Consultancy Recruitment & Non-Staff Workflow: Educación Mesoamérica Specialist - 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,

Consultancy Title: Educación Mesoamérica Specialist.

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

Duration: 91 Days, From August 14th, 2020 to December 18th, 2020.

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.

IDB and UNICEF are partnering with national governments on a new innovative initiative, Educación Mesoamérica (MEI), to transform education during the COVID-19 era and to empower a generation of young people to actively contribute to the economic and social development of Mesoamerican countries.

Educación Mesoamérica will implement proven interventions and digital innovations, with the aim of increasing the number of students that complete their studies with critical life and job skills. Country operations will be financed through a mix of donor funding (40%) and domestic government resources financed through IDB loans (60%). Upon achieving key results, countries will be eligible to recover a portion of their upfront investment (50%). MEI builds on the success of the Mesoamerican Health Initiative, through which 90% of countries achieved 80% of their maternal and child health targets.

The initiative is a 10-country partnership (Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama) that seeks to reach over 5 million vulnerable young people. It builds on existing regional alliances, including the Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project and the Central American Integration System (SICA). It will bring together public and private partners at national, regional and international levels.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

The MEI Specialist will support the co-creation of Educación Mesoamérica with the IDB, under the supervision of Programme Division Education Section and in consultation with the LACRO Regional Adviser for Education, Country Offices, the Public Partnerships Division (PPD) and the Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division (PFP).

In close collaboration and working with the Education specialist, PD, Education Section, The MEI Specialist will work on all aspects of the development of the initiative, including its technical design (results framework and menu of interventions), government dialogue, and fundraising. Specifically, the MEI Specialist will:

1.1 Project Coordination

· Serve as the day-to-day point of contact with the IDB, including participating in recurring UNICEF/IDB meetings to coordinate and assign tasks for upcoming activities and deliverables across all workstreams (Technical Design, Government Engagement, Fundraising).

· Provide weekly coordination updates across all workstreams to the UNICEF technical working group (PD, LACRO, PPD, IF Team), and on an as needed basis.

· Prepare regular updates to OED (Senior Advisor) and COs (through the OED Senior Advisor), at least monthly and on an as needed basis.

1.2 Technical Design

· Contribute to the technical design of the initiative, through inputs on the overall results framework, menu of interventions and other technical aspects (e.g. financing gaps, etc); inputs may include research, qualitative and quantitative analyses, white papers, presentations, as needed.

· Coordinate and manage inputs from across UNICEF (PD, LACRO, and COs) on the overall results framework, menu of interventions, and other technical aspects.

· Plan and organize technical meetings, including development of meeting agendas, briefing notes, talking points, presentations, meeting summaries, outreach to and instructions for presenters and participants, and logistical preparations (if needed).

· Finalize white paper on safe and engaging learning environments.

1.3 Government Dialogue

· Support country- and regional-level government dialogues on MEI, including developing meeting agendas, briefing notes, and talking points; this includes bilateral discussions with education ministries and consultations through regional mechanisms such as Proyecto Mesoamerica and SICA.

· Provide technical support to country offices on the development and implementation of the initiative at country level, as needed; once funding is secured, this will include supporting country-level adaptation of the regional results framework and menu of interventions.

1.4 Fundraising

· Developing and customizing materials for donor and fundraising purposes (e.g. concept note, presentations, etc).

· Supporting donor consultations, including donor conferences (i.e. development of meeting agendas, briefing notes, talking points, presentations, meeting summaries, outreach to and instructions for presenters and participants, and logistical preparations (if needed)).

· Maintaining the donor outreach plan that tracks the status of all donor consultations.

Qualifications

(1) Education

• Advanced University degree in Education, Social Sciences, Development or other relevant field. A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• Fluency in Spanish and English is required.

2) Work experience

• A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in research and analysis in education, in particular with Ministries of education and organizations.
• Vast knowledge of education goals and outcomes in the Mesoamerican context.
• Ability to research, analyze and present complex information.

3) Competencies

• Strong communication skills; ability to effectively present thoughts and ideas including complex technical concepts both verbally and in writing (in both English and Spanish).
• Self-driven, flexible and independent worker who is also a team player. Effectively works on multiple assignments simultaneously and adapts to changing demands and circumstances.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience in coordinating joint and complex initiatives with many stakeholders.
• Experience with supporting country-level systems building/strengthening processes is a plus.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines.

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 (can be downloaded here: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html
  • 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, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, 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.

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