Associate Education Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The Office of the UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950 by the UN General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country (www.unhcr.org).

The Associate Education Officer will support the roll-out of Refugee Education 2030, the Refugee Education Strategy, in line with the Global Compact on Refugees, 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 Associate Education Officer will ensure UNHCR’s programming is in line with the SDGs. Leveraging the growing global momentum, UNHCR is working to translate the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) into impactful results. Contributing to this global roll-out of the GCR, the Associate 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:

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Protection Officer or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Associate Education Officer will:

• Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on access to and quality of education. • Actively pursue opportunities to promote refugee inclusion into national education systems • Coordinate with relevant partners to support access to education for refugees and also host communities. • Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to education for persons of concern (PoC).
• Coordinate with partners and other actors in education to adapt the Refugee Education 2030 Strategy to the local context and ensure ownership. • 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. • Provide technical advice and guidance on education issues; assist in liaising with competent authorities to ensure the issuance and recognition of education relevant documentation. • Assess needs for services of PoC, as related to education, and coordinate partners’ responses if required. • Systematically promote and comply with the Age, Gender and Diversity policy and other priorities such as the guidelines on HIV/AIDS. • Assist in advocating with authorities for respect of the right of PoC to an education and for their access to education services. • Coordinate with education networks and ensure that refugee education interests are understood and included in relevant policies and initiatives.
• Participate in humanitarian and development sector working groups to support and ensure all refugee education support programming at country level is extended, amplified and reported against sector development goals. Humanitarian partners and funding serve 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 with Country Office(s) 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 and ensure 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. • Support and monitor the implementation of Global Refugee Forum pledges within the AoR. • 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. • Ensure 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 the drafting of education input in key internal and external documents and reports. • Support the country education information management strategy through the collection of disaggregated data on PoC and ensure the collection and dissemination of education information and best practices to enhance education delivery. • Identify and support initiatives to build the capacity of communities and PoC to assert their right to education and access to quality education. • Promote and participate in initiatives to capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen access to quality, certified education for refugees. • Contribute to a communications strategy that generates external support for UNHCR’s education activities and the education rights of PoC. • Make recommendations on individual education related cases. • Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of education services. • Perform other related duties as required.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNHCR; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNHCR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

• Work experience in progressively responsible functions in education. • 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. • Excellent analytical skills and drafting skills. • Strong communications/presentations skills. • Experience in data management.

In terms of working and living conditions, Abéché is a town that has only very basic infrastructure with no leisure and recreational facilities. The security situation in Abéché remains stable compared to the rest of the Country as far as the general threats are considered. However, attention should be paid to small crimes but without a significant impact on UN staff. Malaria is prevalent and all staff need to be vigilant by taking the relevant measures. Abéché is an E non-family duty station with very limited health facilities available locally, although there is a UNDP Dispensary staffed with one fulltime Nurses and a basic town hospital. Any serious medical condition requires going to referring directly to N'Djamena or abroad as required. The office has established a guest house for the international colleagues and private accommodation is possible. Essential foodstuffs and basic domestic items can be found in Abéché and there is a possibility for staff members to get whatever other items are needed from the city of N'Djamena. There are currently four regulars weekly UNHAS flight between Abéché and Ndjamena. The R&R cycle is every 8 weeks subject to operational needs. The climate is very hot from February to August, where starts the heavy raining season that makes roads unpracticable to join the nearest other field offices within the Sub-Office as well. The SNE, Societe Nationale d'Electricite, does not have the means to cover the town, so UNHCR provides electricity by generator to the office and guest house, and provides low-capacity generators to international staff members who occupy private accommodation in town for a monthly fee. Although there is a public water point, it does not meet the needs of the population.

Banking services are available in Abeche. Staff members are advised to open an account in XAF at Ecobank, where UNHCR operations in Chad have opened their accounts. There is a money transfer entity "Express Union" which is a partner of Ecobank to facilitate withdrawal and deposit of money. There is also an ATM in Abeche for cash withdrawal with Visa cards when one chooses not to open a local bank account. Two major telecommunications operators, "Moov Africa" and "Airtel", are available and provide stable communication networks in the region. Internet connection is available at the Guest House and the Office.

UNHCR's operation in the Abeche field office in Chad offers an interesting and rewarding environment, but also requires a high level of cultural awareness, and more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in difficult and potentially dangerous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.