UN Associate Education Officer Job Opportunities – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Job Title: Associate Education Officer
Organisation: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Duty Station: Uganda
Position Number: 10026357
Internal/External Vacancy Notice Number: 035/2018
Reports to: Protection Officer (Community Based)
Post Grade: NOB
About UNHCR:
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. UNHCR’s mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
Job Summary: The Associate Education Officer will act as a focal point for education in the West Nile region under the leadership of the Protection Officer (Community Based), support UNHCR work regarding education and advocacy on all issues related to UNHCR education programmes and strategic directions. Under the general direction of supervising Officers, the incumbent will support the implementation of global level policies, including the UNHCR Education Strategy. The incumbent may liaise with the Ministry of Education and with Education Coordination networks at national, provincial and district levels to improve the quality of refugee education. He/She will liaise with partners to assess the education context, to develop an implementation plan and to monitor the programme and assess impact. He/She will work 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. He/She will develop innovative education approaches for emerging needs in refugee education, including attention to special needs, minorities, girls, pre-school education and non-formal activities. He/She will facilitate inter-sectoral linkages with programmatic areas including child protection, SGBV, gender, community services, livelihoods and health, among others. The incumbent may supervise lower grade education staff.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Direction and Coordination:
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on access to and quality of education and inform the development of the education strategy.
- Actively pursue opportunities to implement UNHCRs urban policy and support mainstreaming refugees within national education systems
- Coordinate with relevant partners to support access to education for refugees and host communities.
Response and Advice:
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to education for persons of concern
- Coordinate with partners and other actors in education to adapt the Education 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
- Offer technical advice and guidance on education issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance and recognition of education relevant documentation
- Implement education programmes in line with Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) standards and the child protection systems approach
- Facilitate inter-sectoral linkages with child protection, SGBV, gender, community services, livelihoods, environment, shelter and health, among others
- Provide inputs for the development of global/regional international education policies and standards
- Ensure that PASS instructions relating to education programming and reporting are understood and followed
- Intervene in cases of denial of access to education with government and other relevant parties.
- Identify and promote education activities that support durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement
- Assess needs for services of persons of concern, as related to education, and coordinate partners responses
- Systematically promote and comply with the Age, Gender and Diversity policy and other priorities such as the guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
Advocacy, Information Management and Research:
- Advocate with authorities for respect of the right of persons of concern 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
- Identify gaps in education service provision and advocate with relevant authorities for service provision
- Ensure that best practices are identified, documented and widely disseminated
- Provide support in the country education information management strategy through the collection of disaggregated data on populations of concern, and ensure the collection and dissemination of education information and best practices to enhance education delivery.
Promotion and Capacity Building:
- Undertake initiatives to build the capacity of communities and persons of concern 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.
External Relations: Contribute to a communications strategy that generates external support for UNHCRs education activities and the education rights of persons of concern.
Key Performance Indicators:
- The education needs of refugees are met through the application of International and National Commitments, including the MDGs and EFA commitments, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles governing humanitarian coordination, including those of the INEE. Education activities are guided by global, regional and country priorities and reflect UNHCR policy on age, gender and diversity (AGD).
- Issues related to education access and quality is addressed from a longer-term perspective.
- Collaborative, consultative partnerships ensure quality education planning and service provision for refugees.
- Participation of persons of concern in decisions and initiatives pertaining to their own education is assured through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches.
- All protection incidents related to education activities are immediately identified and addressed.
- Integrity in the delivery of education services is assured by education and protection staff. Persons of concern are treated with dignity and respect
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal candidate for the United Nations UNHCR Associate Education Officer job opportunity should hold a University degree in Education or Social Sciences or previous job experience relevant to the function with at least 4 years of relevant work experience.
- Background in relevant education systems with good knowledge of relevant curricula.
- Demonstrated work experience in education programmes
- Field experience in programme implementation and coordination
- Knowledge of refugee protection principles and framework
- Familiarity with INEE standards
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language. Very good knowledge of local language and local institutions is essentials.
- Training and coaching skills/facilitation of learning
- Field experience in education programme implementation and coordination
- Demonstrated work experience in refugee education programmes
- Previous experience with educational research, teaching or education administration
- Demonstrated expertise in community services, community development/organization, social work, social surveys/ assessment, counselling, or related areas
- Team building/development training
How to Apply:
All interested candidates who wish to join the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions after reviewing the job details.
Deadline: 30th May 2018
: List of Current Job Vacancies / Opportunities in Uganda