Education Sector Coordinator – UNICEF

Job Description

Job no	559436
Contract type	Temporary Appointment
Location	Khartoum
Level	P-4
Categories	Emergency
Advertised	15 Feb 2023 E. Africa Standard Time
Deadline	28 Feb 2023 E. Africa Standard Time

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, education…

The cluster approach ensures clear leadership, predictability and accountability in international responses to humanitarian emergencies by clarifying the division of labour among organizations and better defining their roles and responsibilities within the different sectors of the response. It aims to make the international humanitarian community better Organised, more accountable and professional, so that it can be a stronger partner to the affected people, host governments, local authorities, local civil society Organisations and resourcing entities.

Main emergency risk scenarios in Sudan are: escalation of an armed conflicts in Darfur, Kordofan and Blue Nile States, floods, droughts and disease outbreaks. Emergency situations could potentially affect hundreds of thousands of populations. Emergency response is generally to be led by the Government while international support is coordinated by the Humanitarian Country Team and Humanitarian Coordinator.

A well-run cluster/sector including Information Management is a formal deliverable of the Cluster Lead Agency (in this case, UNICEF) and forms a part of the agency’s accountability work. UNICEF, as highlighted in their Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action, is fully committed to interagency humanitarian reform and supports this through provision of leadership and participation in assigned clusters and sectors.

To date, main actors of the cluster have been identified and initial capacity building provided on major education issues during emergencies.

How can you make a difference?

The post is responsible for coordinating Education Sector partners at the national and sub-national level for the efficient coordination, resource mobilization, capacity enhancement and functioning of the Education Cluster encompassing the following:

• Ensure inclusion of key humanitarian partners for the sector, respecting their respective mandates and programme priorities
• Ensure appropriate coordination with all humanitarian partners (including national and local authorities, national and international NGOs), through establishment/maintenance of appropriate cluster coordination mechanisms, including working groups at the national and, local level, as appropriate;
• Secure commitments from humanitarian partners in responding to needs and filling gaps, ensuring an appropriate distribution of responsibilities within the sectoral group, with clearly defined focal points for specific issues where necessary while ensuring the complementarity of different humanitarian actors’ actions;
• Promote emergency response actions while at the same time considering the need for early recovery planning as well as prevention and risk reduction concerns;
• Ensure effective links with other sectoral groups, specifically with Health, Protection and WASH sectors as areas closely linked with Education;
• Ensure that sectoral coordination mechanisms are adapted over time to reflect the capacities of local actors and the engagement of development partners;
• Represent the interests of the sectoral group in discussions with the Humanitarian Coordinator and other stakeholders on prioritization, resource mobilization and advocacy;
• Ensure utilization of participatory and community-based approaches in sectoral needs assessment, analysis, planning, monitoring and response. Ensure adequate contingency planning and preparedness for new emergencies.
• Ensure that sectoral group participants are aware of relevant policy guidelines, technical standards and commitments under international human rights law. In the specific case of the Education Cluster, ensure adherence to Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Minimum Standards, Core Commitments for Children (CCC) in Emergencies, all relevant Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidelines and the SPHERE Project Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response.
• Ensure that responses are in line with existing policy guidance, technical standards, and relevant Government human rights legal obligations.
• Respond to the Cluster participants’ needs for assessment and information. Adapt existing in-country information management approaches for collecting, analysing and reporting Cluster activities and resources, and identifying information gaps.
• Establish and maintain information databases that consolidate, analyse and report/disseminate information critical to decision making. Work with the Information Management Officer in effectively using GIS tools for purposes of mapping and geographic data management
• Maintain monthly reporting from Cluster participants, including 5Ws (Who, What, Where, When and for Whom databases) and promote the use of global standards for information management for inter-operability
• Work with Cluster participants and the Information Officer in identifying information gaps at national and sub-national levels and propose ways to bridge those gaps and ensure delivery of relevant IM products.
• Manage an inventory of relevant documents on the humanitarian situation relating to Education.
• Ensure adequate monitoring mechanisms are in place to review impact of the Education Cluster participants’ programs and progress against implementation plans; ensure adequate reporting and effective information sharing (with OCHA support).
• Lead on the preparation of SitRep inputs with emphasis on Cluster plans, targets and achievements.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree in Education, Social Sciences, International Development or subject relevant to the work and function of Education cluster.
• Formal training in cluster coordination an advantage.
• A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible humanitarian work experience with UN and/or NGO, including programme management and/or coordination in the first phase of a major emergency response relevant to the Education cluster.
• Experience as Education Coordinator is a complex humanitarian context is an asset.
• Fluency in English language required. Knowledge of Arabic language will be an asset. Knowledge of another official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) will be considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

 1. Understands the rationale behind Humanitarian Reform, its main components and recent developments including the Transformative Agenda.

2. Understands, uses and adapts the tools, mechanisms and processes developed as part of Humanitarian Reform

3. Demonstrates commitment to Humanitarian Principles https://docs.unocha.org/sites/dms/Documents/OOM-humanitarianprinciples_eng_June12.pdf

4. Demonstrates commitment to Principles of Partnership http://www.globalhumanitarianplatform.org/doc00003804.doc

The ideal candidate understands key strategic and technical issues related to the Inter-agency Coordination, Education cluster/sector to be able to: lead sector partners on strategic and technical issues in complex situation; guide development of strategies and plans; communicate and advocate on critical issues to various stakeholders on behalf of the sector.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

• UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and those from Industrial countries are encouraged to apply.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• Eligible UNICEF National Officer (NO) and General Service (GS) Staff Members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to this TA may be able to retain a lien on their existing post for the duration of this TA. 
• The position is based in Khartoum with 25% travel to the field.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Advertised: 15 Feb 2023 E. Africa Standard Time
Deadline: 28 Feb 2023 E. Africa Standard Time