Education Officer – INS Project, UNOPS International Individual Contractor Agreement, IICA-2

1. General Background

Education is an integral part of protection for forcibly displaced people to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 50 percent of whom are children below 18 years of age. The Education Section in UNHCR’s Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS) provides operational support, policy direction, and strategic guidance to field operations. The provision and expansion of access to quality education for refugees is among the protection priorities for UNHCR.

UNHCR seeks to increase and enhance access to equitable quality education through leveraging innovative programming. UNHCR seeks to increase and enhance access through leveraging technological and pedagogical advances, including expanding Connected Education programming. The goal of Connected Education is to utilize innovative approaches to expand and enhance quality education and increase digital literacy for displaced communities and those that host them. Working with a range of stakeholders including government, mobile network operators and education sector actors, Connected Education aims to create impact through exploring a range of techniques including utilizing innovative pedagogical approaches, community-led design methods, diverse convening platforms, and, leveraging context-appropriate technological advances.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

S/he will work closely to support the reporting (50% of the time) of overall programme impact in Connected Education, with the engagement of the other Connected Education team members. The major reporting focus will be on the Instant Network Schools programme which includes a regular reporting schedule, series of evaluation pieces, and development of communication pieces that will be used for both internal and external audiences. The incumbent will also be responsible for the project management (50% of the time) and expansion of Instant Network Schools working alongside the Connected Education team, Regional Bureaus and country operations. Lastly, the incumbent will play an important role in building capacity with UNHCR staff and partners on M&E.

Tasks include:

Working in close collaboration with Regional Bureaus and country operations, the incumbent will:

• Ensure that the Instant Network Schools programme is delivered on time and to agreements set out with the donor and other relevant partners.
• Ensure that the progress and results of the Instant Network Schools programmes are monitored, communicated and reported on in a timely, efficient and results-based manner enabling multi-year results monitoring.
• Ensure all aspects of project assurance and project cycle management for the Instant Network Schools project.
• Ensure effective stakeholder management, including with key external partners, through regular communication and reporting and ensuring accountability for project delivery according to agreed timelines.
• Identify potential risks or challenges emerging from the Instant Network Schools project and ensure information is shared in a timely and comprehensive manner with the Connected Education Officer and other relevant stakeholders.
• Provide M&E support and capacity building in particular to education officers and education focal points in Headquarter and Regional Bureaus to enhance their remote support and advice to country on Connected Education issues.
• Conduct field assessments through desk reviews and country missions as appropriate.
• Support the country teams to develop working relationships with relevant Ministry and Government contacts to ensure implementation is aligned with national frameworks and education sector plans, indicators and priorities when requested.
• Provide quality assurance and support to externally commissioned assessments for the Instant Network Schools outcome evaluation, working with UNHCR Evaluation Service.
• Contribute towards the overall strategy of the Connected Education team.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

Technical monitoring field visit to 2-6 countries.

Implementation of the expansion plan for the Instant Network Schools

Oversee the commissioning of the Instant Network Schools external evaluation, including supporting the new countries’ baseline collection.

Biannual and ad hoc reporting on the Instant Network Schools programmes*.*

4. Qualifications and Experience

a. Education

Degree in the fields of Education, Social Sciences or related field.

b. Work Experience

• Applicants should possess a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience with an Undergraduate degree; or 5 years of relevant experience with a Graduate degree (equivalent to a Master’s); or 4 years of relevant experience with a Doctorate degree (equivalent to a PhD). Relevant experience includes professional experience in monitoring and evaluation, programme or project management, results-based management, or applied research, with at least 2 years spent in the field.
• Significant evidence of experience in monitoring and evaluation approaches in education in humanitarian settings and/or development settings, including monitoring of results-based management is essential.Significant evidence of project management in the field of education is essential, with project management experience in Connected or Blended Education projects being desirable
• Experience with refugee, IDP and/or vulnerable populations is desirable.

c. Key Competencies

Proficiency in English language is required.

Knowledge of French, Arabic or Portuguese will be an added asset.

Advanced interpersonal skills: he/she must be able to relate well with others, negotiate responsibilities, offer support and constructive feedback.

Strong organizational and communication skills.

Relevant project management certifications will be an added asset.

Exceptional abilities in multi-tasking effectively, managing own workload and balance competing priorities, reporting lines and deadlines.

S/he must be able to adeptly and quickly solve problems as they come up and must have excellent problem-solving skills.

Solid writing and reporting skills.

Robust understanding of project management cycle and programme management in complex emergencies.

Type of contract: UNOPS Individual Contractor
Working arrangement: Full-time
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Duration: starting as soon as possible until 31 December 2024, renewable subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.