Education SectorCluster Coordinator – Syria

TITLE: Education Sector/Cluster Coordinator Syria
TEAM/PROGRAMME: PDQ
LOCATION: Damascus with field visits
GRADE: TBCCONTRACT LENGTH: 12 Months
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3: the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE:
The objective of a country-level Education Cluster/Sector is to ensure a coherent and effective education response by mobilizing groups of agencies organizations and NGOs to respond in a strategic manner to a humanitarian/Nexus context

The Education Cluster Co-Coordinator will work impartially serving the needs of all members of the Education Cluster and should work closely with the UN Humanitarian/Residence Coordinator as appropriate.
SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Director Programme Development and Quality
Dimensions: The post holder will work closely with Country Education sector team UNICEF Cluster lead as counterpart on day to day basis working closely and in collaboration with UNICEF counterparts (our Education Cluster Co-Lead) as well as all education partners
Number of direct reports: NES Education sub-national cluster coordinator

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Core cluster functions:
1. Supporting service delivery
Provide a platform to ensure that service delivery is driven by the agreed strategic priorities
Develop mechanisms to eliminate duplication of service delivery
2. Informing strategic decision-making of the HC/HCT for the humanitarian response
Needs assessment and gap analysis (across other sectors and within the sector)
Analysis to identify and address (emerging) gaps obstacles duplication and cross-cutting issues.
Prioritization grounded in response analysis
3. Planning and strategy development
Develop sectoral plans objectives and indicators directly support realization of the HC/HCT strategic priorities
Application and adherence to existing standards and guidelines
Clarify funding requirements prioritization and cluster contributions to HCs overall humanitarian funding considerations (Flash Appeal CAP ERF/CHF CERF)
4. Advocacy
Identify advocacy concerns to contribute to HC and HCT messaging and action
Undertaking advocacy activities on behalf of cluster participants and the affected population
5. Monitoring and reporting the implementation of the cluster strategy and results; recommending corrective action where necessary
6. Contingency planning/preparedness for recurrent disasters whenever feasible and relevant.
7. Accountability to affected populations

State Level emergency preparedness and response
Track the development of the humanitarian situation through collaboration in humanitarian fora particularly inter-cluster coordination and with OCHA
Lead or support education in emergencies needs assessments at state level as required
Lead mapping of education in emergencies capacity and gaps at national and state level to mobilise an effective education response
Develop a systematic plan for strengthening coordination structures at a state level including:
oFormalising the role of NGO cluster focal points ensuring the most appropriate agency adopts the role and their responsibilities are realistic and agreed and necessary capacity building support is provided
oContinuing the roll-out of education in emergencies training across priority states
oBased on education in emergencies training ensure that all states have practical contingency plans and preparedness actions that respond to specific risk scenarios they face
Others

Work closely with the Cluster Coordinator following a joint and work plan.

Work closely with the IM and oversee the maintenance and upkeep of the Education Cluster information management system.

Support sub-national Cluster Focal Points to collect analyse and share information to make informed evidence-based strategic decisions on the educational needs of affected populations.

Use data to inform the prioritisation of needs and available resources for response identify gaps map capacity report and for advocacy purposes.

Compile special reports such as the occupation of schools mid-and end year Reporting.

Ensure regular monitoring of education response activities and coordinate the measurement of the impact of emergency education programmes on the lives of children and youth affected by acute emergencies; report progress towards Cluster indicators;

As the humanitarian situation in Syria evolves all coordination staff will need to adapt their roles to ensure that the Education Cluster fulfils its role. The generic accountabilities listed below are an indicative list of other areas of work that the Cluster Coordinator may need to assume.

Generic accountabilities
Support the government in their emergency response by assuming joint overall responsibility with UNICEF counterpart for co-ordination of the Education Cluster or supporting the government in doing this

Work closely with other key members of the Education Cluster including school officials National Provincial or Local Governments (I)NGOs UNICEF and OCHA and ensure that linkages are made with other relevant education sector groups.

Ensure that needs are identified and that cluster activities address the identified needs fill gaps and prevent overlap and duplication.

Secure commitments from humanitarian actors responding to the emergency education response.

Lead the strategic development of the Education Cluster including development of strategies work plans co-ordination of response activities and taking into account the cross-cutting issues.

Ensure that information is shared amongst cluster members and between sectors/clusters in order to improve planning integration and implementation. This includes contributing to regular OCHA situation reports and taking an active part in OCHA co-ordination meetings.

Support the capacity of sub-national clusters and ensure that clear and effective communication occurs between sub-national clusters and the national cluster.

Advocate and fundraise for education in emergencies as first wave response and ensure that education is explicitly included and prioritized in all multi-sector assessments reports and appeals.

Facilitate the joint development of relevant and contextualised minimum standards policies and guidelines by education cluster members and build their capacity to apply these.

Track and monitor cluster members fundraising for education specific interventions. Ensure that members are aware of funding opportunities and support their capacity to access these.

Support sector wide contingency planning including support to the development and application of sector wide emergency preparedness plans and capacity building of Education Cluster members.
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:
Holds self-accountable for making decisions managing resources efficiently achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:
Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.
Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children engages and motivates others
Future orientated thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:
Builds and maintains effective relationships with their team colleagues Members and external partners and supporters.
values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength.
Approachable good listener easy to talk to.

Creativity:
Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:
Honest encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
At least four years of senior-level experience in humanitarian response within the education sector
At least one year of experience of responding in the first-phase of an emergency
Masters Degree in Education related field or an equivalent qualification
Formal training in Cluster Coordination (desired)
Excellent English and Arabic communication skills both verbal and written.
Competencies
Value based
Commitment to the rights of children and youth to education in emergencies and recognition of the need for education in emergencies as a first-phase response
Ability to put aside ones own the organisational interests and work impartially serving all Cluster members on equal terms
Demonstrates integrity and strives to wards the highest personal and professional standard

Facilitation and Coordination:
Demonstrable ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders and develop consensus and joint working.
Experience of high level coordination and chairing of meetings.

Communication:
Effectively presents ideas in a clear concise and convincing manner
Listens to and acknowledges others perspectives and views

Decision Making Ability
Identifies key issues in a complex situation and makes effective and realistic decisions based on logical inferences experiences and implications

Humanitarian:
Demonstrable understanding of international humanitarian response architecture co-ordination mechanisms humanitarian reform and action.
Understanding of humanitarian principles and ability to apply these
Advocacy:
Excellent advocacy skills particularly in relation to advocating for education provision in humanitarian crises.

Planning and Strategising
Ability to work and plan at strategic and operational level.
Understanding of opportunities to provide integrated or cross-cutting humanitarian interventions with other sectors and clusters
Able to identify and make the relevant links between emergency response recovery transition and development
Desirable
Experience in Cluster Coordination.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process which includes rigorous background checks reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Safeguarding our Staff:
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.