Call for Experts: Syria Education Programme III

Call for Experts: Anticipated FCDO Syria Education Programme III (SEP III) | Education Specialists and Advisers

Anticipated long- and short-term opportunities

DAI is seeking expressions of interest from Syrian and international education specialists for the anticipated Syria Education Programme III (SEP III), funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

About the Anticipated Programme

SEP III is expected to be a flexible, demand-led technical assistance programme supporting the Syrian Ministry of Education and Education Directorates to implement their own reform agenda. Working through government systems at national and directorate level, it would strengthen inclusive, evidence-based policy making across three areas: services and analysis to inform policy decisions; foundational learning; and education systems strengthening. A Syria-based core team would draw on a wider pool of national and international experts.

Experts and Technical Skillsets Sought

We welcome senior and mid-level education specialists and advisers, researchers and programme managers with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Team Leadership and Programme Management: leading education reform or technical assistance programmes, including as Team Leader or Deputy Team Leader; advising senior ministry officials; adaptive management; and operations and duty of care in fragile and conflict-affected settings, ideally on FCDO-funded contracts.
• Public Sector Reform and Institutional Strengthening: policy processes and decision making, policy and legal drafting, functional reviews, civil service and HR reform, and embedded advisory support.
• Education Policy, Planning and Sector Strategy: sector analysis, planning and prioritisation, policy development, standard-setting and development partner coordination.
• Education Finance and Value for Money: education budgeting and public financial management, costing, public expenditure analysis and value-for-money analysis.
• Foundational Learning: early grade literacy and numeracy, structured pedagogy, teaching and learning materials and classroom practice.
• Teacher Development and School Leadership: teacher competency frameworks, pre-service and in-service teacher training, continuous professional development, coaching and supervision, and school leadership.
• Assessment, Learning Data and Education Management Information Systems (EMIS): learning assessment (including EGRA and EGMA), examinations and certification, EMIS strengthening and data use for planning and accountability.
• Child Safeguarding: safeguarding policy, codes of conduct, and reporting and referral mechanisms in education systems.
• Inclusive Education and Gender Equality: girls' education, disability-inclusive education, and gender equality and social inclusion.
• Political Economy, Research and Analysis: political economy analysis, policy research, evidence synthesis, policy briefs and conflict sensitivity.
• Localisation and Partnerships: partnering with and strengthening Syrian civil society organisations and universities.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL): results frameworks for technical assistance, tracking uptake of advice and adaptive management.

Preferred qualifications: Experience working with ministries of education on system-level reform, and in Syria or other fragile, conflict-affected or transition contexts, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. Knowledge of the Syrian education system is valued. Professional fluency in Arabic is essential for most Syria-based roles, and professional English is required. Syrian nationals, whether in Syria or abroad, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Location and Travel

The main place of assignment shall be indicatively Damascus, Syria. Travel within Syria will be required and will be subject to relevant project and FCDO rules and regulations, including security protocols and the outcome of contemporary security assessments.

Expression of Interest

Interested experts are invited to submit a CV indicating technical areas of specialisation, Syria and regional experience, availability, and preferred role (long-term, short-term, or both).

Deadline for submission of 1st round of CVs: 30th November 2026

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. This call is for an anticipated opportunity and is not a guarantee of employment or engagement.