At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a team to support education reform in Syria through technical assistance and policy development.
- Company: DAI, a leader in international development, focused on impactful education programmes.
- Benefits: Opportunity to make a difference in education while working with diverse experts.
- Other info: Flexible roles available, with opportunities for both short-term and long-term engagement.
- Why this job: Be part of a transformative programme that shapes the future of education in Syria.
- Qualifications: Experience in education reform and fluency in Arabic and English preferred.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
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).
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
- 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.
Call for Experts: Syria Education Programme III employer: DAI
DAI Global UK is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in London that fosters collaboration and innovation within the Commercial team. With competitive benefits including a robust pension scheme, private medical insurance, and flexible hybrid working arrangements, employees are encouraged to grow their skills and advance their careers while contributing to meaningful projects that make a difference globally.
