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Education Specialist (Emergency Education Coordinator) UNICEF Somalia

UNICEF Somalia

Terms of Reference

Vacancy Ref No.: UNSOM/2011/078

Position Title: Education Specialist (Emergency Education Coordinator)

Level: L4

Location: Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel to Somalia

Contract Type: Temporary Assignment

Duration: 7 months

Start Date: December 2011

Reporting to: Chief of Education, UNICEF Somalia Support Centre (USSC)

Closing date: 20 November 2011


Purpose of the Position

The conflict and insecurity that have defined Somalia over the past 20 years are now compounding the damaging effects of the worst famine Somalia has seen in 17 years. Four million people, including two million children, are in need of immediate, life-saving assistance. Three million of these people live in the al-Shabab controlled south where there is limited humanitarian access. Malnutrition rates illustrate an unimaginable situation; in the south 36 per cent of children under 5 are malnourished. As the crisis worsens, acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and cholera are spreading due to a lack of safe water and sanitation. Malaria and measles cases are increasingly reported, especially among the displaced where congested living conditions persist. Access to affected populations is extremely challenging due to security risks in the worst-affected areas.

Sustained population displacement has increased serious risks to children who are vulnerable to any kind of physical and psychological violence and exploitation during the crisis. The movement of food insecure populations and continuous displacement due to the on-going conflict disrupted regular teaching and learning processes in most schools in affected areas. An Education Cluster assessment conducted earlier this year reported a 38% drop out in districts in Central and Southern Somalia. This has been compounded by a lack of school feeding programmes, displacement of teachers, child recruitment, and the deteriorating nutrition situation of learners which has limited their opportunities for learning and negatively affected their psychosocial well-being. A more recent Cluster assessment conducted in August predicted low enrolment rates once schools re-opened in September due to displacement.

Since schools re-opened on 3 September, a total of 321,434 children have enrolled in 1,379 UNICEF- supported schools across Central and Southern Somalia. 48 per cent of these children are girls which is a significant achievement in itself. Through local and international NGO partners, UNICEF is supporting teachers in these schools through training and payment of monthly incentives. Community Education Committees are being established and trained. In addition, collaboration with WASH, Health and Nutrition partners is on-going to ensure that children in these schools are also reached with access to life-saving facilities and messages such as safe water, sanitation, hygiene promotion, de-worming and immunisation, where possible. Up to 100,000 children in famine-affected areas which are not benefiting from food distribution will also receive monthly food vouchers through schools. In addition to the support provided through formal education facilities, UNICEF is also supporting over 7,000 children to participate in Child Friendly Spaces in the worst affected regions where they have access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, psychosocial support and recreation materials.

UNICEF is seeking a highly experienced and dynamic Education Specialist in Emergencies Specialist on a temporary assignment for seven months to oversee continued coordination of the emergency education response. Under the guidance of the Chief of Education and the Humanitarian Country Management

Team, s/he will support all aspects of coordination, reporting, monitoring and technical support for the UNICEF education response, in close collaboration with the UNICEF Central South education team.


Scope of Work

• The Education in Emergencies Specialist will support the Central South Zonal Office and USSC to coordinate an effective integrated education response to the current crisis. The Education in Emergencies Coordinator will be responsible for the following activities:

• Coordinate the implementation of the UNICEF education response plan for Somalia, particularly the immediate term implementation until the end of the current school year and planning for longer-term recovery activities, keeping the rights of the most marginalised children at the forefront.

• Support the UNICEF CSZ colleagues and Cluster partners to undertake rapid assessments on the situation of education in affected regions and IDP camps, and prepare reports on the findings, with clear recommendations for implementation.

• Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of response activities according to the Humanitarian Performance Monitoring system, guided by the UNICEF Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) team. Maintain the school-level monitoring matrix of needs and response activities. Ensure effective documentation of response interventions and close monitoring of implementing partners’ interventions according to signed agreements. Undertake regular field visits to conduct capacity development of education partners for improved monitoring of education response activities on the ground. Support third-party verification and other monitoring initiatives.

• Provide high quality education inputs for donor reports, CAP and HAR updates, funding proposals, situation reports, and other information, communication or advocacy materials relating to the emergency education response.

• Prepare and amend Project Cooperation Agreements (PCAs) with NGO partners to implement response activities and programmes in affected areas depending on outstanding and emerging needs. Follow-up with partners on monthly reporting in consultation with the CSZ team.

• Support field level coordination and reporting of UNICEF education activities in affected areas particularly through local NGO partners and Education Umbrellas, including through regular field visits and technical support to CSZ staff.

• Contribute and strengthen the work of the Education Cluster and its partners, including participation in Cluster meetings and ensure UNICEF participation in relevant Technical Working Groups. Ensure regular information sharing with the Education Cluster and provide UNICEF inputs for the 4W, Cluster SitReps and other products.

• Coordinate with UNICEF health, nutrition, and WASH colleagues to ensure that cross-sectoral initiatives which are part of the integrated education response are conducted in schools. Coordinate monitoring of school WASH and school health activities, and distribution of food vouchers in schools.

• Maintain the centralised procurement and tracking system for emergency education supplies. Support the CSZ team to monitor the transport and distribution of education supplies to supported schools and camps and monitor end-user utilisation in schools and child friendly spaces.

• Liaise with the TFG Ministry of Education in Mogadishu and share regular updates on UNICEF and partner interventions during the response.

• Ensure that planning and implementation of emergency activities comply with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) and the INEE Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies.

• Work in close collaboration with the Education teams in each office and complete other tasks as assigned by the Chief of Education, and as necessitated by the emergency situation


The Emergency Education Coordinator will be expected to travel to accessible parts of central and southern Somalia and spend significant periods in the field to support UNICEF’s partners and UNICEF Zonal Offices.


Desired background and experience


• Masters or advanced degree in education, disaster management, social sciences, international development, public policy or a related field.

• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible relevant experience in the field of education.

• Experience in complex emergency contexts strongly preferred.

• Technical experience and knowledge in the area of education in emergencies required including experience of leading or coordinating response planning, implementation and monitoring. Experience in supply management and partner coordination essential.

• Proven experience of high quality report writing and documentation.

• Experience and/or knowledge of the context of Somalia highly recommended and readiness to travel to Somalia essential.

• Resourcefulness, flexibility, and the ability to prioritise large amounts of work while under pressure.

• Fluency in written and spoken English, with excellent writing skills required.

• Good analytical, facilitation, communication and presentation skills.

• Politically and culturally sensitive, awareness of gender issues, with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy


How to apply

Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications with updated UN Personal History Form (P.11) form, updated CV and copies of academic certificates to the email below. UN staff are requested to provide the last two Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs). Please quote the title and the vacancy number in your application. Closing date for applications is 20 November 2011.


Email to: somaliahrvacancies@unicef.org


Only short-listed applicants will be contacted


QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

UNICEF IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT