Consultancy: Strengthening Inclusion of Education in Rapid Response Mechanisms Toolkit Development - Education Section, Programme Group – HQ New York (Home based, remote position) - Req

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Consultancy Title: Strengthening Inclusion of Education in Rapid Response Mechanisms Toolkit Development

Section/Division/Duty Station: Education Section, Programme Group – HQ New York (Home based, remote position)

Duration: 15 April to September 15, 2022 (Up to 75 days)

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

Millions of children have their education interrupted and are at risk of never going to school because of humanitarian emergencies. Education is critical to reduce vulnerabilities, protect children, help them cope with and recover from crises and ensure they continue learning skills that will improve their future opportunities. However, education is rarely prioritized in the first phase of humanitarian responses where Rapid Response Mechanisms (RRMs) exist, or via similar emergency response coordination mechanisms in diverse emergency situations.

To address this gap, with funding from DG ECHO, the Global Education Cluster (GEC), is working with partners, including UNICEF, to strengthen the inclusion of education in RRMs by ensuring country teams have the requisite tools and capacities to do so through three key components:

1. Production of a toolkit to ensure clusters/working groups and partners have appropriate and fit-for-purpose resources to strengthen the inclusion of education in RRMs/rapid responses in non-RRM settings
2. Development and facilitation of a training to equip education clusters/working groups and partners with the requisite knowledge and skills to strengthen the inclusion of education in RRMs/rapid responses in non-RRM settings

Purpose of the Consultancy

Linked to component 2 of this ECHO supported RRM Action, UNICEF seeks a consultant to develop a Rapid Education Response Toolkit to support education clusters/working groups and partners in countries with or without RRMs strengthen the inclusion of quality education interventions in rapid responses.

The Toolkit will do this by providing country teams with fit for purpose resources to both coordinate efficient and evidence driven rapid education responses and develop an appropriate and effective package of rapid programmatic education interventions. The Rapid Education Response Toolkit will leverage findings from the evidence generation component, and be disseminated widely, including through the training component of this Action.

Scope of Work

The Consultant will be responsible for developing the Rapid Education Response Toolkit through two keyways:

• Collecting, curating and vetting existing tools and country examples on designing appropriate rapid programmatic education interventions and coordinating effective rapid education responses
• Advising on and undertaking the adaptation and update of tools to ensure they are fit-for-purpose for rapid response settings

The coordination and programmatic rapid education response tools and country examples will be used to populate the Toolkit, which is currently structured along the following areas:

1. Introduction of the Toolkit and Definition of Key Terms
2. Strengthen Understanding of and Support for the Inclusion of Education in Rapid Response Mechanisms [linked to component 1 of the RRM Action]
3. Reinforce EiE Actors’ Preparedness for Rapid Response Interventions
4. Understand Priority Education Needs through Rapid Data Collection and Analysis
5. Develop Evidence Based and Appropriate Rapid Response Plans
   1. Identify Appropriate Rapid Interventions
   2. Consolidate Appropriate Rapid Interventions into Coordinated Strategic Plans
6. Making a Case for Education in Emergencies in Rapid Response Mechanisms: Strategic Advocacy and Resource Mobilization
7. Monitor Results and Progress to Learn from and Strengthen Rapid Interventions

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Under the supervision of the Education in Emergencies Specialist in the UNICEF Programme Division and with technical guidance from the Global Education Cluster, the consultant will be accountable for the following deliverables:

1. Update and Refine Toolkit Structure:

• Review proposed Toolkit structure, identifying areas for improvement to ensure both coordination and programmatic considerations underpinning effective and appropriate rapid education responses are adequately reflected. This includes identification of key programmatic rapid education interventions for inclusion in section 4b of the Toolkit.

2. Collect and Vet Existing Tools and Country Examples:

• Using the finalized toolkit structure and drawing on inputs from the Action partners and GEC Strategic Advisory Group, collect and vet existing relevant and appropriate tools, guidelines, and country examples.
• Further adapt/refine Toolkit structure based as required.

3. Adapt and Develop Tools:
   • Working with the GEC and UNICEF Programme Division, provide technical advice on and undertake adaptation of update of existing tools collected to ensure they are appropriate and contextualized for rapid response contexts as required.
   • Support development and of tools to address prevalent gaps in existing tools as required.
4. Finalize Toolkit:
   • Based on the final and endorsed structure of the Toolkit, populate content, tools, guidelines, and country examples in the required areas.
   • Present final Toolkit to the GEC, UNICEF, Action Steering Committee and Strategic Advisory Group

Performance indicators

• Quality of the analysis and write up of the deliverables.
• Incorporating feedback into the report.
• Timeliness of submission of the deliverables.

Qualifications

(1) Education

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Social or Public Policy, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Education or another relevant technical field.
• Degree in computer science or related field in technology

2) Work experience, knowledge and expertise required

Work experience and essential technical skills

• At least 10 years of experience in planning, implementing, and managing education programmes, especially in humanitarian settings.
• Experience working with Rapid Response Mechanisms.

Competencies

• Demonstrable experience in development technical tools for education personnel;
• Ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences;
• Ability to be flexible and work within tight deadlines;
• Ability to work collaboratively on tool development;

Excellent verbal and written English; knowledge of a second language (French, Spanish, Arabic) desirable.

Requirements

The interested candidates are requested to submit the following documents:

• CV
• Cover Letter describing relevant experience, qualifications and motivation.
• Indicative Proposal – including an outline of how this work could be developed, a work plan with proposed duration and daily consultancy rate.
• Three professional references, including their current contact information.

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.