Associate Education Officer, P2, Beirut (JPO position sponsored by the Netherlands – open to candidates from eligible Developing Countries) At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Associate Education Officer will support the roll-out of Refugee Education 2030, the Refugee Education Strategy, in line with the Global Compact on Refugees, which calls on States and relevant Stakeholders to contribute resources and expertise to expand and enhance the quality and inclusiveness of national education systems to facilitate access by refugee and host community children and youth to primary, secondary and tertiary education. Providing inclusive and equitable quality education is central to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Associate Education Officer will ensure UNHCR’s programming is in line with the SDGs.

Leveraging the growing global momentum, UNHCR is working to translate the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) into impactful results, including through follow-up on pledges made through the 2019 Global Refugee Forum. Contributing to this global roll-out of the GCR, the Associate Education Officer, in collaboration with the Education Section in the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS), will provide technical support to UNHCR Country Office(s) and partners to advocate for and implement the objectives of Refugee Education 2030:

1. Promote equitable and sustainable inclusion in national education systems for refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, stateless and internally displaced persons

2. Foster safe enabling environments that support learning

3. Enable learners to use their education toward sustainable futures

The incumbent will act as a focal point for education in the area of responsibility (AoR) and, under the leadership of the supervising officer(s), support UNHCR’s work regarding education and advocacy on all issues related to UNHCR education programmes and strategic directions. S/he normally works under the direct supervision of the Education Officer or Protection Officer and overall supervision of the Deputy Representative (Protection), depending on the office context. Under the general direction of the supervising officer(s), the incumbent will support the implementation of global level policies, including the UNHCR Education Strategy.

The incumbent may supervise lower grade education staff.

The Associate Education Officer may liaise with the Ministry of Education and with education coordination networks at national, provincial and district levels to improve the quality of refugee education. S/he will liaise with partners to assess the education context, to develop an implementation plan and to monitor the programme and assess impact. The incumbent will work in collaboration with in-country education partners to improve access to, and quality of, refugee education at all levels, both formal and non-formal and may liaise with partners for joint support for education access for refugee and host community children. The Associate Education Officer will develop innovative education approaches for emerging needs in refugee education, including attention to special needs, minorities, girls, pre-school education and non-formal activities. S/he will facilitate inter-sectoral linkages with programmatic areas including child protection, GBV, gender, community services, livelihoods/economic inclusion and health, among others.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

– Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on access to and quality of education and assist with the development of the education strategy.

– Actively pursue opportunities to implement UNHCR’s urban policy and support mainstreaming refugees within national education systems. Coordinate with relevant partners to support access to education for refugees and host communities.

– Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to education for persons of concern (PoC).

– Coordinate with partners and other actors in education to adapt the Education Strategy to the local context and ensure ownership.

– Collaborate closely with partners to ensure coherent annual planning based on a longer-term strategy, and jointly monitor and assess implementation, providing advice on programme reorientation where necessary.

– Provide technical advice and guidance on education issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance and recognition of education relevant documentation.

– Implement education programmes in line with Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) standards and the child protection systems approach.

– Facilitate inter-sectoral linkages with child protection, GBV, gender, community services, livelihoods/economic inclusion, environment, shelter and health, among others.

– Provide inputs for the development of global/regional international education policies and standards.

– Intervene in cases of denial of access to education with government and other relevant parties.

– Identify and promote education activities that support durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.

– Assess needs for services of PoC, as related to education, and coordinate partners’ responses.

– Systematically promote and comply with the Age, Gender and Diversity policy and other priorities such as the guidelines on HIV/AIDS.

– Advocate with authorities for respect of the right of PoC to an education and for their access to education services.

– Coordinate with education networks and ensure that refugee education interests are understood and included in relevant policies and initiatives.

– Participate in humanitarian and development sector working groups to support and ensure all refugee education support programming at country level is extended, amplified and reported against sector development goals. Humanitarian partners and funding serve system strengthening.

