Consultancy for Independent appraisal of the Egyptian Pre-University Education Sector Plan 2023/24 – 2027/28 - Internationals only (3 months)

Contract

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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, Care

How can you make a difference?

Objective:

The objective of this assignment is to conduct an independent appraisal of the Egyptian Pre-University Education Sector Plan 2023/24 – 2027/28. The consultancy will assist the Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MoETE) and the Local Education Group (LEG) to ensure that the new Sector Plan is sound and in line with the minimum standards defined in the GPE/IIEP/UNESCO Guidelines for Education Sector Plan Preparation.

Methodology:

The consultancy will focus on a desk review of the Egyptian Pre-University Education Sector Plan 2023/24 – 2027/28, complemented by a review of other key documents related to the Egyptian education sector and a country mission to conduct individual meetings and grouped consultations with relevant actors, in particular with MoETE’s relevant teams and division teams, other relevant Ministries, development partners, international and national NGOs, and teacher representatives as deemed necessary.

The consultant will be provided with a list of resource persons to contact in the Ministry of Education and the technical and financial partners of the education sector in Egypt. The LEG, with the support of the GPE Coordinating Agency (UNICEF), will work directly with the consultant to ensure the provision of all the required support including the documentation and also to facilitate the organization of work sessions for the consultant.

The objective of this assignment is to conduct an independent appraisal of the Egyptian Pre-University Education Sector Plan 2023/24 – 2027/28. The appraisal will be conducted according to the Appraisal Guidelines developed by the GPE, including the following questions:

1. Leadership and Participation: Has the plan preparation process been country-led, participatory and transparent? Have the principles of broad participation of all stakeholders in the education system, including those directly responsible for the implementation of the program, been met? What is the level of commitment and responsibility of different actors?
2. Soundness and Relevance: Does the plan constitute a solid corpus of strategies and actions addressing key challenges of the education sector? What empirical evidence was available and was it used effectively? What of the relevance of policies and programs, does the plan have a sound action plan? What lessons have been learned from the implementation of previous NEAP?
3. Equity, Efficiency and Learning: Are the key dimensions of equity, efficiency, and learning soundly addressed to increase sector performance? Does the strategy promote equitable access to quality education and learning from ECCE through secondary for all children, including the most marginalised? Do the proposed priorities and programs form a relevant response to the challenges? Does the plan have a results framework that addresses these dimensions?
4. Coherence: Is there consistency between the various components of the NEAP? Is there coherence among the strategies, programs, and interventions in the plan?
5. Feasibility, Implementability, Monitorability: Do the financing, implementation and monitoring arrangements offer a good perspective for achievement?
   1. Is the financial plan adequate and realistic? How realistic is the plan for the 5 years of delivery 2023/24 – 2027/28, considering financial constraints, considering experiences from the implementation of current NEAP? Is the plan sufficiently prioritised?
   2. Monitoring and evaluation - does the plan provide robust indicators based on valid and reliable data to monitor the progress toward the achievement of outputs and outcomes described in the results framework? Do they allow for alignment in reporting at national , regional and international levels.
   3. System Capacities - has the plan identified key institutional and human capacity to implement the plan? Risks - what potential risks, including fiduciary, have been identified? What are the risk mitigation measures? Are there any other possible constraints to implementation? Are there concrete time bound deliverables? Is it building on what has worked? Are there strategies in place to improve and establish good governance practices and management accountability across the system?

It is expected that the consultant conducting the ESP appraisal has a strong understanding of the GPE process for the activity, and previous experience in carrying out ESP appraisals under such guidelines. It would be advantageous if the consultant had completed the IIEP training in conducting Education Sector Plan appraisals.

In order to facilitate dialogue with local stakeholders, fluency in Arabic is preferred. Translation/interpretation is available if necessary.

In addition to producing the appraisal report, the consultant will be expected to develop a summarised version of the results which MoETE may use for presentation to key stakeholders.

Following completion of the assessment, the report will be submitted to UNICEF, as Grant Agent of the Education Sector Plan Development Grant, who will share the draft appraisal report with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, the LEG, and the GPE Secretariat.

UNESCO HQ’s team, responsible for drafting the ESP and under the guidance of MoETE, UNICEF and LEG, will then respond to the findings and revise the ESP accordingly, either responding to the recommendations made or justifying the decision to retain the relevant area. UNESCO HQ’s team will draft an appraisal memo describing the response to the recommendations of the independent appraisal.

ACTIVITIES, DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINES, PLUS BUDGET PER DELIVERABLE

The consultant will undertake the following tasks under the overall coordination of UNICEF and MOETE:

Task/deliverable description

Timeline

Payment

Deliverable 1: Desk review and preparation of draft appraisal report

Draft Appraisal Report

October 10

30%

Deliverable 2 Consultations with MoETE, LEG and other stakeholders as per GPE guidelines for Independent Appraisal

Summary memo on consultation findings

October 21

10%

Deliverable 3: Finalization of appraisal report, integrating comments as relevant and fully in line with GPE Appraisal Guidelines, and preparation of a summarised version, presented and discussed with MOETE and LEG

Final Appraisal Report

October 31

50%

Deliverable 4: Technical advice for finalization of ESP

Technical calls and document rapid review as needed

Dec 31

10%

Conditions of work:

The consultancy does not require any office arrangement since the contracted consultant will be mainly working remotely, attending meetings, and facilitating workshops with MOETE and LEG members.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced University Degree in Education, Economy of Education and/or public policy with education work experience. Other related fields will be considered in combination with professional training and experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the IIEP/GPE guidelines and previous experience conducting ESP appraisals.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in the field of education policy, planning and administration
• Proven capacity to work as an expert in education policy development and provide constructive review of the needs and challenges in education sector
• Sound analytical capacities, a high sense of objectivity, professional integrity and political astuteness
• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English language
• Fluency in Arabic language
• Relevant professional experience in the field of education sector plan development
• Experience working in an agile environment
• Solid knowledge and expertise in economics of education
• Experience in education sector plan development is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.