Local Education Group (LEG) Secretariat Coordinator

Host entity: UNICEF SYR

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Communication, advocacy, public information, Education

Application deadline: 19/10/2026

Mission and objectives

With the strong presence on the ground and partnerships with local communities and organizations across multiple sectors, UNICEF aims to reach more children and families. Upholding the humanitarian principles, UNICEF supports integrated, multi-sectoral programming and continues to improve sustained, equitable and safe access to critical basic services in areas where the needs are the highest.
UNICEF, in coordination with partners, aims to ensure accountability to affected populations with integration of gender, child safeguarding as well as prevention from sexual exploitation and abuse into its programmes.
UNICEF aims to reach children no matter where they are or live.

Assignment context

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 Expert (Local Education Group Secretariat Coordination Lead) to lead the work of the LEG Secretariat and ensure the effectiveness of strategic and policy dialogue between the Ministry of Education and international and national development partners, oversee the implementation of LEG decisions, and ensure that the LEG’s outputs are aligned with national priorities. The role will provide strategic leadership and oversight of the LEG Secretariat, ensuring effective governance, annual planning, high-level policy dialogue, and alignment of partner and donor interventions with national education priorities. It also leads strategic reporting and knowledge products, stakeholder engagement, and coordination with UN agencies, donors, partners, the Education Sector and other sector coordination mechanisms.

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.

Task description

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. Leadership and Institutional Governance
• Lead and supervise the Secretariat team and prepare the Group’s annual work plan in coordination with Ministry leadership and the Co-Chairs.
• Ensure compliance with the Local Education Group’s governance and operational procedures, and review and update governance frameworks as required.
• Facilitate high-level strategic and policy dialogue and ensure that key sector issues are effectively addressed.

2. Strategic Guidance and Policy Alignment
• Lead the development of policy briefs, guidance notes, and strategic papers for presentation to Group members.
• Monitor the alignment of partner and donor interventions with the national education sector strategic plan.
• Oversee the preparation of periodic and annual consolidated reports on Group performance and sector progress for submission to the Ministry and the Co-Chairs.

3. High Level Partnership and Stakeholder Management
• Represent the Secretariat in official communications with UN agencies, donors, and international and national organizations.
• Coordinate at a strategic level with other coordination mechanisms, including the Education Sector and technical advisory groups.

Skills and experience

Required:
• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in education sector planning, policy or management, including at national level.
• Advanced university degree in education, public policy, international development, public administration, social sciences, or a related field.
• Substantial professional experience in the education sector, including education sector planning, policy development, coordination, or programme management, preferably in development, humanitarian, recovery, or transition contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in leading or supporting multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms, including engagement with government, UN agencies, development partners, donors, civil society, and other education stakeholders.
• Strong experience in strategic planning, policy analysis and preparation of high-quality policy briefs, strategic papers, reports and senior-level briefing materials.
• Proven ability to facilitate high-level policy dialogue, build consensus among diverse stakeholders, and manage politically or institutionally sensitive issues with diplomacy and sound judgement.
• Experience in education sector governance and institutional coordination, including development or implementation of work plans, governance arrangements, terms of reference, procedures and accountability mechanisms.
• Knowledge of education aid architecture and partner coordination, including alignment of donor and partner interventions with national education plans and priorities. Familiarity with Global Partnership for Education processes and Local Education Groups would be a strong asset.
• Demonstrated leadership and team-management skills, including the ability to provide strategic direction, supervise staff and coordinate multiple priorities and workstreams.
• Excellent analytical, communication, negotiation, facilitation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with senior government officials and international partners.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic would be highly desirable for a Damascus-based position.
• Experience working directly with or within Ministries of Education to strengthen planning, policy or management systems.
• Proven experience in stakeholder engagement and coordination, including working with government counterparts, development partners and civil society. Experience with Local Education Groups (LEGs), Education Sector or similar sector coordination mechanisms is strongly preferred.


Desirable (considered an asset):
• Experience in Syria or comparable fragile and transitional contexts; familiarity with GPE (Global Partnership for Education) and LEG processes; knowledge of education sector coordination, financing and aid architecture; experience supporting government-led multi-stakeholder mechanisms; and understanding of humanitarian-development linkages.

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Living conditions

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. This position is based in Damascus, Syria. National UN Volunteers are expected to be culturally sensitive and adjust to the prevailing culture and traditions.

Damascus offers a unique and professionally enriching working environment at an important time of transition and recovery in Syria. The duty station provides opportunities to contribute meaningfully to education, recovery and development efforts, while requiring a high degree of cultural awareness, resilience, flexibility and sound security awareness. Staff should be prepared to live and work in a complex and evolving environment where services and amenities may be limited or disrupted and where operating conditions can change at short notice. Flexibility, and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions – sometimes involving physical hardship and limited comfort – are therefore essential.

Benefits Package:

• Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 350
• Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): USD 1,705.31
• Danger and Hardship Differential depending on the hardship classification and family/non-family status of the duty station.
• Free access to UNV's learning and career development resources

For more information on please visit the Entitlements Calculator: https://app.unv.org/calculator.

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.