Education Specialists – Education in Emergency, NOC, Tegucigalpa, Honduras #115717 [Temporary Appointment-364 days]

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 impact of Hurricanes ETA and IOTA has further aggravated the situation of the educational system in Honduras, which was already seriously affected by the impact of COVID-19, which led to the closure of schools and the suspension of face-to-face educational activities. Despite the efforts of the Ministry of Education and its partners for the implementation of various modalities of distance education through online platforms, radio, television, printed material, use of applications such as Messenger and WhatsApp, there is still a large gap to ensure educational continuity for all children and adolescents in Honduras. Mainly those belonging to the most marginalized groups such as children living in rural communities, children with disabilities, migrant and indigenous children.

Before the impact of the hurricanes, the Honduran Secretary of Education (SEDUC) estimated that 1/3 of the students could be promoted to the following year, and the remaining 2/3 would need some type of reinforcement support for a few months, leveling or recreational camps. This population would also require educational materials. After Hurricane Eta, it was calculated that the number of students susceptible to be promoted in the most affected municipalities would be slightly more than 176,000; and that those requiring reinforcement support in the most affected municipalities would be more than 350,000. However, the emergency caused by Hurricane Ita has increased the number of students in the latter group, due to the loss of educational materials, electricity, internet, TV, radio, computers and telephones. In addition, the affected families have lost the economic capacity to buy data packages for their children to follow classes remotely. 

On the other hand, the rains and floods have impacted school infrastructure. According to data provided by SEDUC it is estimated that 585 educational centers have been affected, however, details of the degree of damage are still being evaluated and verified, while COPECO reported 104 schools damaged and 70 destroyed. To these figures we must add a significant number of schools that have been or are being used as shelters and that will require quick actions to clean and repair mainly water, sanitation and hygiene systems to ensure educational continuity and minimize the risk of dropouts prior to the start of the school year scheduled for February 2021.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance and general supervision of the Chief, Education Section (Level 5/4), the Education Specialist supports the development and preparation of the Education in Emergency program and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting the progress of education programs/projects within the country program. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of results on education programs/projects to improve learning outcomes and equitable and inclusive education, especially for children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded in society. The Specialist coordinates the national education cluster and provides technical guidance to the education sub-cluster at sub-national level.

The Specialist contributes to achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

Summary of Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Support to program/project development and planning

2. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results

3. Technical and operational support to program implementation

4. Networking and partnership building

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

For further details refer to the key accountabilities pdf:  Key Responsbilities .pdf

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in education, economics, psychology, sociology or other social science field is required
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in in social development planning and management in education and related areas at the international level, some of which preferably in a developing country is required. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, or Russian) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF functional competencies required for this post are:

• Leading and supervising (I)
• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
• Analyzing (II)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Deciding and Initiating action (I)
• Applying technical expertise (II)

Please review the Technical competencies indicated in the  Key Responsbilities .pdf that must be demonstrated.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. Interviews will be held during the week of March 8, 2021. 

VACANY IS OPEN ONLY TO NATIONALS OF HONDURAS