Consultancy: Digital learning solutions partnership and country rollout consultant - Education Section, PD, NYHQ/Home based - Req

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope.

Consultancy Title: Digital learning solutions partnership and country rollout consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Education Section/ PD/ NYHQ (Home Based).

Duration: April 15th, 2021 to March 31st, 2022 (240 days, including Paid Time off and Public Holidays).

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates the commitment of children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

In line with Every Child Learns, the 2020-2030 education strategy, UNICEF is investing more improved learning and skills development for boys and girls from early childhood to adolescence, in particular for the most marginalized and those affected by humanitarian situations. UNICEF is doing more to promote equity and inclusion through specific efforts to reach the most vulnerable and via support to children in humanitarian and fragile contexts to access quality education opportunities.

Within this framework, UNICEF is committed to inter-agency cooperation and strengthening global goods that contribute to evidence-based programming.

Investing in children and adolescents’ learning and skills is a priority for UNICEF set out under Goal 2 of the Strategic Plan (2018-2021) and ‘Every Child Learns’ UNICEF Education Strategy (2019–2030). This priority links directly to the achievement of SDG targets, including those related to ending poverty in all its forms, enhancing education and life learning opportunities and promoting employment and decent work for all. UNICEF is working globally towards strengthening education systems that enable children and adolescents to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need for life and work.

UNICEF’s has a focus on the most disadvantaged adolescents, including those who have dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out, and older adolescents who are not in employment, education or training. All programming aims to be multi-sectoral, address issues of exclusion, tackle gender inequities and negative social norms, and provide high quality and relevant learning opportunities.

Under Result 3, Goal 2 UNICEF aims to enable children and adolescents to develop skills for personal empowerment, active citizenship, non-violence, gender equality and employability, both in and out of schools, including in humanitarian situations through the following solutions:

1. Flexible and certified multiple learning pathways
2. Cash transfer and/or fee reduction
3. School-based skills development programmes
4. Community based skills programmes
5. Private sector collaboration in skills policy and programming

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Digital learning should be part of a basic basket of essential services for every child and young person, and UNICEF is working with partners globally and locally to make this vision a reality. This means providing access to every child and young person to world-class digital solutions. Fostering partnerships across public and private sectors – and with young people themselves – is the only way to do this.

To ensure partnerships development has appropriate support, as well as country office engagement and support to rollout and implementation, UNICEF is looking for a consultant to conduct a) partnership development with learning solution owners, and b) serve as focal point for country rollout of digital learning solutions in the Global Digital Learning Toolkit.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

In close collaboration and working with the Education Specialist, Systems Strengthening team in Education Section/PD, NYHQ, The Digital learning solutions partnership and country rollout consultant will support in:

Partnership development:

1. Serve as UNICEF PD-Education focal point with solution providers, agreed with the Education Specialist in charge of Reimagine Education partnerships, during the partnership development phase. In this role, consultant will conduct all activities to advance from exploratory meetings to signing of legal documents formalizing the partnership, including:
   • Organize meetings with UNICEF and partner stakeholders to progress on the partnership development process.
   • Draft concept notes and documents setting the scope of potential partnership, description of the digital learning products and other potential services the partner may contribute, evidence of effectiveness and other quality assessments, identification of potential implementation modality in UNICEF Country Offices (CO), geographic scope, costing, etc.
   • Engage with PFP, Legal team, and other stakeholders in UNICEF, as needed to ensure partnership development is completed.

Country Engagement with Global Digital Learning Toolkit:

2.Organize events, meetings, and bilaterals that connect digital learning partners and UNICEF CO to identify solutions that may add value to CPD and align with country strategy, in coordination with Education Specialist in charge of Reimagine Education partnerships.

3. Set up a system to follow up, monitor and communicate progress on CO engagement with digital learning tools in the Global Digital Learning Toolkit, from identification of demand to start of implementation, linking it to project management tool described in numeral 5.

Implementation:

4. Coordinate implementation planning and execution with CO, RO, and HQ stakeholders

5. Set up and update a project management tool that includes timeline, activities, milestones, budget, expenses, risks and mitigation actions, to track the overall progress of the country rollout of digital learning tools.

6. Support UNICEF Country Offices in the planning of digital learning tool deployments, providing technical assistance in the drafting of workplans to ensure relevant modules of infrastructure, hardware, content, capacity development/training, and documentation/evidence are envisioned.

7. Serve as focal point of UNICEF Country Offices rolling out digital learning tools, referencing issues to partners and other stakeholders when needed.

8. Other duties and regional/country support upon request of the supervisor and senior management.

9. Document practices and case studies, submitting content to the Knowledge Management and Communication teams.

10. Drafting partnership and donor reports related to the digital learning tools partners and funders.

11. Support global and regional activities in promoting digital learning, such as presentations, proposal writing, etc.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be a dynamic self-starter with demonstrable experience of producing engaging content, including digital platforms. (S)he will be technically competent as well as creative; (S)he should have strong copywriting skills and the ability to communicate complex ideas in an accessible and engaging way to different types of audience. (S)he will be an efficient and highly motivated team member who thrives in a fast-paced, purpose-driven work environment.

(1) Education

• Master’s degree in Education, Psychology, public policy, communication, or a related field
• At least 5 years of Mid-to-Senior level professional work experience at national or international level in project management, partnership development, and technology for development. Specific experience of education programmes is an advantage.

2) Work experience

• Excellent communication abilities, in both written and oral forms. Consultant should be at ease in presentations and meetings with D-level (UN) or C-level (private sector) executives.
• Demonstrated ability and experience in coordination, working with multiple stakeholders, and under pressure is required.
• Fluency in English is a minimum requirement.
• Fluency in French, Arabic, or Spanish would be an advantage

Enter Disciplines: Education, economics, business, technology, statistics, communication, engineering, or another relevant field. In lieu of a specific academic degree, relevant experience may be considered to meet this requirement.

3) Competencies

• Strong organizational, planning, and analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English.
• Ability to work across international teams.
• Good judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.)

Requirements****:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.