Temporary Appointment: Education Specialist (Education in Emergency), (P-3), Nairobi, Kenya CO, (364 days) at UNICEF

Job description

How can you make a difference?

In Kenya, recurring disasters such as droughts, floods and conflicts have often disrupted learning, adversely affected school system and substantially damaged the education infrastructure. This has slowed the progress towards achieving Education for All (EFA) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Goals. The major concern by the Government of Kenya, particularly the Ministry of Education and the Education Cluster members is how to ensure and assure all persons especially children the right to quality education and safe learning environment in emergencies and post crisis recovery. The first Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan developed by the Education Sector illustrates the Government of Kenya's commitment to meeting EFA goals. In line with the Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning (EPRP) guidance, UNICEF works closely with the Ministry of Education to develop the capacity of the education cluster and provide technical assistance to conduct rapid assessment in emergency affected counties.

This incumbent will work under the direction and guidance of the Chief, Education Section to coordinate overall education in emergency preparedness and response. Responsible for the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the education in emergency interventions, to ensure the survival and well-being of children and affected communities in emergency. Responsible to coordinate and provide support for policy and programme planning and management in UNICEF supported emergency programme.

Under the direct supervision of Education Chief, the staff will closely work with UNICEF KCO focal point on following:

• Facilitates the formulation and development of plans of action in preparation and response to emergency in education and monitors compliance of action, including financial resources. Ensures coordination with other partners in developing plans for EiE preparedness and response.
• Provides policy and program advice related to MOEST on EiE. Provides direction and guidance to the section in the implementation of emergency preparedness measures, which strengthens preparedness, response and post crisis response mechanisms at the national and county level.
• Develops and maintains databases on schools affected by emergency, and database on schools supported during emergency for better planning and implementation of the programme.
• Ensure preposition of supply to ensure a timely and effective emergency response.
• Facilitate in developing and conducting emergency in education training modules with special focus on peace building, resilience and Disaster Risk
• Reduction (DRR). Plan, organizes and conducts training for the partners and government officials at national and county level building in education in emergency preparedness and response capacity.
• Prepares proposal for fund raising both for response and system strengthening of government on EiE.
• Coordinates and support other program sections with relevant information and proposals to mobilize donor response and recovery/rehabilitation-related funding, including annual or multi-annual humanitarian appeals and documents.
• Maintains continuous, effective and strategic coordination, communication, consultation and liaison with Government, UN agencies, NGOs, donors and allies to appeal for aid for children with the special needs in education section.
• Represents Education section in all education cluster meetings in humanitarian and recovery related situations and keep section chief informed of all developments in the education in terms of policies, strategy, situation developments, potential threats and opportunities/issues in partnership.
• Ensures that EiE, DRR, Resilience, peace building education, preparedness and response strategies are mainstreamed in the section and government work plan. Prepares sectoral input for the country programme documents, plan of action, annual work plans, and all related documents of the office’s Emergency Preparedness and Response.
• Contributes towards the preparation of the Situation Analysis and the Country Programme Document, Work plan, mid-year and Annual Report.
• Needs assessment is effectively conducted to determine priorities and an appropriate intervention by UNICEF based on the local emergency situation affecting children and their families and community.
• The staff needs to document the EiE interventions and evidence generated in that aspect. Also collect and document evidence of good practices’ for peace building and Resilience model as effective learning initiatives developed in country contexts.
• Convenes strategic partnership – among government, non-government and Community-based Organisation (CBO) to explore new approached, method and practices for improving monitoring system for EiE.
• Building capacity of stakeholders on knowledge management of EiE (DRR, Peace building education and Resilience)
• Building capacity of government along with partners on preparing plan of action for EiE, including financial resources response and recovery plans.
  Availability of Situation Analysis and data on schools affected in emergency along with response status and prepositioning of education material
• Robust monitoring system developed along with government and put in place for education in emergency
• Development and implementation of strategies with timeline to mainstream peace building education and resilience in curriculum
• Monitoring and evaluation of different emergency in education response programme in affected counties and school
• Donor reporting, proposal for new funding and documentation of best practices in peace building education and resilience.
• Quarterly/Annual reports on the status and progress of the project handled along with way forward against the bottleneck identified.

Qualification of Successful Candidate

• Education: An Advanced University Degree in education/social science related degree.
• Work Experience: Demonstrated experience in Emergency in Education and monitoring and evaluation; 5 years or more relevant working experience
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station is an asset.