Project Support Coordinator (Beirut, Lebanon) contract Full Time

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Beirut

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 20-APR-2025

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

The September 2024 crisis in Lebanon lasted for 72 days, leading to a loss of 40 days of schooling across public schools and impacting over 500,000 students, with numerous educational institutions either located in directly affected areas or converted into collective shelters. During the crisis, more than 77% of public schools and other educational establishments were not providing education services, disrupting access to education at all levels nationwide. Throughout the crisis, 647 public education institutions have been repurposed as collective shelters, including 561 public schools, 67 technical and vocational education (TVET) centers, and 19 branches of the Lebanese University. This crisis has disrupted another school year for children and youth in Lebanon, further exacerbating learning loss and leading to a decline in human capital, which will affect future labor market outcomes. 

On 21 October 2024, UNESCO’s Executive Board adopted, by consensus, Decision 220 EX/44 reaffirming the Organization’s key role in addressing the impact of the September 2024 crisis in Lebanon by ensuring education for all, protecting the cultural, historical and natural heritage of humanity and facilitating the free flow of ideas and information. It also called for the urgent preparation of an Action Plan covering all UNESCO’s relevant areas of intervention in Lebanon. The Education component of the UNESCO Lebanon Action Plan is in full alignment with MEHE’s EECRP and focused on continuity of learning, system strengthening and the early recovery of the education system. UNESCO’s education response actions are also framed within the wider recovery and development efforts of the United Nations (UN) in Lebanon, as set out in the Lebanon Response Plan 2025. UNESCO identified key priority interventions in support to the implementation of the EECRP through the “UNESCO Action Plan for Emergency Response in Lebanon”. The key elements of the Action Plan include: 

•    Provision of mental health and psychological support for school-aged children and youth, including those displaced and with disabilities; training of teachers and educators both for their mental health and equipping them with the skills to provide support to the affected learners.
•    Capacity building for crisis-sensitive planning and educational response in emergency context including distance learning, training of educational personnel for crisis sensitive instruction, at general education, TVET and higher education levels. 
•    Training of teachers, educators as well as higher education and TVET students to volunteer to support schools and learning hubs in communities, TVET centers and universities; and provision of stationery and printed learning materials to affected learners for general education, TVET and higher education levels.

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The Project Support Coordinator contributes to the implementation of UNESCO Action Plan for Emergency Response in Lebanon throughout its programming process and through the application of theoretical and technical skills.

Under the overall authority of the Director of UNESCO Regional Office for UN Coordination for the Arab States in Beirut (hereafter referred to as the Beirut Office), and the direct supervision of the Senior National Professional Officer responsible for Education in Lebanon, the Project Support Coordinator will contribute to the coordination, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the activities under the UNESCO Action Plan for Emergency Response in Lebanon.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Project Support Coordinator will carry out the following duties:

Project Management:
•    Contribute to the conceptualization, planning, development, coordination, monitoring and implementation of initiatives with focus on the UNESCO Action Plan in alignment with the 5-Year General Education Plan, the Education Emergency Costed Response Plan EECRP, and the Reform Roadmap, and in line with gender priorities and UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy, the approved Program and Budget, the 2030 Agenda, and as per the countries’ needs and priorities.
•    Develop, plan, implement, and coordinate initiatives pertinent to the assigned projects, support to scale up activities, good practices, and expand knowledge base evidence.
•    Contribute to the development and implementation of emergency activities under the UNESCO Action Plan including supporting PSS training, crisis-sensitive system strengthening including planning, leadership, and instruction, and other programs associated with the priorities of the education section of UNESCO Beirut.
•    Contribute to quality assurance process of education tools, reports, guidelines and policies developed within the program.

Monitoring and Reporting:
  Ensure timely control and monitoring of the assigned tasks.
  Draft progress reports and final narrative reports, highlighting achievements, results, challenges faced, lessons learnt, and recommendations for future action or intervention.

Event management and Communication:
  Contribute to the coordination and support the organization of visibility events and activities related to the above projects, including the coordination with multiple stakeholders, event logistics, follow up with visibility matters.
  Ensure that visibility requirements and guidelines of UNESCO, donors and partners are respected and followed in the projects, activities and events.

EDUCATION

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in education, management, social and human sciences, international development or related fields.

WORK EXPERIENCE

•   Minimum 2 years of relevant professional experience with responsibilities gained progressively in the field of education or a related field, of which at least 1 year acquired at international level.

•   Experience in implementing education programs in crisis or emergency settings.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

•    Excellent project management skills, ability to coordinate complex and multiple projects and to take quality decisions.
•    Excellent coordination and communication skills, both verbal and written.
•    Proven ability to work with diverse team members, partners and stakeholders and build partnerships.
•    Proven ability to work effectively under pressure, to think strategically, to prioritize and manage multiple and complex tasks within tight deadlines and to deliver time-sensitive quality work.
•    Proven ability to draft high quality, clear, concise documents and reports.
•    Ability to build partnerships, work with diverse team members, partners and stakeholders

LEVEL OF EFFORT, TIMELINE AND DURATION

•    This is a full-time position, requiring daily attendance at the UNESCO Beirut Offices.
•    The duration of the assignment is up to eight months with the possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds.