Education Officer

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

CFamily Type (not applicable for home-based)

FamilyStaff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS IICA2Target Start Date

2024-06-25Job Posting End Date

June 26, 2024Terms of Reference

1. Overall context As of 31 March 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) hosts 526,790 refugees with the majority living in the Ubangi, Ituri Kivu, provinces, and more than 7.1 million IDPs located mainly in the provinces of Ituri, of Kivu and Tanganyika. As Protection Cluster lead, UNHCR continues to play a key role in supporting the DRC Government in implementing a durable solutions strategy in order to help end the cycles of protracted displacement in the country. The operation manages 5 Sub-Offices, 8 Field Offices, and 2 Field Unit Offices. UNHCR supports the inclusion of refugee children and youth in national schools and universities in DRC, working with humanitarian and development actors (e.g. the World Bank) to strengthen the capacities and resilience of the education system, in support of the various Ministries in charge of Education in DRC (Ministère de l’Enseignement Primaire, Secondaire et Technique or EPST; Higher Education; and Social affairs for non-formal education). Activities implemented by UNHCR and its partners include school construction and renovation, teacher training, payment of teachers' salaries and incentives, distribution of teaching and learning materials, sensitization of the refugee and host communities, connected education, cash-based intervention, payment of exams fees and tertiary education (DAFI and HCR scholarships programmes). UNHCR has been implementing a comprehensive education First Emergency Response (FER) programme funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW) in the North and South Ubangi provinces. In collaboration with the Vodafone Foundation and refugee communities, UNHCR established the Instant Network Schools (INS) network to provide a holistic solution to transform a classroom into an online learning center. The programme was recently extended to 28 centres in DRC established in Ubangi, Ituri and Kivu provinces.
2. Description and scope of the mission (Concise and detailed description of activities, tasks and responsibilities to be undertaken, including expected travel, if applicable) The Education Officer will support and, where appropriate, oversee the roll-out of the Refugee Education 2030 Strategy to provide inclusive and equitable quality education to asylum seekers, refugee children and youth, and their hosting communities in collaboration with national and local authorities. More specifically the Education officer will be responsible for leading the UNHCR country education strategy oversight, the implementation of current and upcoming key earmarked education projects, representing UNHCR in education donor and coordination meetings, leading on education monitoring and data quality assurance, strategy and concept note development advocating for the contribution of resources and expertise to expand and enhance the quality and inclusiveness of the national education system to facilitate access by refugee and host community children and youth to primary, secondary and tertiary education, in line with the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). Activities Working in close coordination with the EPST, other relevant ministries and authorities at national and provincial level, and partners, the Education Officer will:
3. Monitor the timely implementation of the ECW, INS, and DAFI programmes in collaboration with field Education Focal points
4. In consultation with key stakeholders, facilitate the revision and update of the UNHCR education plan as part of the Country Operation Multi-Year response plan
5. Support the realization of the pledges made by the DRC during the last Global Refugee Forum 2023
6. Ensure refugees are included in national strategic Education planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.
7. Enhance data management in schools that are hosting refugee children and youth in all three dimensions of education (access, learning and governance)
8. Enable learners to use their education toward sustainable futures, in collaboration with the Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion team.
9. Represent UNHCR in the national education coordination platforms, providing actionable data to partners to achieve meaningful inclusion in national education strategies.
10. Draft and circulate periodic updates on the status of education for asylum seekers and refugees.
11. Collaboratively identify and facilitate capacity-building initiatives for partners managing UNHCR education programs as applicable.
12. Indicators for Monitoring and Progress Controls
13. Activities of the FER programme in the Ubangi provinces are completed
14. Annual and final reporting submitted to donors
15. INS centres are operational, participation of students, teachers, and members of the community increases, and the sustainability of the centres is enhanced
16. DAFI and UNHCR scholarship programmes are closely monitored, learners are appropriately supported and complete their studies in compliance with the applicable Standard Operating Procedures

