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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, hope

Background

The Syria Education Dialogue Forum (EDF) is a platform to bring together all international efforts to strengthen education inside Syria. EDF membership includes representation from bilateral donors, UN agencies, implementing partners, and Whole of Syria education cluster and hub leads. As a platform, it aims to improve collaboration, coherence and effectiveness across the humanitarian, stabilization and development responses, and address strategic policy and technical education issues.

The EDF meets twice a year. The meetings are an opportunity for members to strengthen relationships and engage in constructive conversations to improve the effectiveness of aid delivery, share data, evidence and learning on good practice, and tackle key strategic issues which prevent or obstruct effective education across Syria. The upcoming meeting will be held on 28thand 29th May 2025 in Amman, Jordan.

There will be one in-person meeting in May 2025 and another meeting end of November 2025 and this ToR covers the role for a consultant for preparation for both events.

The EDF is led by the EDF Steering Committee, a body which represents the different constituencies of EDF membership. The EDF Steering Committee is responsible for setting the overarching objectives and agenda for EDF meetings.

A 2-day meeting will be held with key stakeholders and partners on strengthening support to education in Syria 28-29 May 2025 and another one at the end of November 2025 in Amman, Jordan.

Purpose of Assignment:

As part of its contribution to the bi-annual Education Dialogue Forum (EDF) meeting, UNICEF is hiring a senior meeting facilitator to provide support to the preparation of the meeting, facilitation during the meeting as well as developing follow-up documents as per the below specific responsibilities in the statement of work.

How can you make a difference? 

Scope of Work

 This ToR outlines the scope of work for an experienced senior facilitator who can support the planning and facilitation of the two-day event and a side meeting on the following day, as well as drafting relevant documentation. Specific responsibilities are as follows:

Specific responsibilities are as follows:

Pre-Meeting (March-May 2025 for May meeting and August-November 2025 for November meeting)

• Work closely with the EDF Steering Committee and the EDF Secretariat to understand her/his expectations, objectives, and key discussion points on after familiarizing her/himself with past EDF reports, meeting minutes, and relevant policy documents to ensure a well-informed approach.
• Outline facilitation techniques, discussion formats, and strategies to ensure engagement and productivity, and prepare mediation strategies to keep discussions constructive.
• Prepare and develop discussion prompts, breakout session guidelines, and interactive techniques
• to foster participation.
• Coordinate with the EDF Secretariat and Meeting Coordination Support Consultant on logistics to support any logistical needs that may come up. Review and provide input on key materials to be shared with participants, ensuring clarity and relevance.

During Meeting (28 and 29 May 2025 and 2 days in late November 2025)

• Facilitate select meetings on the two-day meeting on 28 and 29 May, leading and mediating discussions, and providing support for constructive dialogue where there is a difference of opinion.
• Steer focus and activity, including keeping delegates on task and ensuring discussions progress in a productive manner, including by adhering to the agenda and timetable.
• Support decision making by recognizing moments to narrow the conversation and steer it towards
• agreements or decision points.
• Navigate sensitive discussions by using mediation techniques to maintain a constructive and solution-oriented approach.
• Provide concise, structured summaries at the end of each session to capture key discussion points and emerging themes.
• Facilitate and mediate side meetings as needed on the 27th of May.

Post-Meeting (end May - early June 2025 and then November December 2025)

 Work with EDF Secretariat and EDF Steering Committee Co-Chairs to reflect on the process and outcomes of the meeting.

• Lead the preparation of an end of meeting report to capture main take-aways and discussion points.
• Propose a follow-up framework with responsibilities assigned to key stakeholders.

 

• Deliverables 

Deliverables/Outputs:

1. Pre-meeting (May Meeting)

• Summary report of key expectations, objectives, and discussion themes from meetings with UNICEF, the EDF Steering Committee, and key donors

Delivery Deadline: 20th April 2025 (2 days)

• A detailed facilitation plan outlining techniques, discussion formats, engagement strategies, and mediation approaches for potential challenges
• A structured set of discussion prompts, breakout session guidelines, and interactive engagement techniques

Delivery Deadline: 30th April 2025 (3 days)

2. During the meeting (May Meeting)

• Facilitation of event on 28 and 29 May 2025

Delivery Deadline: end of May 2025 (1 days)

• Facilitation of side meetings preceding the event

Delivery Deadline: end of May 2025 (1 days)

3. Post-meeting (May Meeting)

• Submission of the meeting report including actions and main discussion points

Delivery Deadline: 30 July 2025 (4 days)

4. Pre-meeting (November Meeting)

• Summary report of key expectations, objectives, and discussion themes from meetings with UNICEF, the EDF Steering Committee, and key donors

Delivery Deadline: August-November 2025 (2 days)

• A detailed facilitation plan outlining technique, discussion formats, engagement strategies, and mediation approaches for potential challenges
• A structured set of discussion prompts, breakout session guidelines, and interactive engagement techniques

Delivery Deadline: End of November 2025 (3 days)

5. During the meeting (November Meeting)

• Facilitation of event on 28 and 29 May 2025

Delivery Deadline: End of November 2025 (2  days)

6. Post-meeting (November Meeting)

• Facilitation of side meetings following the event

Delivery Deadline: End of November 2025 (1 day)

• Submission of the meeting report including actions and main discussion points

Delivery Deadline: 31^st of December 2025 (4 days)

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum Qualifications required:

• An advanced degree in social science, international policies, education, humanitarian studies or any other related field

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• At least 15 years of relevant work experience, including experience in facilitating high-level education sector related meetings or workshops for United Nations and/or other international, regional, or bilateral development organizations
• Good knowledge of global developments (preferably in education) and international engagement strategies
• Familiarity/ background with emergency
• Evident understanding of education sector in Syria is a plus
• Cultural sensitivity and experience in ensuring context specific implementation
• Good verbal and writing skills in English
• Evidenced experience in advocacy, strategic writing and communication skills are also an asset

Language required:

• Proficiency in both English and Arabic.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

This consultancy is expected to start from 1 April to 31 December 2025 (9 Months).