Country: Uganda
Closing date: 17 Jul 2018
1- General Background
Refugees, in general, access education in Uganda under the same conditions as Ugandans. Of the total refugee population in Uganda, 44 percent are of school going age. UNHCR works closely with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), other government agencies, UN sister agencies and a range of in-country partners to implement a variety of interventions aimed at providing quality education to the refugee population throughout the country, as well as the host community in refugee-hosting districts. The country programme's focus includes Early Childhood Development (ECD), primary and secondary education, as well as support for access to tertiary education and skill training opportunities.
The unprecedented mass influx of refugees into Uganda in 2016 and 2017 has put enormous pressure on the country’s resources, in particular health and education services. As of February 2018, Uganda hosted some 1.4 million refugees in the country. including from South Sudan (73%), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC, 19%), Burundi (3%), Somalia (3%) and Rwanda (1%) and others. More than 68% of the refugee population in Uganda is located in refugee settlements in the West Nile region. In the five districts in the West Nile there are almost one million refugees making up 32% of the population, while in the Districts of Adjumani and Moyo refugees now make up well over half of the total population. More than 400,000 refugees live in the central and southern districts of Hoima, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, Isingiro and in Kampala. Since December 2017, there has been a continued influx of refugees from the DRC, with a total of 81,783 new arrivals between 1 January and 24 May 2018. This trend is expected to continue for the remainder of the year, with an estimated 150,000 newly arriving refugees from DRC in 2018.
Refugees share all social services with the local host communities. The refugee hosting districts are among the least developed districts in the country; and thus the additional refugee population is putting a high strain on already meagre resources and services. In line with the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), which was adopted and embraced by the Government of Uganda in 2017, there is need for coordinated education service delivery. This entails a paradigm shift from a mainly humanitarian focus to development as well in ensuring a broader stakeholder involvement to address these needs and ensure integrated service delivery.
In light of the need for additional support and resources, multiple education partners have worked with the Government of Uganda to develop a rolling Education Response Plan for Refugees and Communities in Uganda (ERP) 2018-2021, which complements the Refugee Response Plan for 2018.
Guided by the ERP and the Sustainable Development Goal No.4, the Education Officer will work to enhance equitable access to quality and inclusive education for refugee and host communities and to improve education service provision in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders. The Education Officer will work closely with the MoES, other relevant government institutions, UNHCR's implementing and operational partners, UN sister agencies, and other humanitarian and development partners engaged in or supporting the delivery of education services for refugees and host communities. Within UNHCR, the Education Officer will work closely with all relevant sections at the Representation Office in Kampala as well as with the education focal points in the Sub/Field Offices in South West, Mid West, and West Nile regions.
2- Purpose and scope of assignment
Under the direct supervision of the Senior Education Officer, the Education Officer will undertake the following responsibilities: **
- Advocate on all issues related to UNHCR education programmes and strategic directions, advise the UNHCR office on education issues related to the refugee programme, and provide technical advice and guidance on education issues to internal and external interlocutors
- Support resource mobilization and implementation of the Education Response Plan for Refugees and Host Communities in Uganda (ERP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports and concerned authorities at national and district levels, UNICEF, Education and Development partners, and other appropriate national and international partners, and all other relevant stakeholders.
- Coordinate or support the coordination of the Education in Emergencies Working Group (EiEWG) with the MoES, and represent UNHCR at other relevant education related coordination or technical meetings with a view to include refugees on the national agenda as well as in donor programmes
- Provide guidance, supervise and coordinate the activities of UNHCR implementing and operational partners involved in educational programmes
- Participate in programme planning through needs assessments, monitoring and evaluation of activities, and promote standardisation of delivery of education services in line with mininum standards. **
- 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 promote education for girls
- Liaise with partners for joint support for education access for refugee and host community children. This may include, among others, ensuring a cohort of trained teachers, assurance of safe learning environments, monitoring learning achievement, organising accelerated learning programmes, facilitating smooth transition from primary to secondary education and ensuring student participation in certified education programmes.
- Develop innovative education approaches for emerging needs in the refugee education, including attention to specific needs, minorities, girls, pre-school education and non formal activities.
- Support reporting and accountability of education activities by implementing partners, and conduct timely monitoring and evaluation meetings with implementing partners regarding their education project implementation, in accordance with the UNHCR programming cycle.
- Monitor scholarship programmes and strenghten the education component of the urban refugee programme.
- Foster and ensure inter-sectoral linkages with child protection, SGBV, gender, community-based protection, livelihoods, health, and water and sanitation, among others.
- Prepare regular reports related to education and ensure Senior Management is informed of all relevent education information.
- Facilitate the implementation of a functional information management strategy which provides disaggregated data on populations of concern, and ensure collection and dissemination of relevant education information and good practices to enhance quality of and access to education.
- Undertake other duties as required.
3- Monitoring and progress control
- National monthly coordination meetings, minutes posted on Uganda Refugee Portal.
- Minimum of monthly coordination meetings in all settlements, minutes posted on Uganda refugee portal
- Termly gap analysis conducted (through partners and settlement level EiEWG meetings). Gap analysis uploaded into Uganda Refugee Portal and Education status reports produced
- Education sections of Refugee Response Plan completed in timely manner
- Evidence of interaction with other sectors through attendance of interagency and intersectoral meetings
- Develop/ adapt and implement relevant International Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) training. Produce training materials and reports
- Effective implementation of education programmes by UNHCR's implementing partners and relevant indicators in the Project Partnership Agreements achieved- Timely collection of education related data in the refugee response and production of informaiton management materials showing progress and gaps **
Qualifications and Experience required ;
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Education or Social Sciences.
- Minimum 6 years of previous relevant work experience relevant to the function, if holder of undergraduate degree).
If holder of Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master’s), minimum 5 years of previous relevant work experience
If holder of Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD), minimum 4 years of previous relevant work experience
Background in relevant education systems with good knowledge of relevant curricula.
Demonstrated work experience in education programmes. - Field experience in programme implementation and coordination
Key Competencies :
- Knowledge of refugee protection principles and framework.
Familiarity with INEE standards.
Knowledge and experience of using participatory approaches and innovative facilitation techniques.
Strong analytical skills.
Good interpersonal skills and ability to negotiate shared positions.
Excellent communication skills and fluency in English - Good understanding of education and refugee needs and issues in Uganda
How to apply:
Please apply through :