UNICEF - ECO
Terms of Reference (TOR) for Individual Contract
Field Coordinator: Emergency Education
for Syrian Refugee Children
Programme: Education
I.R. Emergency
1.Background:
According to the last statistics obtained from Egyptian Immigration Department, it is estimated
that the number of Syrians living in Egypt varies between 90,000 and 100,000 persons, out of
whom 24,679 are registered with UNHCR by the end of March 2013. Syrians are scattered all
over Egypt but mainly lives in groups, Al-sheikh Zayed and El rehab city are two areas were rich
Syrian have chosen to live. Other Syrian people live in groups in Al-haram, Faisal, Giza, Al-obour
and in 6 of October city for cheaper accommodation.
UNICEF participated in joint needs assessment with UNHCR, WFP and CRS. The assessment
highlighted the following challenges to ensuring Syrian children have access to education
 Access to schools: Bureaucracy and inadequate awareness at school level about
processes for facilitating enrolment of Syrian children and high fees s in private schools
 Integration in public schools: Difficulty to follow the Egyptian curriculum and Egyptian
dialect, high density classrooms and violence were identified as major challenges.
 While some Syrian students have been admitted to schools, private and public, many have
missed the start of the school year in September 2012 and are not attending school.
The Ministry of Education has granted Syrian children access to public schools and exempted
them from documentation however, in practice several challenges have arisen when Syrian
students have attempted to enroll. These include the difficulties of being enrolled after the start of
the academic year as well as documentation requested by schools. However, the quality of the
school environment in Egyptian public schools is a significant barrier to the enrolment and
retention of Syrian children as are the difficulties they face in adjusting to the Egyptian dialect and
curriculum.
Support is required to facilitate the enrolment procedures, the integration of Syrian children in
schools and to support individual needs. Many Syrian families registered with UNHCR have 3 to 5
children, and do not have the financial resources to enrol all their children in private schools while
places in public schools are limited. Therefore, the extension of education grants is essential to
allow families to register their children in schools and support will be provided to community
nurseries, KGs and study centres in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Insurance and Social Affairs. The community based interventions are sponsored by local NGOs
through charity donations. The inability of the NGOs to cope with the increasing numbers of
Syrians arriving adds to the vulnerability of the overall refugee population and the need for a
more systematic UN intervention to cover the needs of the most vulnerable.
Children will be admitted to public schools wherever possible, as agreed with the Ministry of
Education. UNICEF, as a partner in the Regional Repsonse Plan 4 for Syrian refugees in Egypt,
will provide support to the Ministry and schools to enroll Syrian students. UNICEF interventions
will include financial and technical support to strengthen the capacity of the schools where Syrian
children are enrolled in order create a more child-friendly environment. Where it is difficult to
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integrate the Syrian students in public schools due to high density, community study centers can
be established to support students in collaboration with Ministry of Education. Education
interventions will support nurseries, KGs and community study centers to utilize Syrian teachers
where possible.
Pre-school children will be supported to enroll in nurseries and kindergartens run by Ministry of
Social Affairs and the Ministry of Education. Where there are gaps in coverage,
community-based kindergartens may be established.
Based on the number of currently registered children in Cairo, Alexandria and Damiette, and the
projections until December 2013, it is estimated that the number of Syrians registered with
UNHCR will reach 100,000, out of whom 30 % are children (4000 children age 3-5 and 12,000
children age 6 – 11.
2. Purpose of Assignment:
To support Section Chief in the coordination of the education interventions for the Syrian
Refugees and identify gaps for UNICEF support. Work closely with UNHCR and other
partners.
- The consultant will provide UNICEF’s Education Section with an updated monitoring
information project implementation, identify challenges and opportunities as well as the
support required to enhance the quality interventions
3. Duty station: Cairo with monthly field visits to Greater Cairo, , Alexandria , and Damietta
(should cover areas that might be identified later, where Syrian refugees are located)
4. Supervisor (must be staff member): Inas Hegazi, Education Specialist. Will also work closely
with emergency focal point (deputy Representative from 1 July)
5. Description of assignment: (provide detail and in quantitative terms)
Key Tasks
Expected Outputs
1. Monthly Progress Report on:
 Conduct needs assessment of the
a) Field Coordinator current and future action
Syrian refugees.
plans.
b)
Syrian Refugees related activities.
 Coordinate with partners on the
Clear action plan for UNICEF education
implementation
of
education
activities
interventions for the Syrian children
refugees and provide updates.
Internal coordination, particularly with 2. Detailed briefings and minutes of key meetings:
Child Protection
- Syrian refugees.
- Coordination meetings with UNHRC and
 Attend regular coordination meetings.
partners.
Any key meeting in connection with education
 Undertake any other assignment
interventions.
required by UNICEF.
1. 6. Duration of Assignment:
8 months from May 1st – December 31st, 2013
2. 7. Nature of Assignment: (Office or Field - Based, Frequency of travel, reporting mechanism etc.)
 Mainly Cairo with monthly visits to Greater Cairo, Damietta, and Alex.
 Monthly reports will be submitted to the supervisor including a monthly workplan; and
 Trip reports will be submitted to the supervisor at the conclusion of each trip.
-
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3. 8. Qualification and/or specialized knowledge/experience required for the assignment:
 Past experience in education.
 Experience in the role of governmental and non-governmental organizations in
Egypt
 Experience in field coordination.
 Project management skills, Monitoring and documentation.
 Fluent in both written and spoken Arabic.
4. 9.Suggested level of the Consultancy (if Individual): Consultant placed at NOB level
Estimated:
Total salary cost (8 months) :
10. Proposed Payment schedule: Monthly. The consultant will be working on a full-time basis.
11. Advance Requested: No
12. Other Costs: (equipment, printing, photocopy, any other arrangement expected from the
Consultant)
Reimbursements will be made regarding travel based on proper submission of receipts from the
Field Coordinator.
13. Cost Chargeable to PBA: SM129906
(Emergency)
14. Reporting Requirements: (if applicable, frequency of assignment reports and end assignment
reports)
 Monthly plan
 Monthly progress reports
 Trip reports
 Quarterly meetings with Education Section
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