Mission and objectives

Our primary purpose at UNHCR is to safeguard the rights and well-being of people who have been forced to flee. Together with partners and communities, we work to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country. We also strive to secure lasting solutions. The arrival of large numbers of refugee children and youth in Slovakia has been putting unprecedented strains on the host country education system, with local authorities facing additional pressure to address protection and integration issues. Working with municipalities will be essential in supporting the integration of Ukrainian children, starting with kindergartens and schools. The operation in Slovakia is implementing the multi-year Sport for Protection strategy which focuses on supporting after-school sports activities for children from both refugee and host communities, in cooperation with the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee aiming to include refugee children and youths in Slovak schools benefitting both refugees and host community. Supporting initiatives directly led by refugees and Slovak communities will be a key part of this strategy to further promote self-reliance and ensure active roles for communities in the response. Engagement of Slovak communities is also essential to promote social cohesion. Slovakia is implementing UNHCR’s DAFI scholarship program supporting a total of 40 refugee students studying at 14 different Slovak universities across the country. Through the DAFI programme, further cooperation with Slovak universities is envisaged for 2025 and beyond, with new advocacy opportunities aiming at expanding access of refugee students to higher education in Slovakia, in line with UNHCR’s global 15by30 higher education enrolment target. Limited pathways for recognition of qualifications of Ukrainian education professionals is a major barrier given the need to expand existing services. The inter-agency response continues to explore avenues for their integration in Slovakia with a view of strengthening the capacity of national mandated institutions, however less education stakeholders are currently available in the Slovak scenario. UNHCR Protection and Solutions Strategy relies on advocacy interventions with the Government and communication with communities to promote school enrolment, and community-based solutions to support learning, as well as supporting programmatic support for refugee youth in coordination with universities and Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Community engagement and community-based and led approaches to facilitate this will be essential to reach individuals of diverse ages, genders and backgrounds in the appropriate formats that they prefer. Slovakia’s status as both a transit and a destination country require an approach that is focused on immediate service provision for those on the move and first arriving in Slovakia, and second area of supporting the longer term stay for those fleeing Ukraine. Both areas require the timely delivery of accurate, verified and relevant information on legal status, services available and how to receive urgent protection and assistance. Refugees, including children and youth, also need information on how to stay safe and avoid the many risks they are encountering, such as trafficking and GBV. For those staying in Slovakia, they will need easy access to information on integration, services in the locations where they are and support on integration into Slovak communities. Education opportunities and social inclusion are particularly affected due to a limited lack of preschool, primary and secondary school places and scarce opportunities for informal learning opportunities for adolescents and youth.

Context

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: 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 act as a focal point for education in the area of responsibility (AoR) and, under the leadership of the supervising officer(s), support UNHCR’s work regarding education and advocacy on all issues related to UNHCR education programmes and strategic directions. S/he normally works under the direct supervision of the Education Officer or Protection Officer and overall supervision of the Deputy Representative (Protection), depending on the office context. Under the general direction of the supervising officer(s), the incumbent will support the implementation of global level policies, including the UNHCR Education Strategy. The Associate Education Officer (Expert) may assist in liaising with the Ministry of Education and with education coordination networks at national, provincial and district levels to improve the quality of refugee education. S/he will liaise with partners to assess the education context, to develop an implementation plan and to monitor the programme and assess impact. The incumbent 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. The Associate Education Officer 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. S/he will facilitate inter-sectoral linkages with programmatic areas including child protection, SGBV, gender, community services, livelihoods/economic inclusion and health, among others.

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Senior 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. • Support the Sport for Protection strategy • Support the DAFI program • 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. Results/expected outputs: As an active UNHCR team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNHCR and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Country level education strategy is promoted and developed; • UNHCR is represented at key educational fora such as the Local Education Group; • UNHCR develops strategic partnerships promoting inclusion for refugees at the country level (e.g. MoEs, World Bank, donors, UNICEF, UNESCO etc; • Community-based education initiatives are supported; • Cooperation with national education institutions, including universities is developed; • DAFI scholarships implemented; • Sport for Protection activities implemented and coordinated with national and local authorities and schools; • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment; • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Communication • Flexibility • 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.

Living conditions and remarks

Slovakia is a developed country with an advanced high-income economy. It also performs favourably in measurements of civil liberties, press freedom, internet freedom, democratic governance, and peacefulness. The country maintains a combination of a market economy with a comprehensive social security system, providing citizens with universal health care, free education, and one of the longest paid parental leaves in the OECD. Slovakia became an independent state on 1 January 1993 after the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia. It has, nevertheless, remained a close partner with the Czech Republic. Both countries co-operate with Hungary and Poland in the Visegrád Group. In 2019, Zuzana Čaputová became Slovakia’s first female president. The country has the beautiful Tatra Mountains, the Danube river and many historical places, including eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Bratislava offers good living conditions with a wide range of hotels, Airbnb and apartments and flats. Accommodation can be sourced using the services of property agencies, as well as through various online websites. International schools are available. Health care is relatively good, but there is a shortage of professionals in many occupations, including doctors and medical staff, making access to health care somewhat challenging. No specific security conditions pertain to Slovakia. Bratislava is a safe metropolitan city, however, as in any other city, caution shall be exercised when using public transport to avoid pickpocketing. Political protests can happen at short notice and may turn violent. Large gatherings must be avoided. Slovakia is a unique humanitarian operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel Coronavirus Please refer to Slovakia travel advice UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances: The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. For more information on entitlements please read the Unified Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers (https://explore.unv.org/sites/default/files/2022-12/UNVcos20221%20Complete%20hi-res-final_compressed_NOV22.pdf) and use the entitlement calculator available at https://app.unv.org/calculator A volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) which is composed of the Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three). Monthly Living Allowance (Per month): USD 2523.96* Expertise differential : USD 1009.58 Entry lump sum (one time payment): USD 4000 Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract): $225 Medical and life insurance: Cigna Private Insurance Leave entitlements: Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: 30 days Uncertified sick leave: 7 days Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months Maternity Leave: 16 weeks Paternity Leave: 10 days This UNV assignment is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with WHO ap-proved vaccine, unless the UNHCR Medical Service approves an exemption from this requirement on medical grounds. *Please note that the amounts can vary according to fluctuations in the monthly post adjustment.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements