Programme Assistant

. Position Information Title: PROGRAMME ASSISTANTSection: Education & Adolescent Development Location: Beirut, LebanonReporting to: Director General for MEHE, Chief of Education &Adolescent Development for the UNICEF Education Programme  Duty station: Ministry of Education and Higher EducationContract type: Individual SSADuration of consultancy: 11 months (June 2014 to May 2015) Start date: ASAP II. OBJECTIVES The aim of this consultancy is to provide technical support to MEHE on the Education in Emergency Response and on activities outlined in UNICEF AWP with the MEHE under the supervision of the MEHE Director General. III. BACKGROUND Since 2012, the increasing influx of Syrian refugees into Lebanon due to the escalating violence and insecurity in Syria has resulted in a scale up of the response by UNICEF.  As at end of February 2014, there are 905,479 refugee children registered with UNHCR, with a further 48,729 pending registration, out of which 42% are school-age children (3-18 years old). The number of refugees has grown more than five time compared to that in 12 months ago, is expected to continue to rise, reaching 1.5 million by end of 2014, and with this the response will have to be further scaled-up. Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) is working towards ensuring accessible and quality education for children in Lebanon. Efforts are made in different sectors towards ameliorating the services and systems and ensuring provision of education in inclusive learning environments, and in the scholastic year 2013/2014 MEHE accepted to accommodate up to 85,000 Syrian refugee children in their public schools. Also, MEHE is working on developing the curriculum for Non-Formal Education, capacity building of providers, physical facilities rehabilitation, health-social readiness of students. With increased financial and technical assistance to MEHE will require further support in administrative procedures. In order to strengthen their capacity and support the government in their emergency response United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will deploy a Program Assistant to provide administrative support to MEHE on for the Education in Emergency Response and on activities outlined in UNICEF AWP with the MEHE. IV. SCOPE OF WORK Under the direct supervision of the DG of MEHE, the consultant will be engaged in the following tasks in support of the Back to Learning (BtL) Initiative as per the UNICEF AWP with MEHE, and will also be based within the ministry. • Support administrative work related to the education programme implementation and management with MEHE• In coordination with Director General’s office and financial department of MEHE, support in processing financial transactions, preparation for financial requests and liquidation documents. • Organizes data and information, prepares and maintains records, documents and control plans for the monitoring of MEHE programme implementation supported by UNICEF.• Contributes to the preparation of reports, project documents, meeting minutes, preparing tables and drafting relatively routine sections. Prepares background information for use in discussions with UNICEF, MEHE and other organizations. • Participate in meetings, support preparation for documents and other logistics, and taking minutes of meetings. • May be required to carry out specific administrative operational/control tasks for project/programme activities.  • Performs other duties, as required. V. DELIVERABLES AND SCHEDULES Monthly report to be certified by the MEHE Director General and then approved/endorsed by the Head of Section. VI.TIMING The duration of the assignment is 11 months starting as soon as possible. VII. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS The consultant is expected to submit a report at the end of each month. VIII. PROFILE REQUIREMENTS • Completion of secondary education, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses in a field related to education, business administration and other related social science subjects. • 6 years of progressively responsible clerical or administrative work, of which at least one year is closely related to support of programme activities.• Experience in Lebanese public sector is highly desirable and in intergovernmental or non-governmental organizations is desirable. • Fluency in oral and written Arabic and English is required.  Knowledge of French is an asset. IX. HOW TO APPLY Qualified candidates are requested to apply online on http://www.undp.org.lb/jobs/index.cfm, and submit a mandatory FINANCIAL OFFER (all inclusive) in the cover letter. Deadline: 29-May-2014 Only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted and will receive official feedback. Incomplete applications or received beyond the deadline will not be considered.