  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 & 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.

Description

The Regional Grant Finance Officer is mapped to the regional team, and supports countries on fiduciary, finance and budget elements for grant applications, participating in application reviews and working with country teams to communicate and address related issues.

Duties And Accountabilities

Pre-Grant:

• Advises partner countries and grant agents on GPE fiduciary, finance, and budget requirements and best practice -including going on mission when required.

• Reviews grant applications for their region to ensure compliance with GPE standards relating to budget, implementation arrangements, and risks (fiduciary, sub-recipient and legal status).

• Ensures accuracy of finance/budget numbers and language relating to finance areas, in CEO/board documents.

• Provides aid alignment inputs in grant application process and quality assurance reviews regarding adequate description of funding modality, flow of funds, fiduciary risk oversight.

Implementation:

• In concert with the CPO, monitors audit and progress reports during grant implementation, going on mission when required, and at CPO request, engaging with grant agents and countries.

• Reviews requests for program revisions to ensure that proposed changes to fiduciary, finance and budget elements are reasonable and appropriate.

• Primary contact for engagement with grant agent country offices and partner countries for incidents of misuse of funds or PSEAH on grants in their region.

• Escalates systemic grant agent issues for region to Risk & Compliance or GO practices.

• Provides timely information on fiduciary elements (such as misuse of funds, audit reviews, etc.) to the practice to facilitate reporting to the Board and relevant committees.

Post-Completion:

• Reviews completion reports and ensures that lessons learned are incorporated into the design of new programs.

Global Programs

• Is finance focal point for assigned global grants such as EOL, KIX and Technical Assistance Initiatives (formerly strategic capabilities).

Selection Criteria

Competencies

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.

Fiduciary, Finance & Budget Knowledge -  Strong knowledge of good practices in fiduciary, finance, budgeting, and anticorruption policies and processes. Good understanding of the grant lifecycle. Some experience with monitoring the flow of funds for public sector programs. Ability to advise regional team on fiduciary matters.

Foundational Technical Knowledge in Education & Development -  Some experience working on education and/or development issues in low and middle income countries. Some exposure to the policy process. Awareness of unique considerations in fragile and conflict affected contexts. Knowledge of stakeholders, major issues and challenges.

Quantitative and Analytical Skills -  Able to process, organize, analyze and monitor large volumes of information and data and respond to demands at varying levels of detail. Able to identify key issues in complex situations, weigh pros and cons quickly, and make informed decisions. Checks assumptions against facts and evidence. Proficient in analytical report writing. 

BENEFITS FOR THIS POSITION 

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).  

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

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

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

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, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

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