By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy

Education Officer

Dollo Ado

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Dollo Ado
  • Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Education, Learning and Training
  • Closing Date: Closed

Education Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:
The incumbent will act as the focal point for the education sector in the area of operation, provide leadership for UNHCR regarding education and advocate on all issues related to UNHCR education programmes and strategic directions. He/She normally works under the direct supervision of the UNHCR Protection Officer and overall supervision of the Deputy Representative (Protection). He/She will coordinate the adaption of global level policies, in broad collaboration with the Ministry of Education at national, provincial and district levels, UNICEF, Education partners and other appropriate national and international partners, including community-based organisations.  He/She will liaise with partners to assess the education context,  identify and address gaps, to develop annual implementation plans and to monitor the programme and assess impact. He/She 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 will liaise with partners for joint support for education access for refugee and host community children. This may include, among others, ensuring a cohort of trained teachers, assurance of safe learning environments, monitoring learning achievement, organising accelerated learning programmes for older students, facilitating smooth transition from primary to secondary education and ensuring student participation in certified education programmes. He/She will develop innovative education approaches for emerging needs in the refugee education, including attention to special needs, minorities, girls, pre-school education and non formal activities.  He/She will foster and ensure  inter-sectoral linkages with child protection, SGBV, gender, community services, livelihoods and health, among others. The incumbent will, as pertinent to the operation's staffing profile, supervise lower grade education staff.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- The education needs of refugees are met through the application of International and National Commitments, including the MDGs and EFA commitments, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles governing humanitarian coordination, including those of the INEE.
- The operation has an integrated and holistic education strategy which is consistent with the protection and solutions strategies and reflects the Organization's global, regional and country level priorities. The strategy is aligned with UNHCR's policy on age, gender and diversity (AGD) and participatory assessment (PA) polices and rights community-based approaches.
- The education strategy is developed, implemented and monitored in broad, consultative partnership with education actors including Government, UN agencies, and national and international partners, focusing on access to quality education, and building on and integrating with education initiatives supported by other agencies within a longer-term perspective.
- Mainstreaming refugees within national education systems is fostered and support is provided for a coordinated approach to education for refugee and host communities, in collaboration with relevant partners.
- Participation of persons of concern in decisions and initiatives pertaining to their own education is assured through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches. 
- National education provision capacities are improved through direct engagement, research and advocacy with all relevant external interlocutors.
- Protection incidents related to schools and educational activities are immediately identified and addressed through direct intervention, advocacy and public exposure.
- Persons of concern are treated with dignity, respect and professionalism in line with the UNHCR Code of Conduct. Integrity in the delivery of education services is assured by all education staff.
- Education activities have political and financial support from external partners.

Responsibility

Strategic Direction and Coordination
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on access to and quality of education and provide advice to senior management.
- Manage a consultative process with government counterparts, UN agencies, partners and persons of concern to develop and implement the education strategy, with a focus on access to quality education. Ensure that the strategy addresses Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) priorities and the other specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth, persons with disabilities, minority groups such as sexual minorities and persons living with HIV/AIDS.   
- Support senior management to ensure that the education strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and, in respect of UNHCR's mandate, the Humanitarian Country Team's common humanitarian action plan. 
- Actively pursue opportunities to implement UNHCR's urban policy and support mainstreaming within national education systems, including coordination on education provision for refugee and host communities.

Response and Advice
- Promote consistent interpretation and application of International and National Law and applicable UN/HCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Design, deliver and monitor programmes on an AGD basis to address identified education needs.
- Provide technical advice and guidance on education issues to internal and external interlocutors; liaise with competent authorities to ensure that refugees follow certified education programmes and ensure the issuance and recognition of education certificates and other documents to persons of concern (school leaving diploma, graduation certificate, etc.).
- 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.
- Develop and implement a specific education strategy which strengthens protection and durable solutions for persons of concern in respect of Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) standards and is consistent with the child protection systems approach.
- Facilitate inter-sectoral linkages with child protection, SGBV, gender, community services, livelihoods, environment, shelter and health, among others.
- Ensure that PASS instructions relating to education programming and reporting are understood and followed.
- 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.

Advocacy, Information Management and Research
- Implement a results-based advocacy strategy through a consultative process with sectoral and/or cluster partners.
- Advocate with authorities for respect of the right of persons of concern of all ages to an education and for their access to education services.
- Identify gaps in education service provision and advocate with relevant authorities for service provision.
- Ensure that best practices are identified, documented and widely disseminated.
- Facilitate the implementation of a functional information management strategy which provides disaggregated data on populations of concern; initiate research and ensure collection and dissemination of relevant education information and good practices to enhance quality of and access to education.

Promotion and Capacity Building
- Build the capacity of local partners and civil society to provide quality education to persons of concern.
- Coordinate capacity-building initiatives for communities and persons of concern to assert their right to education and access to quality education.
- Advise and capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen legislation and education system procedures and mechanisms that support access to quality, certified education for refugees.

External Relations
- Contribute to a communications strategy that generates external support for UNHCR's education activities and the education rights of persons of concern.

Authority
- Recommend the education strategy for endorsement by the Senior Protection Officer, Deputy Representative or Representative.
- Organise and chair education meetings with education and protection partners.
- Decide on indicators to measure impact and performance of partners on education delivery.
- Intervene with authorities on education issues.
- Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR, and as appropriate with resettlement countries and countries of return.
- Clear documents and reports prepared by the education team.
- Issue recommendations on education related incidents.
- Appraise the performance of supervised staff.
- Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of education services.
- Approve expenditures under the UNHCR education budget. 

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
- University degree in Education or Social Sciences with at least 8 years (6 years with Advanced University degree) of relevant work experience.
- Background in relevant education systems with good knowledge of relevant curricula.
- Demonstrated work experience in education programmes.
- Field experience in programme implementation and coordination.
- Knowledge of refugee protection principles and framework.
- Familiarity with INEE standards.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of UN working language of duty station and working knowledge of English.)

*** For National Officer Positions, very good knowledge of local language and local institutions is essential.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Training and coaching skills/facilitation of learning.
- Demonstrated work experience in refugee education programmes.
- Experience with educational research, teaching or education administration.
- Experience in the area of child protection.
- Demonstrated expertise in community services, community development/organization, social work, social surveys/ assessment, counselling, or related areas.
- Team building/development training.
This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: