Education Sector Coordinator, P-4, Beirut Lebanon, Temporary Appointment 364 days, PN 115713

UNICEF Lebanon is looking for an experienced and dynamic Individual as Sector Coordinator to coordinate education sector within LCRP framework and other coordination fora to ensure coordinated education response to emergency situations in Lebanon, and oversee UNICEF coordination responsibilities in education sector at national and field levels.

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, Education

The position forms part of the UNICEF Lebanon’s scale up plan to respond to the ongoing situation In Lebanon, where there has been a significant increase in poverty and vulnerability as a consequence of the deepening economic crisis, exacerbated by COVID-19 situation. UNICEF Lebanon is scaling up its respond to emerging needs of children and women in this context, through immediate emergency response, expansion of cooperation program while strengthening the national capacity in the areas of Education, Social Protection, Nutrition, Health, WASH and Protection, and strong leadership in sector coordination.

In order to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the response it is essential that there are mechanisms in place to ensure horizontal and vertical information flows between regional, national, state and non state actors; to direct and support the management of shifts from humanitarian to resilience and development; to ensure coherence and to build the evidence base to better inform the policy and strategic planning processes.

Working closely with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and all other stakeholders (donors, NGOs, thinktanks, other sectors), the incumbent will coordinate education sector within LCRP framework and other coordination fora to ensure coordinated education response to emergency situations in Lebanon, and oversee UNICEF coordination responsibilities in education sector at national and field levels.

How can you make a difference?

1. Establishment and maintenance of effective coordination mechanisms

• Ensure appropriate coordination with national authorities to the extent the political situation allows. This will involve liaising and working with relevant government counterparts to support or complement existing coordination mechanisms, where they exist.
• Identify and establish contact with all other relevant sector stakeholders including national and international organizations, and representatives of affected populations. As appropriate Invite these stakeholders to participate as partners in the work of the sector.
• In a collegiate manner convene and facilitate meetings of the sector (and/or joint meetings with another sector), on a timetable to be agreed by the sector. Ensure that sector meetings are well managed and action and results-oriented, with decisions clearly communicated to relevant sector partners and stakeholders. Ensure that meetings are managed in line with the Principles of Partnership.
• Facilitate agreement on an efficient division of labour and the assignment of responsibilities amongst sector partners, which takes account of their comparative advantages and complementarities. Designate focal points or working groups for specific issues where necessary.
• Support the Inter-Agency Coordination body to establish and maintain appropriate cross-sector coordination mechanisms. Represent the sector in cross-sector coordination fora as appropriate.

2. Preparedness and capacity-development: working with the sector members

• If the situation allows, lead early warning, contingency planning, and emergency preparedness efforts for the sector; ensure adequate sector participation in cross-sector early warning, contingency planning and emergency preparedness activities.
• Undertake capacity mapping and gap identification exercises to develop a capacity-development strategy for the sector.
• Identify the training needs of sector partners and advocate to lead-agencies, donors or other stakeholders to meet these needs.

3. Needs assessment, analysis, prioritization and planning

• Participate in joint cross-sector needs assessment exercises as appropriate to ensure that identified needs, gaps and priorities are as evidence-based as possible.
• Facilitate the development of an overall sector strategy and response plan (RRP). To the extent possible, ensure the strategy complements government policies and plans.
• Ensure that the sector strategy and response plan (RRP) is updated regularly according to evolving needs and that it establishes indicators by which performance of the sector can be measured.
• Identify issues of mutual interest and identify information, which (i) should be proactively shared with other sectors, and (ii) should be acquired from other sectors to ensure a more effective overall response (cross-sector coordination). Identify potential areas of duplication between sectors so that they can be avoided, and identify potential gaps which may fall between sectors so that they can be addressed through the clear assignment of responsibilities.

4. Transition planning
Co-lead on the design of appropriate transition strategies for the sector to ensure continuity between the initial response, disaster risk reduction initiatives and recovery and development phases.

5. Integration of cross-cutting issues
Raise awareness of and promote the integration of agreed priority cross-cutting issues (e.g. age, environment, gender, HIV/AIDS and human rights) in sector/cross-sector needs assessments, analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring.

6. Application of standards, guidelines and good practice

• Facilitate discussion and agreement on the use of common standards and tools among sector partners. Promote awareness of, adherence to and update of the sector developed tools.
• Ensure to the extent possible that sector partners use common standards and tools for information collection/sharing and data management, including in needs assessments and monitoring.
• Ensure that sector partners are aware of relevant commitments that the Government has made under international human rights and humanitarian law and promote a response that is in line with these commitments.

7. Information management, monitoring, evaluation and reporting

• Facilitate adequate reporting and information sharing, both within the sector and with other sectors. This will involve contact list management and collecting 5W information (Who/What/When/Where/to whom) from partners and ensuring it is shared with the sector and other interested parties.
• Ensure that updated and relevant sector-specific information is included in general reporting including common web platforms, Situation Reports and other reporting mechanisms.
• Facilitate sector agreement on what monitoring activities will be undertaken to review the impact of the sector’s response and ensure they are implemented. Make adjustments to the overall strategy and programming as appropriate. Regularly review the functioning of the sector and encourage an atmosphere conducive to raising and addressing concerns.

8. Advocacy
Together with sector partners, identify core advocacy concerns for the sector and contribute key messages to the broader advocacy initiatives of the Inter-Agency Coordination body, UNHCR, UNICEF and other relevant actors. Where appropriate, develop a joint sector/ cross-sector advocacy initiative to raise the profile and needs of the sector among in-country humanitarian donors. Encourage all sector partners to include common/sector-wide issues, concerns and messages in their own communication activities.

9. Resource Mobilization

• Following thorough and transparent consultation within the sector, provide leadership and strategic direction in the assessment and prioritization of project proposals, activities and initiatives for inclusion in the Regional Response Plan, CERF and ERF requests and other inter-agency funding appeals; ensure that agreed sector strategies and priorities are adequately reflected in appeal documents. Ensure the implementation of the gender marker in appeals.
• In line with any agreed guidance for inter-agency funding appeals, establish mechanisms for accountable and transparent financial resource allocation within the sector. Where possible work at the cross-sector level to promote coherence amongst sectors.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in i Education or related social sciences field.
  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in Education, with UN and or NGOs, in developing countries in emergencies. At least 2 years of this experience should be field based dealing with large-scale emergencies or displaced/refugee situations.
• Experience in Sector approach as Education Sector Coordinator.
• Knowledge and experience in application of international technical guidelines and standards in Education.
• Demonstrated experiences in organizing and conducting training activities and information campaign on education related issues.
• Proven technical expertise in the area of education assessments including survey, program implementation, monitoring and coordination.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic or French is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (3)
• Deciding and Initiating action (2)
• Applying technical expertise (3)
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts (2)
• Relating and Networking (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Remarks

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, suitable male candidates will receive preferential consideration and selection, as long as they meet the eligibility requirements stated above.

zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.