Consultancy for Design of Upper Primary Math Assessment, OSE, Florence, Italy (Remote)

Consultant Teaching & Training

Overview

Develop a new assessment tool to measure minimum proficiency in mathematics.

You have:

• Advance University Degree (PhD) IN PSYCHOMETRICS FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT
• At least 10 years of experience in TEST DEVELOPMENT, SKILLS ASSESSMENTS OR SIMILAR
• Peer-reviewed publications in the field

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Contract Duration: 15 months

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

Purpose of Assignment:

UNICEF launched the MICS Foundational Learning Skills (FLS) module in 2017 as the first standardized, globally implemented household survey assessment of children’s foundational reading and math skills, contributing to SDG indicator 4.1.1(a). By 2025, more than 60 countries have collected or are preparing to collect comparable data using the module, helping to spotlight early grade learning and learning inequalities.

The purpose of this assignment is to develop a new assessment tool to measure minimum proficiency in mathematics at the end of primary school (SDG indicator 4.1.1b) that will complement the lower primary component of the FLM2.0, and to advice UNICEF on the integration of both components (lower and primary) for a comprehensive instrument to assess learning skills in MICS.

Scope of Work:

In close collaboration with the UNICEF project team, and based on input from UNICEF, the consultant will develop items to measure mathematical skills of children, interpret results from field testing data and provide advice on technical issues regarding the administration protocol of these items in a household survey context. Specifically, this assignment involves the development of a new household-based assessment to measure minimum proficiency level in mathematics at the end of primary education (SDG indicator 4.1.1b). Two parallel forms of the assessment will be created; each form will include a minimum of 20 items. These forms will be vertically aligned with the FLM2.0 at the end of lower primary. In 2022-23, items were written to assess end of upper primary students’ mathematics proficiency, as described by the Global Proficiency Framework. In January 2024, data from think aloud interviews with these items were analyzed and 14 items were recommended to be retained. These items will be examined for alignment with the current UIS criteria for reporting.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: ToR of Consultancy for Upper Primary Items Math.pdf

Minimum requirements: (Qualifications/Knowledge/Expertise/Skills)

o Education: Advance University Degree (PhD) IN PSYCHOMETRICS FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT

• Work Experience:

o At least 10 years of experience in TEST DEVELOPMENT, SKILLS ASSESSEMENTS OR SIMILAR

o Peer-reviewed publications in the field

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal: Financial Proposal.docx
• A detailed technical proposal

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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Potential interview questions

Added 2 months ago - Updated 1 month ago - Source: unicef.org