17. Education dashboards are regularly updated

18. Qualifications and Experience (List the required education, work experience, expertise and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.) a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)  Level : For P3 o 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with o Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree  Degree area : Education; Social Sciences; or other relevant field.  Work experience : 4 years of experience in progressively responsible functions in education programming.  Language : proficiency in both French and English is required  Functional Skills : *ED-Education programming design and quality assurance ; *PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework ; PR-Community-based Protection - Planning, implementing and analysing surveys/assessments ; ED-Global EiE standards and implementation ; PR-Convention on the Rights of the Child / International Legal Framework; TR-Training - Virtual and face to face; *IT-Computer Literacy; PR-Community based assessment methodologies; WB - Community Services/Social Work; ED-Education capacity building - education programming; ED-Technical support to education programmes and proposals. (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) b. Key competencies and values (Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies, or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies) Competencies and values:

 Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented.  Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.  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.  Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;  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; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;  Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values. Additional essential requirements  Field experience in education programme design, 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.  Demonstrated capacity to work with minimum supervision Other desirable requirements  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.Standard Job Description

Education Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Education Officer will support, and where appropriate, oversee, the roll-out of Refugee Education 2030, the Refugee Education Strategy. This will be done 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 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Education Officer will ensure UNHCR's programming is in line with the SDGs, particularly SDG4. 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, Education Officers, collaborating across Country Offices, Regional Bureaux and the Education Section in the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS), will provide technical support to relevant 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 leadership 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 individual country contexts, 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. Depending on the location, this will require maintaining close contact with HQ, Regional Bureaux and Country Office(s) plus 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. In exercising these responsibilities, the Education Officer oversees the development of guidance and strategies to address particular situations arising from different contexts in the field. The incumbent is normally supervised by the Senior Protection Officer, Senior Programme Officer, or Deputy Representative, depending on the office context. The incumbent will ensure that consistent and technically sound advice/recommendations are given in the Area of Responsibility (AoR), including through drafting of guidelines and specialised 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 Education Officer acts as focal point/coordinator/advisor for staff at all levels in Country Office(s), including senior management, as well as Policy and Development staff. Where relevant, the incumbent will lead a technical team. In emergency contexts the Education Officer will be required to play a leadership role in the coordination of the early phases of the education sector response, ensuring that education needs are reflected in intersectoral response plans, collaboratively developing a response strategy that will support inclusion in national systems and supporting monitoring and reporting on the response. Externally, the 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 coordination with regional and global education networks and keeping abreast with international developments in education, including 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 is also a priority. 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 In HQ - Translate global education objectives and strategic directions into guidance, strategies and priorities, in collaboration with other parts of UNHCR, and education colleagues in Regional Bureaux, to ensure coherence with UNHCR's education policy and strategy. - Engage, promote and foster partnerships/collaboration with education stakeholders and bodies within the AoR, in line with the GCR. - Provide technical advice and support on all issues related to UNHCR education programmes and strategic directions, in line with UNHCR education policy and other global 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. - Participate in 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 Bureaux and 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. - Foster inter-sectoral linkages and coordination with child protection, GBV, gender, community-based protection 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 and support implementation of education programmes within the AoR, provide guidance on orientation and facilitate engagement with key partners for delivery, reporting and advocacy. - 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, represent UNHCR at consultations, and represent 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 bilateral partners on refugee education priorities and identified topics. - Support the development and dissemination of relevant tools to support UNHCR staff and partners in RBs and Country Office(s). - Support active exchange of information and that best practices are identified, documented and disseminated both within the AoR and beyond. - Where required, undertake direct dialogue with Country Office(s) on the implementation of education programmes in line with strategic directions and global approaches to working with education partners and coordination networks (UNICEF, Global Partnership for Education, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and Local Education Groups, etc. - Where required, 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). - In emergency contexts, lead or co-lead education sector coordination groups, develop response strategies, advocate for the inclusion of education activities in inter-sectoral appeals and liaise with government and other actors to ensure that emergency programmes support inclusion in the national system and are aligned with national priorities and goals. - Prepare, co-ordinate and oversee drafting of education input in key internal and external documents and reports, including appeals and refugee response plans. - Encourage, seek, facilitate and learn from innovative practices in education. - Where relevant, supervision or oversight of other education staff. - Perform other related duties as required.

