Country: Jordan
Closing date: 15 Mar 2017
Background
UNRWA’s education programme is the largest program, operating 700 schools for approximately 500,000 students; 10 vocational training centres; three pre-service teacher training institutions and in-service teacher education. UNRWA employs almost 20,000 teaching staff and the education programme accounts for more than half of its core operational budget.
UNRWA has been undergoing reform in the past few years through an Agency-wide Organisational Development (OD) process which purpose is to serve Palestine refugees more effectively by strengthening the Management Capacity of UNRWA. In the framework of this reform, greater devolution of authority has been given to the five fields of operation and the role of the education team at Headquarters moved from operational management to strategic direction and support.
As part of the OD, the UNRWA education programme was evaluated by an external consulting firm: Universalia. The evaluation highlighted a range of challenges, but most specifically a lack of coherence and strategic drivers for the education programme. In light of this Review, other evaluation results, and the continued implementation of the OD process in the Agency, a Reform Strategy was developed for the Education Programme through an inclusive process, involving all fields and with inputs from external partners, such as the host countries. The strategy aims to be transformative and addresses eight key interrelated areas – four of which are substantive, i.e. teachers, curriculum, technical vocational education and inclusive education and four support areas, i.e. research and educational management information systems, governance, partnerships, communication and ICTs towards evidence based education policies.
One of the four key areas, teacher development, recognises the centrality of the teachers in quality education. This area of the reform reflects international research by articulating a holistic approach to teacher professionalization, through addressing all areas from teacher recruitment, training, ongoing professional development and school based support and career progression opportunities. A Teacher Development Policy has been developed, again with the full engagement of all Fields, and is fully costed. The implementation of this policy will enable the professionalization of its 20,000 teachers and as such is crucial to improving the quality of teaching and learning in UNRWA 700 schools.
As a part of the Reform process, the Education Department has developed and subsequently launched two key professional development programmes aimed at improving student outcomes and raising the quality of education provided to UNRWA students. The first, School Based Teacher Development (SBTD), is a programme aimed at improving teacher practice to delivery more active learning and student centred education programmes in all UNRWA schools and Fields. The second, Leading for the Future (LftF), is a professional development programme fort School Principals and Leaders and aims to support them to increase their capacities to lead and develop UNRWA schools to provide high quality educational opportunities for all Palestine refugees.
These two professional development programmes are under the coordination of the TDSE Unit in combination with other work to improve the capacity of all UNRWA schools and staff to raise student performance and increase the quality of education provision. The TDSE Unit is located at Head Quarters Amman, and comprises of 6 TDSE Advisors and the Head of the Unit - all local staff.
The orientation activities provided to the incumbent will focus on: UNRWA organisational needs with respect to the fields, the background and motivation for the Agency's institutional development recommendations, the JPO's specific TOR, UNRWA management expectation.
Throughout the two years, the JPO will be exposed to the full spectrum of UNRWA operations, including at the executive and programmatic levels in order to clearly understand UNRWA's purpose, structure and the implementation of its Educational programmes in an international and cross-cultural setting. During the assignment, it is hoped that the incumbent will be exposed to and learn about the full spectrum of UNRWA operations with a focus on the Education Programme HQA level.
In the first year, the JPO will develop and understanding of:
General:
- UNRWA - its role, mandate and operational procedures and challenges,
- Planning, implementation and reporting at the Department of Education.
- Working effectively in a professional team
Specific:
- Delivery of professional development programmes for teacher and school leaders
- The meaning of teacher quality, indicators of professional competency in teaching and school leadership
- The day to day management of large scale education programmes
- Project management basics and fundamentals
- Effective communication skills and reporting
In the second year, it is envisaged that the JPO will increase their understanding of the above, and also gain experience/ knowledge in:
- The technical expertise necessary to deliver of education programmes and alternative modalities of education services;
- The implementation of organisational reform and gain strategic and hands-on experience in the management of change in an international organization.
The effective delivery of professional development programmes, teacher quality, project management and communication, including:
- Strategic and technical elements involved in providing professional development to teachers and school leaders
- Effective project management - including operational planning and implementation across varied locations and demographics
- Monitoring and evaluation of education programmes, including evaluating impact and changes in professional practice
- Establishment of sound, effective and sustainable administrative systems and processes.
In general, learning activities will also focus on widening the knowledge of the JPO to the Agency structure, committees and overall functioning, as well as monitoring and evaluating results and their impact. Focus will also be on capitalising lessons learned and ensuring their dissemination.
Upon completion of the assignment, the JPO will be extensively exposed to the operations of UNRWA across all fields of operation. The incumbent will learn how research and information is relevant to support the implementation of UNRWA's programmes; how to set priorities and how to effectively communicate in order to obtain attention from local interlocutors; and finally to work in a diverse UN humanitarian agency in the Middle East. The incumbent will also learn how decision-making at the highest level of UNRWA is formulated, decided and implemented.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provides technical and programmatic support to the Education Programmes supported by the TDSE Unit in all fields (Syria, Lebanon , Gaza, West Bank and Jordan). The majority of work will relate to the two key reform programmes managed by the TDSE Unit, namely the School Based Teacher Development Programme(s) (SBTD), Leading for the Future Programme (LftF) and New Cadre Professional Development programmes; 40%
- Assists the TDSE Unit in the implementation and support of the programme management cycle procedures at HQ(A) and in support of the Fields relating to the SBTD and LftF programmes, along with other programmes as appropriate; 20%
- Supports implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems for TDSE Unit Programmes (SBTD I & II and LftF) and strengthens related planning functions; 20%
- Supports TDSE Unit to improve systems and process efficiency within the Unit, including but not limited to the areas of project management, reporting and administration and communications; 10%
- Performs other duties as may be assigned by the Director of Education; 10%
How to apply:
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- Advanced university degree (and/or master degree) in Education, Development, a related Social Sciences discipline - preferably with specialization in development planning/monitoring.
Work experience
- 2 years of relevant experience in the field of education, project management or monitoring & evaluation. 1 year of work experience in an international organization and/or NGO, preferably involving work in project management and education.
Nationality
- This post is opened in the context of the JPO
Programme sponsored by the Government of Finland and is addressed exclusively to nationals of Finland.
Languages
- Excellent command of spoken and written English
Desirable
- Working knowledge of Arabic language.
- Knowledge of contemporary political and social issues of the Middle East.
The selected candidate will expected to participate in the training course on Finland’s Development Policy and Development Cooperation in 2017 organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, from 7-9 June, 2017, in Helsinki
- Ability to travel to UNRWA Fields of operation is essential.
For more details on the JPO Programme and detailed requirements, please visit: http://www.undp.org/content/jposc/en/home/how-to-join/current-vacancies.html