B
Family
Family
Residential location (if applicable)
NOA
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
National Professional Officer
Reason
Regular > Regular Assignment
No
2023-01-27-08:00
February 13, 2023
Assistant Education Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Education Officer will support the roll-out of Refugee Education 2030, the UNHCR 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 Assistant Education Officer will ensure UNHCR's programming is in line with the SDGs, in particular SDG 4.
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 Assistant 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 provide direction and technical support for UNHCR regarding education and advocate on all issues related to education programmes and strategic directions. S/he will maintain close contact with Country Office(s) on the overall education policy direction of UNHCR and on the adaptation of Refugee Education 2030 to the particular country context, as well as providing technical support (on early childhood, learning achievement, primary education, accelerated education, secondary education, non-formal education, scholarships and tertiary education, education in emergencies etc.) to all staff, including senior management, as well as to those representing education issues on behalf of UNHCR.
This will require maintaining close contact with other Country Offices in the region and Divisions, particularly the DRS, on the overall education policy direction of UNHCR, on monitoring and assessing impact, on provision of external technical assistance, and on liaising with partner agencies. The incumbent is normally supervised by the Senior Protection Officer, Protection Officer, Senior Programme Officer, Programme Officer or a higher grade Education Officer, depending on the office context.
The incumbent will ensure that consistent and technically sound advice/recommendations are given within the Area of Responsibility (AoR), including through drafting of guidelines and supporting the training of staff, in collaboration with the Education Section at HQ. S/he will also ensure active exchange of information and best practices within the AoR. The incumbent must be an authority on technical issues relating to education and will also provide specialist advice for other sectors such as child protection, livelihoods/economic inclusion, shelter, and water and sanitation as relates to education. The Assistant Education Officer may also act as focal point/coordinator/advisor for staff at all levels in Country Office(s), including senior management, as well as Policy and Development staff.
Externally, the Assistant Education Officer will help promote the inclusion of refugees and other persons of concern into national education systems through effective partnerships and advocacy with relevant government line ministries, development actors, private sector, UN agencies, international organisations and NGOs, research institutions and universities, both at the regional and country levels. This includes supporting or leading coordination with regional and global education networks and keeping abreast with international developments in education, where necessary this may include representation with international and regional organizations through, for example, UNICEF, UNESCO, the Global Partnership for Education and the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE). Representation with NGOs, academic institutions, and the private sector may also be required. The incumbent is regularly called upon to train staff and partners, including Government authorities, to provide/negotiate drafting advice, to give presentations, to participate as a member of expert groups on education, to represent UNHCR and to ensure UNHCR's direct involvement in numerous settings designed to promote increased access to quality education at all levels to both refugee and host communities, in line with the GCR.
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
- Translate global education objectives and strategic directions into regional or national guidance, strategies and priorities, in collaboration with the supervisor and the Education Section in HQ, to ensure coherence with UNHCR's education policy and strategy.
- Engage, promote and foster partnerships/collaboration with national education stakeholders and bodies in line with GCR.
- Provide technical advice and support on all issues related to UNHCR education programmes and strategic directions, in line with UNHCR education policy and regional priorities, including through remote support and field missions.
- Support and provide technical advice to senior management and Policy and Development staff allowing for advocacy activities with States and international organisations on all issues related to UNHCR education programmes and strategic directions, including supporting national planning processes, such as the development of SDG4 plans at national levels and ensuring inclusion of refugee, returnee, asylum seeking, internally displaced and stateless children and youth in SDG4 plans and Education Sector Analyses and Plans.
- Participate in national humanitarian and development sector working groups to support that all refugee education support programming at country level is extended, amplified and reported against sector development goals and humanitarian partners and funding serves 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 at the national level 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 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.
- Assist the supervisor in monitoring the implementation of education programmes and provide guidance on orientation.
- Support the supervisor in monitoring the implementation of Global Refugee Forum pledges within the AoR.
- Assist in the planning and coordination of UNHCR's role concerning education, represent UNHCR at national consultations, and represent UNHCR's education strategy and policy to other UN bodies, NGOs, interlocutors, institutions and organisations.
- Train UNHCR staff, sister UN agency staff, NGOs, and Ministry of Education officials on refugee education priorities and identified topics.
- Assist with the development and dissemination of relevant tools to support UNHCR staff and partners within the AoR.
- Support 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 and draft education input in key internal and external documents and reports.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no 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:
- 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.
- Experience with educational research, teaching or education administration.
Desirable:
- 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.
- Demonstrated work experience in refugee education programmes.
- Knowledge and experience of UNHCR policies and standards.
- Experience in the area of child protection.
- Demonstrated work experience in education programmes.