In the Regional Bureaux - Translate global education objectives and strategic directions into regional guidance, strategies and priorities, in collaboration with the education officers or education focal points in country operations and Education Section in HQ, to ensure coherence with UNHCR's education policy and strategy regionally and at country level. Develop regionally specific strategies, including key regional interlocutors, and considering cross-border issues. - Engage, promote and foster partnerships/collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, including education interlocutors and development partners, in line with the GCR. - Participate in regional 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 in the planning and coordination of UNHCR's role concerning education, represent UNHCR at regional consultations, and represent UNHCR's education strategy and policy to other UN bodies, NGOs, interlocutors, institutions and organisations within the AoR. - Jointly with technical teams at HQ, assist Country Office(s) to elaborate and implement strategies to address issues related to education access, quality and data. Synthesise and analyse data across countries in the region, making recommendations for how to react to trends, and contributing to global data and communications / advocacy approaches. - Foster and ensure 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 the planning processes supported by Bureaux and the HQs. - Where relevant, supervision/management of other education staff at the RB and oversight of education staff/focal points in country operations. - 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.). - Support and monitor the implementation of Global Refugee Forum pledges across the region within the AoR. - Participate in 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). With others in UNHCR, develop and implement approaches to track and prepare for emergencies, especially those which affect more than one country in the region. - Encourage, seek, facilitate and learn from innovative practices in education. - Where relevant, supervision/management of other education staff at the Regional Bureau. - Perform other related duties as required.

In the Country Operations - Translate global and regional education objectives and strategic directions into national strategies and priorities, in collaboration with the RBs and HQ, to develop contextualised approaches which ensure coherence with UNHCR's education policy and strategy at country level. - Develop, implement and build capacity around monitoring and support given to all formal and informal education programmes across the Country Office: tracking progress, trends and good practices to inform partnership development and planning. - As required, keep donor representatives briefed on developments in the education sector and assist in the development of funding submissions, appeals and reports linked to education strategic planning. - Participate in country level humanitarian and development sector working groups to support that all refugee education support programming is extended, amplified and reported against sector development goals and humanitarian partners and funding serves system strengthening. Engage senior management at country level where needed, particularly in engaging with development actors. - In emergency settings, establish and play a leadership role in education sector coordination mechanisms, ensure that education is represented in inter-sectoral appeals, establish a collective strategy for the response that supports longer-term inclusion in national systems and ensure effective monitoring of and reporting on the education response. - Foster and ensure inter-sectoral linkages and coordination with child protection, GBV, gender, community-based protection, 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. - Identify training needs and train UNHCR staff, sister UN agency staff, NGOs, and Ministry of Education officials on refugee education priorities and identified topics at country level, with the support of RB and HQ on global guidance - Support and monitor the implementation of country-level Global Refugee Forum pledges within the AoR. - Design, monitor and support implementation of education programmes within the AoR, provide guidance on orientation and facilitate engagement with key partners for delivery, reporting and advocacy. - Encourage, seek, facilitate and learn from innovative practices in education. - Where relevant, supervision/management of other education staff at the country level and support and quality oversight of education focal points in the sub and field offices.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).

- Perform other related duties as require

Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education Education; Social Sciences; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience Essential 4 years of 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. 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 *ED-Education programming design and quality assurance *PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework PR-Community-based Protection - Planning, implementing and analysing surveys/assessments ED-Global EiE standards and implementation PR-Convention on the Rights of the Child / International Legal Framework TR-Training - Virtual and face to face *IT-Computer Literacy PR-Community based assessment methodologies WB - Community Services/Social Work ED-Education capacity building - education programming ED-Technical support to education programmes and proposals (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.

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

French,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

ED-Education capacity building - education programming, ED-Education programming design and quality assurance, ED-Global EiE standards and implementation, ED-Technical support to education programmes and proposals, IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Community based assessment methodologies, 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 - Virtual and face to face, WB - Community Services/Social WorkEducation

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Education, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social ScienceCertifications

Work Experience

Other information

This position requires Functional Clearance Home-Based

No