Assistant Education Officer -Jijiga, Ethiopia

Job Description

Standard Job Description

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.

Location of Assignment: Bokh

The incumbent of the position will be based in Bokh not in Jijiga, which is the exact location of the contractual assignment of this position.

Additional language skills in Somali and Amharic are a desirable.

Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Living and Working Conditions:

Bokh town is located in Doolo zone of the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia and is the headquarters of the Bokh woreda (District), with an estimated population of 50,000 people. It is situated 170 kms away from Wardher, the Doolo zonal capital, 780km from Jijiga, 80-100 km from the Ethiopia-Somalia border and 1,400 kilometers away from Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa.

Kebridehar is the nearest big town located on the main asphalt road from Jijiga that has an airport providing air transport from Addis Ababa to the region. However, the distance from Kebridehar to Bokh via Wardher is about 305 kms, but this takes about 7 hours due to the rough nature of the road.

Bokh and its surrounding areas are characterized by moderate, dusty, and dry weather. The temperature varies from 30–38 degrees Celsius and can rise up to 40 degrees Celsius, thus creating a very hot and uncomfortable environment. The rainy season is normally during the months of June to September and although it reduces the warm temperature, it creates a perfect condition for insects to fertilize, especially mosquitoes.

The currency used in Doolo zone is the Ethiopian Birr (ETB). There are no banking services in Bokh town. The nearest banking facility if the branch for the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in Wardher, the zonal capital. It is recommended to carry cash before arriving at the Bokh UNHCR Satellite Office.

Services like electricity and water are very limited. Electricity for the town is supplied for a few hours a day from a big generator and some residents have invested in solar power. Water is provided from two main boreholes whose capacity does not satisfy the entire town population, with proposed rehabilitation and construction of new boreholes by the district authorities.

Network coverage is unreliable in Bokh. In commercial hotel accommodations, there is no access to the internet at all. Sometimes staff use mobile phone data to check their emails. Connection to wireless networks and other ICT needs is under preparation by UNHCR ICT colleagues. VSAT equipment are being prepared for installation in Bokh and some ICT emergency kits have recently been delivered in Bokh to facilitate staff office activities.

Currently, accommodations are being provided by two private commercial hotels (Shobane and Rambo) with the price varying between ETB 500-600 per night. UNHCR is planning to rent a property for staff accommodation which will then provide a standard accommodation rate in accordance with the Policy on UNHCR-Provided Accommodation in the Field. However, due to the numbers of humanitarian workers arriving in Bokh, accommodation has recently been scarce. UNHCR has dispatched some 50 tents and mattresses to set up a tented camp for staff accommodation to complement available hotel spaces.

Most accommodations do not have private bathrooms, air-conditioning, closets, or other additional house furniture.

Upon arrival at the UNHCR Satellite Office in Bokh, a security briefing is required. Official working hours are Monday through Thursday: 08:30 – 17:30 hours, with a one-hour lunch break from 12:30 to 13:30 hours; while on Friday: 08:30 – 14:00 hours, with no lunch break.

• This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

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

Education

• BA: Education (Required),
• BA: Social Science (Required)

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