Functional Skills
*PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
PR-Community-based Protection - Planning, implementing and analysing surveys/assessments
ED-Education programming design and quality assurance
ED-Global EiE standards and implementation
ED-Technical support to education programmes and proposals
TR-Training Design and Material Preparation
PR-Convention on the Rights of the Child / International Legal Framework
TR-Training - Virtual and face to face
(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
• Significant experience working with both the Government of Kenya and humanitarian/ development actors.
• Experience in refugee settings and an in-depth understanding of the inclusion agenda.
• Demonstrated experience working with data/ statistics and the development of evidence-based planning.
• Experience negotiating and/or implementing large scale scholarship programmes.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Nature of Position:
Kenya remains the fifth largest host country in Africa and thirteenth biggest asylum country in the world. At the end of 2022, the total number of refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya stood at over 570,000, in addition to some 16,820 stateless persons. UNHCR Kenya Operation maintains three main offices as follows: Branch Office in Nairobi, Two sub-offices in Kakuma and Dadaab. A Joint Refugee Service Centre has also been established, operated jointly with the Department of Refugee Services, to provide all protection services to affected populations in Nairobi. The general security situation remained relatively calm. No major threats were recorded in 2022 and to date.
In line with the GCR and the MYMP strategy, the operation will continue to focus on further expanding the protection of refugees and promoting solutions as well as to continue working on the activities/targets as reflected in the 2023-2026 Multi Year Strategy implemented partly by partners and through direct implementation and in close coordination with other stakeholders.
The Assistant Education Officer is part of the Nairobi-based Education team, reporting to the Senior Education Officer and supporting overall technical oversight, coordination and strategic direction in Dadaab, Kakuma and in urban areas within Nairobi. The position will contribute to the four pillars of work within the Education Unit (Service Delivery, Advocacy and Policy, Partnerships and Collaboration, Research and Evidence) with an aim to i) improve the quality of education provided to UNHCR’s persons of concern and ii) advance their inclusion in the national education system. Specific areas of responsibility will include:
Urban education programme: The incumbent will provide technical oversight and programme management support for the implementation of the urban education programme (Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa and Eldoret).
DAFI Tertiary Education Scholarship Programme: The incumbent will provide technical oversight of the DAFI Scholarship programme and work closely with the Programme, Protection and CBI teams to ensure its successful implementation. S/he will act as the Focal Point for the implementing partner, HQ Tertiary Education team and university partners as needed.
Planning and coordination: The incumbent will provide technical support to sub-offices for internal planning for service delivery in collaboration with Programme colleagues and; support joint planning within the REWG and other coordination fora as appropriate. S/he will also support the Ministry of Education and other education authorities on transitional planning for the inclusion of refugees in the national education system.
Education data and information: Under the supervision of the SEO, the incumbent will carry out the collection and analysis of data country-wide for dissemination internally and externally. S/he will may be required to develop tools (and systems as appropriate) supporting this area of work as well as alignment with existing data systems in collaboration with relevant colleagues (internal and external).
Representation: The incumbent may be requested to represent UNHCR in national coordination fora and engagements with Government, development and humanitarian actors.
Research and documentation: The incumbent will undertake (supervising others as appropriate) assessments, surveys and other forms of research and documentation on existing models of implementation to inform transitional planning for inclusion in national systems and/ or approaches supporting improved access to and quality of education provided.
Living and Working Conditions:
Nairobi is a good duty station for families. It has good medical facilities and it is the regional medical evacuation centre for countries in the East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes sub-regions. Recreational facilities, schools and hotels are of international standards. High standard accommodation is available, as well as good banking facilities, unlimited access to communication means, such as internet, telephone SIM cards etc. In addition, Nairobi is a malaria free environment. but cholera, malaria and yellow fever occur in other parts of Kenya. When entering the country, yellow fever card/vaccine is required. Nairobi is in UN security Level One, but politically instigated demonstrations and riots may occur from time to time. General crime in Nairobi is relatively high, especially in some low income areas, however a high sense of vigilance and alertness is required practically everywhere.
Security Considerations
Politically instigated demonstrations and riots may occur at any time. Hazards such as road traffic accidents, fire, diseases outbreak and flooding are frequent. The crime threat level in Nairobi, like in many other large cities, is high and physical violence is a common feature of burglaries in residences, carjacking and robberies. The terrorism threat level in Nairobi is moderate but is high in North Eastern. A high sense of vigilance and alertness is required at all times. The incumbent will be undertaking occasional travels to the field where different security conditions prevail.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
ED-Education programming design and quality assurance, ED-Global EiE standards and implementation, ED-Technical support to education programmes and proposals, PR-Community-based Protection - Planning, implementing and analysing surveys/assessments, PR-Convention on the Rights of the Child / International Legal Framework, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework, TR-Training Design and Material Preparation, TR-Training - Virtual and face to face
BA: Education (Required), BA: Social Science (Required)
Certifications
Competencies
Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Policy research & development, Teamwork & collaboration
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium
This position doesn't require a functional clearance
