Senior Education Associate (UNOPS)

This position is advertised open to internal and external applicants. Senior Education Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior Education Associate will support the roll-out of Refugee Education 2030, the Refugee Education Strategy, in line with the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), 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 incumbent will assist the supervisor in ensuring UNHCR¿s programming is in line with the SDGs.
Leveraging the growing global momentum, UNHCR is working to translate the objectives of the 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 Senior Education Associate, in collaboration with the Education Section in the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS), will assist the supervisor in providing technical support to UNHCR countries 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 supports 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, Protection Officer, Senior Programme staff or the Head of Office. The Senior Education Associate participates in liaising with partners to assess the education context, to develop an implementation plan and to monitor the programme and assess impact. S/he also works 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 Senior Education Associate supports the implementation of education approaches for emerging needs in refugee education, including attention to special needs, minorities, girls, pre-school education, and non-formal activities. The incumbent supports inter-sectoral linkages with child protection, SGBV, gender, community services, livelihoods and health, among others. S/he prepares relevant documentation and follows-up on administrative requirements of education projects.

Some support staff may report to the Senior Education Associate, indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country programme(s) will also be provided.
Contact with other units within in the Organization and outside the duty station can be expected; in addition, contact with external partners and other stakeholders to collect information, monitor programme activities and implement administrative requirements will be required.¿

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
- Monitor and support all existing formal and informal education programs, including implementing partner and community-based schools, and informal classes.
- Regularly update and share information related to education, utilizing data collection to identify gaps, assess trends, and design interventions.  Monitor and suggest necessary adjustments to the annual Education Workplan and budget.
- Review education proposals and monitor existing agreements with partners; in addition, work closely with the community to enhance quality and ownership across community-run education programs.
- Liaise and support partners in organizing teacher training. 
- Perform specific administrative operational/control tasks for project/programme activities.
- Provide inputs for funding submissions, appeals and reports.
- Represent UNHCR in monitoring of education projects.
- Issue documents and reports for clearance by the supervisor.
- Provide inputs for developing country operations plan for overall compliance with global strategic and regional priorities as well as with annual programming/planning instructions.
- Ensure a consistent application of the Organization's criteria and policies for the selection of implementing and operational partners.
- Participate in humanitarian and development sector working groups within the Area of Responsibility (AoR) to support and ensure all refugee education support programming at country level is extended, amplified and reported against sector development goals and humanitarian partners and funding serve system strengthening.
- Foster inter-sectoral linkages and coordination with child protection, SGBV, 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.
- Monitor implementation of education programmes and provide guidance on orientation.
- 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.
- Develop and disseminate relevant tools to support UNHCR staff and partners in Country Office(s).
- 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).
- Assist in preparing and drafting of education input in key internal and external documents and reports.
- Assist in negotiating agreements with the Ministry of Education and related implementing partners and assist the supervisor in ensuring that IP agreements are established in conformity with UNHCR's financial rules and the latest Headquarters' instructions.
- Engage in good coordination practices and the development of partner capacities.
- Assist in the design and preparation of detailed operations plan according to UNHCR standards and draft relevant agreements to be concluded with IPs.
- Undertake proper collection, monitoring and use of baselines, standards and indicators needed to monitor and analyse programme performance in the field of education.
- Ensure that UNHCR education strategy is integrated as much as possible into IP's proposals.
- Assist in keeping donor representatives briefed on developments in the education sector and assist in the development of funding submissions, appeals and reports.
- Assist in ensuring compliance in issuance of audit certificates for Implementing Partners.
- Provide inputs for the country operations plan (including budgets, IP's staffing and structures) as well as prepare inputs for funding submissions, appeals and reports.
- Represent UNHCR in physical monitoring of projects.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G7 - 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
Education; Social Sciences; Business Administration;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
- 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.
- 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
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
PR-Refugee Education programmes
*IT-Computer Literacy
MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation
CO-Cross-cultural communication
TR-Training/Coaching/Facilitation
PR-INEE (International Network for Education in Emergencies) 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.

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. Submission of Applications:

External vacancies are posted on the external UNHCR website. Instructions are provided on www.unhcr.org ¿ Careers.
Applicants are invited to fill in the letter of interest.

No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees).

UNHCR strongly encourages qualified female applicants for this position. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. UNHCR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.






Distribution:

- All UNHCR staff members in Jordan.
- UN organizations in Jordan.
- Specialized Agencies.
- Diplomatic Missions.
- International NGOs.
- Non-government Organizations.
- Embassies


CONSENT
The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term "sexual exploitation" means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term "sexual abuse" means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term "sexual harassment" means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator's working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Refugees ¿ who cares? We Do
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== Operational Context:

The Ministry in the Education Strategic plan 2018-2022 is committed to advancing the vision of quality education for all, including vulnerable Jordanians and refugees, in order to contribute to an economically strong and peaceful Jordan. This is in line with the goal set forward in the Jordan Response Plan for the Syria Crisis, ¿To ensure sustained quality educational services for children and youth impacted by the Syria crisis¿. Furthermore; the Jordan¿s Education Strategic Plan 2018-2022 is consistent with the international Education 2030 Framework for Action (2015). Also, it is a further step in attaining SDG4: ¿Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Based on that; all commitments in this project impacts refugees. UNHCR seeks to increase and enhance access to general and higher education through leveraging technological and pedagogical advances, including expanding Connected Education programming. Hence, a background in education and knowledge of educational technology will be an advantage. Years of proven experience with various distributed ICT Systems and Networks, preferably in an education and development setting is an asset. Engagement with partners, donors, the authorities required solid writing skills in Arabic and English , as well as understanding of project management cycle and programme management. Closing Date for this position is 24 January 2021