– Assist the Country Office(s) to elaborate and implement strategies to address issues related to education access, quality and data, in cooperation with other UN agencies (UNICEF, UNESCO, WFP, etc.) and other key education stakeholders.

– Undertake direct dialogue with Country Office(s) on the implementation of education programmes in line with strategic directions, integrated with SDG4 and Education Sector Plans, including with Ministries of Education/Higher Education, education partners and coordination networks (Global Partnership for Education, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and Local Education Groups, etc.).

– Foster and ensure inter-sectoral linkages and coordination with child protection, GBV, gender, community services, livelihoods/economic inclusion and health, among others, and provide specialist advice for other sectors, to ensure that they fully integrate education related concerns in their planning.

– Support and monitor the implementation of Global Refugee Forum pledges within the AoR.

– Assist in the planning and coordination of UNHCR’s role concerning education, representation of UNHCR at national consultations, representation of UNHCR’s education strategy and policy to other UN bodies, NGOs, interlocutors, institutions and organisations within the AoR.

– Identify training needs and train UNHCR staff, sister UN agency staff, NGOs, and Ministry of Education officials on refugee education priorities and identified topics.

– Ensure active exchange of information and that best practices are identified, documented and disseminated both within the AoR and beyond.

– Join joint assessment missions in emergencies to minimise the time refugee children and youth spend out of education (ideally a maximum of three months after arrival).

– Prepare the drafting of education input in key internal and external documents and reports.

– Identify gaps in education service provision and advocate with relevant authorities for service provision.

– Ensure that best practices are identified, documented and widely disseminated.

– Support the country education information management strategy through the collection of disaggregated data on PoC, and ensure the collection and dissemination of education information and best practices to enhance education delivery.

– Undertake initiatives to build the capacity of communities and PoC to assert their right to education and access to quality education.

– Promote and participate in initiatives to capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen access to quality, certified education for refugees.

– Contribute to a communications strategy that generates external support for UNHCR’s education activities and the education rights of PoC.

– Intervene with authorities on education issues.

– Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR.

– Make recommendations on individual education related cases.

– Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of education services.

– Approve individual payments to individual cases.

– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P2/NOB – 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Education; Social Sciences; or other relevant field.

(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

– Work experience in progressively responsible functions in education.

– Demonstrated work experience in education programmes.

– Field experience in education programme implementation and coordination in humanitarian and/or development contexts.

– Experience working with Governments, Ministry of Education and other line Ministries.

– Strong inter-personal skills in collaboration and coordination.

– Excellent analytical skills and drafting skills.

– Strong communications/presentations skills.

– Demonstrated capacity to work with minimum supervision.

Desirable

– Demonstrated work experience in refugee education programmes.

– Knowledge and experience of UNHCR policies and standards.

– Experience in the area of child protection.

– Experience with educational research, teaching or education administration.

Functional Skills

*ED-Education programming design and quality assurance

*PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

TR-Training – Virtual and face to face

ED-Technical support to education programmes and proposals

PR-Community-based Protection – Planning, implementing and analysing surveys/assessments

SO-Research

MG-Team building (development/facilitation)

ED-Global EiE standards and implementation

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to NATIONALS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THAT APPEAR ON THE LIST OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES ELIGIBLE FOR THE DUTCH JPO PROGRAMME:

http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/pdf/List%20of%20eligible%20countries%20%20November%202018.pdf

For criteria see the website of Nedworc Foundation:

https://nedworcfoundation.nl/junior-professional-officers-programme/

Please read the criteria and FAQ section carefully before considering applying

Education:

Master degree or equivalent in Education, Social Science or other relevant field.

