Call for Syrian Experts: Education in Emergencies, Early Childhood Development & Youth Skills (Syria)

Contract Type: Individual Consultancy; Project-Based
Eligibility: Syrian nationals or non-Syrian consultants currently residing in Syria only

Trust Consultancy & Development (TCD) is seeking experienced consultants to join its roster of experts in Education in Emergencies (EiE), Early Childhood Development (ECD), youth skills development and education systems to support upcoming evaluations, assessments, research, Third-Party Monitoring (TPM), programme design and advisory assignments in Syria.

Selected consultants will be included in TCD's consultant roster and may be considered for future short-term consultancy opportunities based on their technical expertise, geographical experience, availability and the requirements of specific assignments.

Primary geographic scope: Syria

About the Call

Trust is expanding its roster of experts with strong technical and practical experience in education in emergencies, early childhood development, formal and non-formal education, youth skills and transition to employment.

We are particularly interested in experts with recent, first-hand knowledge of Syria's education context, including barriers to access and learning, education-system capacity, children and youth affected by conflict and displacement, and approaches to strengthening inclusive and resilient education services.

Areas of Expertise

Applicants should have strong experience in one or more of the following:

1. Education in Emergencies (EiE), including access, continuity of learning, education preparedness and response, and education in conflict-affected settings;
2. Early Childhood Development (ECD), including early learning, school readiness, parenting programmes, community-based ECD and integrated approaches to child development;
3. Formal and non-formal education, including remedial, catch-up, accelerated and alternative learning programmes;
4. Youth skills and life skills, including transferable skills, employability, entrepreneurship, digital skills, career readiness and pathways from education to employment;
5. TVET and skills development, particularly linkages between education, vocational training and labour-market opportunities;
6. Education quality and learning outcomes, including teaching quality, teacher development, curriculum, learning assessment and learner-centred approaches;
7. Inclusive education, including education for children and youth with disabilities and other groups facing barriers to participation;
8. Gender and education, including barriers affecting girls and young women and approaches to equitable participation and learning;
9. Education protection and wellbeing, including safe learning environments, psychosocial wellbeing, social-emotional learning and referral mechanisms;
10. Education systems and institutional strengthening, including education planning, governance, capacity development and coordination;
11. Community and parental engagement, including participation of parents, caregivers, communities and local organizations in education and ECD;
12. Education research, monitoring and evaluation, including needs assessments, baselines/endlines, learning assessments, evaluations, tracer studies and mixed-method research.

Qualifications & Experience

Applicants should have:

• Syrian nationality and current residence in Syria, or be a non-Syrian consultant currently based in Syria;
• A relevant university degree in education, early childhood development, psychology, sociology, youth development, development studies, education policy or another relevant field;
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience; senior/lead experts should preferably have 10+ years;
• Recent professional experience related to education, ECD and/or youth skills in Syria, preferably within the last three years;
• Demonstrated experience conducting or contributing to education/ECD assessments, evaluations, research, programme design or technical advisory assignments;
• Strong understanding of Syria's education context, institutions, children and youth, and barriers to access, participation and learning;
• Experience engaging with education authorities, schools, teachers, ECD centres, youth, parents/caregivers, communities, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders;
• Strong research, analytical, facilitation and report-writing skills;
• Arabic fluency; professional English is strongly preferred.

International Organization & Donor Experience

Previous experience with UNICEF, UNESCO, UNHCR, World Bank, ILO, UN agencies, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), Global Partnership for Education (GPE), EU-funded programmes, GIZ, international NGOs or other organizations working on education, ECD and youth development is a strong advantage.

Experience with relevant international approaches and standards, including Education in Emergencies, INEE standards, ECD, life skills, inclusive education, youth skills and education-system strengthening, should be clearly highlighted.

Applicants should indicate relevant assignments, including the client, assignment, year, role and main responsibilities.