The position aims to strengthen UNICEF Cameroon’s leadership in the education sector by providing high-level technical guidance, policy influence, and coordination. The role will represent UNICEF within the Local Education Group (LEG), maintain strategic donor partnerships, and lead ministerial-level advocacy to shape national education policies and mobilize resources. The incumbent will oversee Education in Emergencies (EiE) responses, including cluster coordination and field support, and drive key initiatives such as the Safe Schools Declaration, universal birth registration for primary learners, and the national strategy to prevent violence in schools. This role is essential for ensuring UNICEF’s effective engagement in sector planning, emergency response, and the advancement of children’s right to quality and safe education

• Sector Coordination: Lead and strengthen the Local Education Group (LEG) in fulfilling its dialogue functions, enabling partners to provide strategic and harmonized support to the government and its education vision. Ensuring UNICEF’s leadership role and active participation in sectoral processes.
• Donor Engagement: Act as the primary liaison with donors, fostering strong partnerships and alignment with sector priorities. Foster joint initiatives for innovative and additional financing for education.
• Policy and Strategy Development: Coordinate and provide technical input for education strategies, advocate for funding, and influence policy reforms at ministerial level. Support integration and monitoring of international commitments in national strategic documents.
• Education in Emergencies: Manage EiE interventions for Cameroon, including cluster coordination (needs assessment, analysis and strategic response planning and monitoring), and technical support to field offices, particularly in crisis zones. Strengthening local capacity through local actors ‘participation in strategic decision-making. Lead early warning, contingency planning, and emergency preparedness efforts for the Sector, including climate resilient responsive education. Support the Humanitarian reset (ongoing) process.
•  High-Level Advocacy: Champion initiatives such as the Safe Schools Declaration, Universal birth registration for primary students and the National Strategy to Combat Violence in Schools, engaging in ministerial-level advocacy and action.
• Technical Support: Provide guidance and capacity-building to field offices to ensure quality implementation of education programs, with a focus on crisis-affected areas.

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, social work, economics, pedagogy, human rights, psychology, sociology, international development, management social sciences or another relevant technical field. Plus, an Accredited Certification in Education in Emergencies is a high asset
• Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in Education programme planning, coordination, and management, and/or research is required. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or NGO, and in cluster coordination/working Group, is considered an asset. 

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and good knowledge of French.

Desirables:

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
• Experience in the field of Education for the past 5 years.