A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in combination with qualifying experience (at least 3 years of relevant working experience) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree

Part of the candidates’ academic training must have taken place in a developing country that appears on the following list of eligible countries of the Dutch JPO Programme.

http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/pdf/List%20of%20eligible%20countries%20%20November%202018.pdf

Work experience: Minimal 2 years to maximal 4 years relevant working experience. Working experience within the UN system should not exceed 50% of the relevant working experience including UNV, (paid) UN internship and UN consultancy.

All paid work experience since obtaining Bachelor’s degree will be considered.

Full-time internship or relevant voluntary (non-paid) work is counted at 50%. Part-time internship or relevant voluntary (non-paid) work is counted at 25%.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

English

,

Desired languages

French

,

Arabic

Operational context

Nature of Position:

The compounded socio-economic and health crisis in Lebanon have pushed almost the entire refugee population below the Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket (SMEB) and have particularly impacted children, which make up more than 50% of the population.

30% of school-aged refugee children (ages 6-17) have never been to school. Primary school attendance (ages 6 to 14) dropped from 67% in 2020 to 52% in 2021, while secondary school attendance (ages 15 to 17) in 2021 was only at 27%. 67% of youth (15 to 24 years old) are not in employment, education or training (NEET). About 5% of children are estimated to be involved in child labour and increase from previous years (although actual figures are likely higher). As per UNHCR’s Protection Monitoring, 85% of children involved in child labour are out of school.

A 2021 study conducted by USAID in 120 public schools with 2362 students shows that students’ reading performance in Grade 2 and Grade 3 is alarmingly now. Students in Grade 2 and Grade 3 are reading well below their expected grade levels. In oral reading fluency (ORF), only 3% of Grade 2 students and 2% of Grade 3 students are internationally recognized benchmarks.

UNHCR Lebanon promotes equitable and sustainable inclusion of children and youth in quality national education systems by 1) evidence-based advocacy based on its in-depth knowledge of the community, their capacities, needs and challenges, 2) partnership with UNICEF under the Blueprint to promote increase access to education opportunities in non-formal and formal pathway; and 3) by supporting the operationalization of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s Five-Year Plan on General Education.

UNHCR Lebanon fosters safe enabling environments to support retention by strengthening its community-based education programs including through refugee volunteers, Homework and Retention Support and through working with parents.

To enable learners to use their education toward sustainable futures and participate in cohesive societies, in the deteriorating economic situation and increased needs, UNHCR Lebanon implements Basic Literacy and Numeracy Programs and works on higher and technical programming with a view to increasing self-reliance and implementing UNHCR’s 15by30 goal and roadmap, by 1) strengthening the Youth Education Program (TVET and DAFI components) and 2) continuing to lead the HEIE Roundtable, and 3) work with national stakeholders and the Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium to strengthen connected learning.

The Education team in Branch Office Lebanon is currently composed by of five UNHCR staff: NOB, NOA and 2 G6, supervised by a P3 Protection Officer.

The incumbent will be working, under the supervision of the Protection Officer, in two areas of focus: 1) Strengthening integration between Child Protection and Education Programming, and 2) Upscaling Community-Based Education Programming. This entails providing technical guidance to the field and building the capacity of field and partner staff role as well as coordinating closely with Protection (particularly Child Protection). A particular emphasis will be on monitoring and evaluating programs and making recommendations to strengthen the impact.

The incumbent will further support the Education Unit in donor engagement, advocacy through the Education Sector and collaboration with UNICEF particularly under the Blueprint.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

ED-Education programming design and quality assurance, ED-Global EiE standards and implementation, ED-Technical support to education programmes and proposals, MG-Team building (development/facilitation), PR-Community-based Protection – Planning, implementing and analysing surveys/assessments, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework, SO-Research, TR-Training – Virtual and face to face

Education

BA: Education (Required), BA: Social Science (Required)

Certifications

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Innovation & creativity, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

The JPO programme includes a training allowance of $4000 per year for learning purposes during the assignment and for career development

Initially one year with possibility to extend up to a maximum of 3 years

P2 step 1 in the first year

Functional clearance

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance