Assistant Education Officer at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was created in 1950, during the aftermath of the Second World War, to help millions of Europeans who had fled or lost their homes. We had three years to complete our work and then disband. Today, over 65 years later, our organization is still hard at work, protecting and assisting refugees around the world.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Assistant Education Officer

Position Number: 2019/VA/041
Location: Ogoja, Cross River
Category: Protection Operational Support
Grade: NOA
Duration of Contract: Three Months (with possible renewal)
Contract Type: Temporary Appointment

Context, Duties and Responsibilities
Operational Context:

• Since September 2017, UNHCR Nigeria has been receiving increasing number of refugees fleeing conflict in North West and South West Regions in Cameroon. In March 2018, the Government of Nigeria granted a two-years Temporary Protection Status (TPS) to all Cameroonians fleeing conflict and seeking asylum in Nigeria.
• To date 35,700 Cameroonian refugees have been registered by the government through its National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) with technical support from UNHCR.
• These refugees are hosted in border communities in four states, namely; Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River State and Taraba, with Cross River State hosting over 85% of the refugee population. Of this population, close to 14,000 are currently in three refugee settlements established in Anyake (soon to be relocated to Ikyogen) in Benue State, Adagom (1&2) and Okende in Cross River State respectively.
• Additional three settlements are currently planned and being developed in Adagom 3, Oban (Akampka) and Buya (Obanlinku) in Cross River State to facilitate relocation of refugees from urban and border communities closer to the border with Cameroon, decongest over crowdedness in existing settlements of Adagom and Okende and better serve the refugees.
• The majority of the refugees reside within local communities, many of whom wish to relocate to settlements where adequate protection and assistance can be accessed.
• About 50% of the refugee population is made up of children. A total of 11,900 within school going age children have been registered in the four states, of which about 7,000 reside in refugee settlements in Adagom, Okende and Anyake.
• Preliminary education assessments were conducted in both Cross River and Benue States by UNHCR to identify and respond to the immediate needs of refugees and communities. This was followed by a short education mission in October 2018 to both states.
• These assessments have led to initial support provided to refugee children and community schools such as payment of fees, provision of school, learning materials, rehabilitation of classrooms, and provision of school furniture during the last quarter of 2018.
• This response is being scaled up and continuing in 2019. However, it needs to be strengthened as not all refugee children of school-age are benefitting from the support.

Functional Statement
Accountability:

• The education needs of refugees are met through the application of International and National Commitments, including the MDGs and EFA commitments, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles governing humanitarian coordination, including those of the INEE.
• Education activities are guided by global, regional and country priorities and reflect UNHCR’s policy on age, gender and diversity (AGD).
• Participation of persons of concern is assured through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches.
• Persons of concern are treated with dignity and respect and all protection incidents are immediately identified and addressed.

Responsibility
Strategic Direction and Coordination:

• Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on access to and quality of education and inform the development of the education strategy.

Response and Advice:

• Assist in providing comments to the relevant authorities on existing and draft legislation related to education and persons of concern.
• Coordinate with partners and other actors in education to adapt the Education Strategy to the local context and ensure ownership.
• Provide technical advice and guidance on education issues to persons of concern of all ages; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of education relevant documentation.
• Implement education programmes in line with Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) standards and the child protection systems approach.
• Support inter-sectoral linkages with child protection, SGBV, gender, community services, livelihoods, environment, shelter and health, among others.
• Provide inputs for the development of global/regional education policies and standards.
• Identify cases of denial of access to education with government and other relevant parties and recommend appropriate responses.  
• Identify and promote education activities that support durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
• Assess needs for services of persons of concern, as related to education, and coordinate partners’ responses.
• Systematically promote and comply with the Age, Gender and Diversity (ADG) and HIV/AIDS policy.

Advocacy, Information Management and Research:

• Advocate with authorities for respect of the right of persons of concern 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.
• Ensure that best practices are identified, documented and widely disseminated.
• Support the country education information management strategy through the collection of disaggregated data on populations of concern and the collection and dissemination of education information and best practices to enhance education delivery.

Promotion and Capacity Building:

• Undertake initiatives to build the capacity of communities and persons of concern 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.

External Relations:

• Contribute to a communications strategy that generates external support for UNHCR’s education activities and the education rights of persons of concern.

Authority:

• Intervene with authorities on education issues.
• Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR.
• Issue documents and reports for clearance by the Education or Protection and/or Senior Protection Officer.
• Issue recommendations on individual education related cases.
• Approve individual payments to individual cases.

Essential Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate Degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Education or Social Sciences or a related field plus minimum 3 years of previous work experience relevant to the function. Graduate degree. A Master’s degree in Education, Social Sciences or related field plus a minimum of 1 year previous work experience relevant to the function of the position.
• Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) in education, social sciences may also be accepted.
• Demonstrated work experience in the education sector.
• Knowledge of refugee protection principles and framework.
• Familiarity with INEE standards.
• Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Desirable Qualifications & Competencies:

• Field experience in education programme implementation and coordination.
• Demonstrated work experience in refugee education programmes.
• Background in relevant education systems with good knowledge of relevant curricula.
• Demonstrated expertise in education programming, community services, community development/organization, social work, social surveys/ assessment, counselling, or related areas.
• Team building/development training.
• Knowledge of additional UN languages.

Application Closing Date
Midnight, 15th July, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online