Senior Policy and Partnership Specialist (Beirut, Lebanon) contract NEW

Type of contract : Service Contract

Level :  SC9

Hiring Unit : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station : Beirut

Work location : On site

Duration of contract : 6 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC+2 Time) : 27/03/2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Lebanon’s education system is operating in an extremely complex environment shaped by prolonged economic collapse, fiscal constraints, and repeated humanitarian shocks. Over the past six years, consecutive crises have disrupted schooling for hundreds of thousands of learners. Public education institutions—including schools, TVET centres, and university branches—have faced operational interruptions, infrastructure strain, and significant learning losses among students. 
Despite these challenges, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) has demonstrated strong commitment to system recovery and long-term reform through the development of Vision 2030 and the Seven Pillars for Educational Renewal. These reforms aim to strengthen governance, improve quality and equity, professionalize the teaching workforce, enhance resilience, and institutionalize evidence-based planning across the sector.
Lebanon joined the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in 2024. Since then, the MEHE has been working closely with GPE to advance quality and inclusive education in Lebanon. This partnership supports Lebanon’s efforts for transforming education through advancing quality, relevant and equitable learning.  In line with these efforts, Lebanon is implementing its first System Capacity Grant (SCG) to strengthen national systems for inclusive coordination, evidence-based planning, and data-driven decision-making in alignment with MEHE’s Vision 2030 and the Seven Pillars for Educational Renewal.
The UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut has a long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) in Lebanon and serves as the Coordinating Agency. In this capacity, UNESCO Beirut supports MEHE with the coordination of the education sector dialogue, convening and facilitating partnerships and plays a critical role in delivering on GPE’s vision, mission, goals and objectives. 

UNESCO Beirut is seeking a policy and partnership specialist to provide technical strategic support and policy guidance within the scope of UNESCO’s role as Co-Grant Agent under the Lebanon System Capacity Grant with specific responsibilities for undertaking the following tasks and delivering the following outputs: 

Outcome: Strengthened education system transformation through strategic guidance in the development of the GPE Partnership Compact and the institutionalization of an effective, results-oriented Local Education Group (LEG), while ensuring coherent reform prioritization, enabling factor advancement, financing alignment, and mutual accountability mechanisms to accelerate equitable, resilient, and SDG 4–aligned sector outcomes under Lebanon’s Vision 2030.

Under the overall guidance of the director of UNESCO’s Regional Office in Beirut and the direct supervision of the Senior National Education Programme Officer, the Education Coordinator shall undertake the following tasks and responsibilities:
•    Strengthen education system transformation through strategic development of the GPE Partnership Compact:
o    Support UNESCO’s technical and strategic engagement in the development, refinement, and implementation of the GPE Partnership Compact. 
o    Provide technical review and quality assurance on reform prioritization, enabling factors, and sequencing of sector transformation.
o    Ensure coherence between ESA findings, ESP priorities, Vision 2030, and Compact reform commitments.
o    Contribute to the alignment of Compact commitments with financing strategies, domestic resource mobilization discussions, and external grant applications.

•    Strengthen effective functioning of the Local Education Group (LEG) and high-level policy dialogue and donor engagement:
o    Support UNESCO in strengthening the LEG as a high-level policy dialogue and coordination platform.
o    Provide technical input, review and quality assurance for the development and institutionalization of LEG governance architecture, including SOPs, accountability frameworks, and membership protocols, which includes but is not limited to the Joint Sector Review, the LEG self-assessment, and partners mapping. 
o    Support UNESCO in supporting MEHE elevate LEG discussions beyond operational coordination to strategic reform dialogue, financing alignment, and risk mitigation.
o    Facilitate high-level engagement between MEHE leadership, development partners, UN agencies, donors, civil society, and other stakeholders.
o    Support the harmonization of technical working groups to reduce fragmentation and strengthen coherence.
o    Support alignment of donor-funded programs with Compact priorities and national reform architecture.
o    Identify political economy risks, reform bottlenecks, and governance challenges, and propose mitigation strategies.

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowlegde sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)

   

  For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

•    A Masters degree in Education or Social Sciences (Political Sciences, Development Studies, Sociology etc.)
•    Professional experience of at least 5 years, relevant to the field of education or international development;
•    Knowledge about GPE and education and its challenges and issues in Lebanon;
•    Strong business writing, report writing and communication skills;  
•    Directly relevant professional experience in Lebanon is an asset;
•    Familiarity of work with UNESCO and UN agencies is an asset;
•    Professional proficiency in English and Arabic (French is an asset).

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website. No modifications can be made to the application once submitted. 

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.  

Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course. 

Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of personnel shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
• lndividuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
• All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
• The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.