Consultancy as Tertiary Education Student Engagement Expert At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time Individual Consultancy within the Education Section in the Division of Resilience and Solutions, Copenhagen.

UNHCR is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 125 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.

Title: Tertiary Education Student Engagement Expert

Duty Station: Copenhagen, Denmark

Duration: Starting as soon as possible until 31 December 2022

Contract Type: Individual Consultancy

Closing date: 06 February 2022

Start date: as soon as possible

Organisational context

UNHCR and partners are committed to achieving enrolment of 15 per cent of young refugee women and men in higher education by the year 2030 – the 15by30 target (UNHCR, 2020). Based on current population data, achieving 15 per cent enrolment in 2030 will mean that approximately half a million young refugee women and men will be participating in an enriching academic life. That is in dramatic contrast with the nearly 140,000 refugee learners known to be participating in higher education worldwide today. Expanding access to 15 per cent over the next ten years will require the coordinated, committed and sustained engagement of a range of partners and students alike.

UNHCR is committed to empowering and engaging with refugee youth and students to strengthen the relevance of UNHCR’s work and its impact for refugee communities. Refugees should be involved in the decision-making processes that affect their lives—specifically including education, self-reliance and skills development opportunities related to higher education. Since the establishment of the 15% goal and with the launch of the Aiming Higher campaign it has become increasingly evident that refugee students and youth are playing a critical role in the development and progress of both initiatives: refugee youth – specifically DAFI students and alumnus – are increasingly requested to provide their inputs, speak or present in international fora and develop content that articulates their views, desires and recommendations on higher education programming for refugees.

In 2022, UNHCR will coordinate a series of events marking the 30th anniversary of the DAFI scholarship programme. The anniversary presents an auspicious opportunity to further raise awareness of and commitments to expanding higher education opportunities for refugee youth. Events are being planned to span the five pillars of the 15by30 roadmap, to convene multiple groups of stakeholders, to inspire new partnership and innovative ways to advance higher education approaches, to generate funds and to bolster support for refugee education overall, specifically including secondary education as the pipeline to tertiary education and the benefits that come with it. Each event, whether virtual or in person, whether advocacy or celebratory oriented, will feature the participation of young refugee women and men as planners, panelists, expert advisors or facilitators.

To ensure that UNHCR and partners can make the most of this high potential opportunity – bringing together the DAFI anniversary, the second phase of the Aiming Higher campaign and the 15by30 roadmap in the lead up to the second GRF – UNHCR seeks the services of an experienced consultant with expertise in facilitating the meaningful participation of refugee youth and students in global events and campaigns, in planning and design of initiatives, and in development of content that represents their diverse views, desires and opinions. The consultant will be responsible for ensuring that refugee youth are positioned to contribute to the overall project to raise awareness of refugee

higher education, promote the development of innovative and appropriate responses, and expand secondary, tertiary and transition to employment opportunities for refugee youth.

Events throughout 2022 will prioritise:

1. Inclusion of refugee youth and students in all phases of planning and implementation;
2. Convening a strategic range of partners, new and old, to join, drive and support the 15by30 roadmap and the DAFI programme;
3. Using the DAFI programme anniversary events to advance the overall 15by30 roadmap and the Aiming Higher campaign;
4. Linking 15by30 to other relevant areas of refugee protection and self-reliance, including livelihoods and solutions;
5. Leveraging the anniversary year to build motivation and commitments in the lead up to the second Global Refugee Forum.

The incumbent will lead on:

• Planning and coordinating events marking the DAFI 30th anniversary throughout 2022, coordination with other units and maximising across the house (secondary education, livelihoods, solutions, youth, innovation, others).

• Ensuring safe and meaningful participation of students in all events, including travel logistics, as needed.

• Planning and coordinating social media content to give visibility to the DAFI programme and its achievements, prioritising student-generated content.

• Capitalising on outcomes of the independent evaluation of the DAFI programme.

• Liaising with and responding to requests from colleagues across the agency for participation of students in speaking events, conferences, media appearances, etc.

• Ensuring coordination and coherence with the Aiming Higher campaign.

• Supporting the work of the Tertiary Refugee Student Network (TRSN) and participation by the group in Aiming Higher and 15by30 efforts.

• Preparing students for full and meaningful participation in a variety of ways including high level meetings, content generation, online and in person events, interviews, statements, advocacy and networking – this may require leading training and capacity building for participants.

To view occupational safety and health considerations for specific duty stations, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Duties and responsibilities

Responsibilities of the position include:

I. Develop a calendar of anniversary events throughout 2022 recognizing and highlighting the importance of the DAFI programme. These will likely include or link with:

a. World Higher Education Conference (UNESCO)

b. Connected Education policy dialogue and roundtable events

c. TVET roundtable

d. 15by30 events currently under discussion with partners such as: Times Higher Education, World University Service of Canada, Mastercard Foundation, others.

e. Joint global refugee tertiary education conference, co-hosted by DAAD, the German Foreign Office and UNHCR, including a student-led component.

II. Coordinate student leadership and engagement in the planning and execution of all higher education events and actions throughout 2022. a. Promote student participation across UNHCR divisions and section, specifically including livelihoods and solutions, linked to the DAFI events and higher education initiatives

III. Coordinate with the Aiming Higher campaign team to ensure cohesive and mutually beneficial interplay between the fundraising campaign and the 30th anniversary. a. Support development of social media content throughout 2022

The final product (e.g. survey completed, data collected, workshop conducted, research documents produced specify):

• Social media plan for DAFI 30th Anniversary developed, in coordination with global coms, Aiming Higher campaign team.

• International 30th anniversary conference planned and successfully conducted, jointly with DAAD and FFO.

• Students supported to prepare for and meaningfully participate in planning, execution and follow through stages.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

• At least two years of professional experience in a related area.

• Expertise in developing written, social media, presentation, high level and other content related to refugee education.

• Expert knowledge of working with refugees, refugee students, wide range of refugee education stakeholders.

• Ability to plan, organise and coordinate global events integrating multiple partners, high level participation, and desired outcomes, as well as multiple time zones, languages and formats.

• Experience addressing challenges refugee participants face relating to participation in events, communications,

• Familiarity with UNHCR’s education programmes and objectives.

• Strong track record of effective communication with UNHCR country, regional and global operations and platforms.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English.

• Excellent knowledge of multi-media tools and platforms

Location

The successful candidate will be working in Copenhagen Headquarters, Denmark with mission travels to different locations (to be confirmed).

Conditions

The consultancy contract is until 31 December 2022 with a starting date as soon as possible.

Working 100% (full-time)