Associate Education Officer

December 22, 2025

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

PR2

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-12-08

Associate Education Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Education Officer will support the roll-out of Refugee Education 2030, the Refugee Education Strategy, in line with the Global Compact on Refugees, which calls on States and relevant Stakeholders to contribute resources and expertise to expand and enhance the quality and inclusiveness of national education systems to facilitate access by refugee and host community children and youth to primary, secondary and tertiary education. Providing inclusive and equitable quality education is central to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Associate Education Officer will ensure UNHCR's programming is in line with the SDGs.
Leveraging the growing global momentum, UNHCR is working to translate the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) into impactful results, including through follow-up on pledges made through the 2019 Global Refugee Forum. Contributing to this global roll-out of the GCR, the Associate Education Officer, in collaboration with the Education Unit in the Sustainable Responses Service, will provide technical support to UNHCR Country Office(s) and partners to advocate for and implement the objectives of Refugee Education 2030:

1. Promote equitable and sustainable inclusion in national education systems for refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, stateless and internally displaced persons
2. Foster safe enabling environments that support learning
3. Enable learners to use their education toward sustainable futures

The incumbent will act as a focal point for education in the area of responsibility (AoR) and, under the leadership of the supervising officer(s), support UNHCR's work regarding education and advocacy on all issues related to UNHCR education programmes and strategic directions. S/he normally works under the direct supervision of the Education Officer or Protection Officer and overall supervision of the Deputy Representative (Protection), depending on the office context. Under the general direction of the supervising officer(s), the incumbent will support the implementation of global level policies, including the UNHCR Education Strategy.
The incumbent may supervise lower grade education staff.

The Associate Education Officer may liaise with the Ministry of Education and with education coordination networks at national, provincial and district levels to improve the quality of refugee education. S/he will liaise with partners to assess the education context, to develop an implementation plan and to monitor the programme and assess impact. The incumbent will 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 may liaise with partners for joint support for education access for refugee and host community children. The Associate Education Officer will develop innovative education approaches for emerging needs in refugee education, including attention to special needs, minorities, girls, pre-school education and non-formal activities. S/he will facilitate inter-sectoral linkages with programmatic areas including child protection, GBV, gender, community services, livelihoods/economic inclusion and health, among others.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on access to and quality of education and assist with the development of the education strategy.
- Actively pursue opportunities to implement UNHCR's urban policy and support mainstreaming refugees within national education systems. Coordinate with relevant partners to support access to education for refugees and host communities.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to education for forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
- Coordinate with partners and other actors in education to adapt the Education Strategy to the local context and ensure ownership.
- Collaborate closely with partners to ensure coherent annual planning based on a longer-term strategy, and jointly monitor and assess implementation, providing advice on programme reorientation where necessary.
- Provide technical advice and guidance on education issues to forcibly displaced and stateless persons; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance and recognition of education relevant documentation.
- Implement education programmes in line with Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) standards and the child protection systems approach.
- Facilitate inter-sectoral linkages with child protection, GBV, gender, community services, livelihoods/economic inclusion, environment, shelter and health, among others.
- Provide inputs for the development of global/regional international education policies and standards.
- Intervene in cases of denial of access to education with government and other relevant parties.
- Identify and promote education activities that support durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Assess needs for services of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, as related to education, and coordinate partners' responses.
- Systematically promote and comply with the Age, Gender and Diversity policy and other priorities such as the guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
- Advocate with authorities for respect of the right of forcibly displaced and stateless persons to an education and for their access to education services.
- Coordinate with education networks and ensure that refugee education interests are understood and included in relevant policies and initiatives.
- Participate in humanitarian and development sector working groups to support and ensure all refugee education support programming at country level is extended, amplified and reported against sector development goals. Humanitarian partners and funding serve system strengthening.
- Assist the Country Office(s) to elaborate and implement strategies to address issues related to education access, quality and data, in cooperation with other UN agencies (UNICEF, UNESCO, WFP, etc.) and other key education stakeholders.
- Undertake direct dialogue with Country Office(s) on the implementation of education programmes in line with strategic directions, integrated with SDG4 and Education Sector Plans, including with Ministries of Education/Higher Education, education partners and coordination networks (Global Partnership for Education, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and Local Education Groups, etc.).
- Foster and ensure inter-sectoral linkages and coordination with child protection, GBV, gender, community services, livelihoods/economic inclusion and health, among others, and provide specialist advice for other sectors, to ensure that they fully integrate education related concerns in their planning.
- Support and monitor the implementation of Global Refugee Forum pledges within the AoR.
- Assist in the planning and coordination of UNHCR's role concerning education, representation of UNHCR at national consultations, representation of UNHCR's education strategy and policy to other UN bodies, NGOs, interlocutors, institutions and organisations within the AoR.
- Identify training needs and train UNHCR staff, sister UN agency staff, NGOs, and Ministry of Education officials on refugee education priorities and identified topics.
- Ensure active exchange of information and that best practices are identified, documented and disseminated both within the AoR and beyond.
- Join joint assessment missions in emergencies to minimise the time refugee children and youth spend out of education (ideally a maximum of three months after arrival).
- Prepare the drafting of education input in key internal and external documents and reports.
- Identify gaps in education service provision and advocate with relevant authorities for service provision.
- Ensure that best practices are identified, documented and widely disseminated.
- Support the country education information management strategy through the collection of disaggregated data on forcibly displaced and stateless persons, and ensure the collection and dissemination of education information and best practices to enhance education delivery.
- Undertake initiatives to build the capacity of communities and forcibly displaced and stateless persons to assert their right to education and access to quality education.
- Promote and participate in initiatives to capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen access to quality, certified education for refugees.
- Contribute to a communications strategy that generates external support for UNHCR's education activities and the education rights of forcibly displaced and stateless persons .
- Intervene with authorities on education issues.
- Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR.
- Make recommendations on individual education related cases.
- Enforce compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of education services.
- Approve individual payments to individual cases.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Education; Social Sciences; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
- Work experience in progressively responsible functions in education.
- Demonstrated work experience in education programmes.
- Field experience in education programme implementation and coordination in humanitarian and/or development contexts.
- Experience working with Governments, Ministry of Education and other line Ministries.
- Strong inter-personal skills in collaboration and coordination.
- Excellent analytical skills and drafting skills.
- Strong communications/presentations skills.
- Demonstrated capacity to work with minimum supervision.

