Temporary Appointment: Education Specialist (Emergencies), P-3, Juba, South Sudan (364 days)

The Education Section is continuing to implement its Education in Emergency (EiE) response in South Sudan and is using the Back-to-Learning (BTL) platforms to ensure that out-of-school children and adolescents have access to quality learning opportunities in both formal and non-formal systems nationwide. The new project, whilst supplementing the efforts of EiE in six other former states through substantial additional funding for the next two years, will also require coordination with WFP and other agencies as outlined in the project document. Therefore, additional support is required within the EiE unit in the Education Section to support the implementation and monitoring of the project to reach targeted most vulnerable children.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up.

For every child, a champion

Since the current conflict in South Sudan began in December 2013, over 1.7 million people have been displaced within South Sudan (with 53.4 per cent estimated to be children).  An additional 717,302 people have sought refuge in neighboring countries (UN OCHA and UNHCR, July 2016).  As a result, an estimated 838,600 children between the ages of 3-18 years have not been having access to basic services, including education, and approximately half of them have been forced out of school since December 2013.  A new outbreak of violence in Juba and other parts of the country in July 2016 caused a further increase in drop-out rates as well as a decrease in enrolment rates to primary school as the conflict escalated to many other parts of the country. The prolonged conflict and displacements have had an adverse impact on the economy and food availability in the country and many states have reported severe shortages of food leading to a nutritional crisis. In this situation, UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP) have agreed to jointly implement a project in the vulnerable states to support schools through schools feeding programme as well as ensuring quality of education. This intervention will provide improved access to quality learning and school feeding to 75,000 students. Targeted groups will be: school-age children attending primary schools in South Sudan (aged 6-18); primary school teachers; school staff; Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and School Management Committees (SMC); and the education system in general. The geographical scope of the programme is the former four states  (Northern Behr-el-Gazl, Eastern Equatoria, Warrap and Western Behr-el-Gazl).

The programme will contribute to the EU Trust Fund Objective (2) strengthening resilience of communities, in particular the most vulnerable including refugees and internally displaced people. This programme is aligned to the Valletta Action Plan Domain 1:  Development benefits of migration and addressing root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement. This domain is aligned with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): Goal 1 “End Poverty in all its forms everywhere”; Goal 2 “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”; and Goal 4 “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Education in Emergency and Peacebuilding Manager (P4) in South Sudan Country Office, contribute to the planning, implementation and monitoring of the EiE programme in all four former states, namely: Eastern Equatoria, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap. The staff member will be responsible for the following:

Contributing to the planning, implementation and monitoring of Education activities under the EU, the project is targeting to:

• Reach out of school children and adolescents in regular schools, hard to reach areas and protection of civilian sites in four states in close collaboration with WFP
• Ensure that the education project interventions are planned, implemented and monitored in a timely manner in collaboration with the education team and partners.
• Follow up and ensure that strategies are put in place to provide access to quality learning opportunities for out-of-school children and adolescents.
• Liaise with field officers on the development and implementation of the Programme Cooperation Agreement and ensure its quality assurance.
• Organize and keep record of the coordination meetings held between UNICEF and other agencies under EU project.
• Ensure compliance with decisions made in coordination meetings.
• Attend various platforms as alternate education emergency focal person at Juba level.

• In consultation with the Report Specialist, draft and produce analytical donor reports on EU funding for the Education Section.

• Conduct field visits to ensure effective implementation.
• Carry out other related tasks whenever required.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Education: Advanced university degree in social sciences (sociology, psychology, education, peace-building, international and development studies or other related technical field) *First university degree with additional two-years of relevant work experience is acceptable in lieu of an advanced university degree
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in programme planning and management in education. Proven extensive, professional experience and expertise in the areas of education and/or related areas, preferably with conflict-affected or post-conflict and sector planning programme experience for other national/international agencies or development organizations. Experience in/or exposure to quality data collection efforts, research and analysis, analytical writing, and delivering support services at community level. Experience in complex emergencies/conflict-affected contexts strongly preferred. Familiarity with South Sudan national development priorities and challenges is desirable. Minimum of 5 years of significant experience in the development, implementation and monitoring of education programmes. Experience in emergency contexts, preferably as UN or NGO at both community and middle management level. Experience in emergency and post emergency situations, knowledge of emergency response issues and policies
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station is an asset.
• Knowledge & Skills: Understanding of community mobilization processes, application and good practices. Prior training and direct programming experience in EiE. Coordination and facilitation. Good computer skills. 
• The incumbent is expected to perform the above functions under difficult working conditions in conflict- affected areas particularly with regard to office accommodation, procedures, workload, mobility, and institutional and personal safety. There is limited access to health care and recreational facilities, and this is compounded by long working hours and potentially stressful conditions. 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The technical competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

* Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

* Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

* This post is Juba-based with regular travel to conflict-affected areas providing technical and monitoring support to field offices.

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.

* Please note that this is a non-family duty station.

* Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offers of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.