Project Officer- Local Education Group (LEG)

The Ministry of Education (MoE) is leading efforts to restore and transform Syria’s education system following years of crisis and disruption that have significantly affected access, equity, quality, learning outcomes, and institutional capacity. As the country transitions toward recovery and development, the Ministry is committed to ensuring that all children and young people, including returnees, internally displaced populations, and other vulnerable groups, have access to safe, inclusive, and quality education aligned with national priorities and Sustainable Development Goal

To advance sector recovery and reform, the MoE is strengthening its capacity for education sector planning, coordination, monitoring, and evidence-based decision-making. Central to this effort is the establishment of the Local Education Group (LEG), a Ministry-led, multi-stakeholder platform bringing together government entities, development partners, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and other education stakeholders to promote sector dialogue, align partner support, and advance collective action around national education priorities. A LEG Secretariat has been established within the Ministry to support the effective functioning of the LEG and strengthen Ministry-led sector coordination.

The establishment of the LEG and its Secretariat provides an institutional mechanism to reinforce government leadership, strengthen partnerships, and support coordinated implementation and monitoring of national education priorities.

Given the scale and complexity of Syria’s education recovery and reform agenda, UNICEF is recruiting a UN Volunteer Specialist (LEG Operations, Coordination and Knowledge Management Officer) to manage the operational and information flow of the LEG, coordinate activities among partners at the implementation level, manage information-sharing platforms, and ensure institutional documentation of all meetings and decisions.

The UN Volunteer will be based in the Directorate of Planning and International Cooperation of the Ministry of Education and will report to the Director of Planning, or his/her designated representative, on the daily delivery of tasks. The UN Volunteer's work plan will be agreed jointly by UNICEF and the Ministry of Education. Administrative and contractual accountability rests with UNICEF. While the UNICEF Chief of Education will approve leave and travel and will complete the UNV performance assessment, with formal input from the Ministry of Education. The UN Volunteer will keep regular communication with both supervisors, including monthly progress updates shared with both UNICEF and the Ministry. The UNV will work closely and coordinate with different directorates and departments within the Ministry of Education, as well as UN, NGO and development partners on sector planning and coordination, contributing to joint deliverables as set out in the tasks of this assignment. The UN Volunteer Specialist will promote complementarity, avoid duplication of effort, and support a coherent, Ministry-led approach to partner support.

Within the delegated authority and under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Chief of Education, and under the day-to-day functional guidance of the Director of Planning and International Cooperation, Ministry of Education (or his/her designated representative), the UN Volunteer will support the following:

1. Operational Coordination and Partner Information Management
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date database of LEG members and partners, including contact information, geographic areas of intervention, and ongoing projects.
• Coordinate the work of technical working groups, schedule activities, and monitor member participation.
• Manage and update LEG documents and information-sharing platform.

2. Administration, Logistics, and Documentation
• Organize and manage administrative and logistical arrangements for regular and ad hoc LEG meetings, including drafting agendas and circulating invitations and meeting materials.
• Prepare official meeting minutes, document recommendations and decisions, and follow up on their approval and timely dissemination.
• Establish and maintain an electronic and institutional archive for all LEG documents, policies, and decisions.

3. Follow-Up and Communication
• Manage the Action Points Tracker in coordination with relevant partners and prepare periodic status reports.
• Prepare and disseminate periodic newsletters, updates, and briefing notes to LEG members to ensure regular information sharing.