Desirable
- Demonstrated work experience in refugee education programmes.
- Knowledge and experience of UNHCR policies and standards.
- Experience in the area of child protection.
- Experience with educational research, teaching or education administration.

Functional Skills
*ED-Education programming design and quality assurance
*PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
TR-Training - Virtual and face to face
ED-Technical support to education programmes and proposals
PR-Community-based Protection - Planning, implementing and analysing surveys/assessments
SO-Research
MG-Team building (development/facilitation)
ED-Global EiE standards and implementation
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Essential requirements for the position include the following, with a preference for global or regional level experience:
• Demonstrable expertise and experience of supporting refugee education programmes.
• Demonstrable experience of providing operational and programmatic support across a team.
• Excellent data management skills, including analysing and presenting data, and using data to inform programme design and decisions.
• Excellent communication skills, including written, and interpersonal skills working with a range of stakeholders from refugee students through to high level officials.

Desirable experience includes:
• Experience of line management;
• Experience working in education in emergencies;
• Knowledge of, and experience of working with, a wide range of education partners;
• Experience in thematic areas including Tertiary, Basic or Connected Education.

Language requirements: French is desirable.

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French

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Working under the supervision of the Senior Education Officer - Head of Unit, the incumbent will provide technical support across the Education Unit. The role is critical in underpinning the successful delivery of the Unit’s mandate, involving provision of quality assurance to the PROSPECTs partnership, co-ordination across the Unit’s GRF efforts, operational support to key programme areas and management of affiliate workforce.

Core responsibilities:

- Provide strategic support and oversight to the technical HQ commitments to the PROSPECTs programme.

- Play an active role in policy engagement, advocacy, partnership building, and collaboration across the Unit, including working closely with PSP on strategies and campaigns on resource mobilization for education.

- Coordinate the Unit’s work on GRF including co-ordination, event management, collaboration and communications. Manage the Unit’s communications work under guidance of team leads.

- Manage affiliate workforce under Connected Education and Data and Evidence.

- Provide operational support across the Education Unit including with planning, budget management and reporting, and institutional support to the Head of Unit on documentation and corporate reporting.

Living and Working Conditions:

Copenhagen is classified as a Category H duty station with all amenities and excellent infrastructure.

Because of Denmark 's northern location in Europe, the number of daylight hours varies significantly. During winter, the sun rises at about 08:00 and sets at about 15:30, whereas in summer the sun rises at about 03:30 and sets as late as 23:00.

Denmark is located in a temperate climate zone. Average daytime temperatures range from 2 °C (35.6 °F) in January to 20 °C (68 °F) in August. The average wind speed is 7.6 m/s, which explains why Denmark is one of the world's largest exporters of wind turbines. Rainy days are likely all year round, while snowfall happens once in a while during winter.

The UN City is located at one of Copenhagen's newest harbor side developments, and is just a 30 minute walk from the city centre. We are also close to Copenhagen's ferry terminal and only minutes away from the Copenhagen 's main public transport system; with bus 26 located approximately 10 minutes away from the office and Nordhavn train station located approximately 800m from the office. Our address is, Marmorvej 51, 2100 Copenhagen˜.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Education, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Annual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Asylum Seekers, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Returned Refugees

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Innovation & creativity, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Flash Vacancy Notice

Additional Information

This position requires Functional Clearance