Consultancy: Support the Regional Education Group (REWG) 2021 Workplan, LACRO, Panama

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, opportunity

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF promotes the rights and welfare of all children and adolescents in everything we do. Together with our allies, we work in 190 countries and territories to transform this commitment into practical actions that benefit all children, especially focusing our efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded, worldwide.

The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices. UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization and with our partners in government, civil society and the private sector to support shifts in public policy, fuel social engagement, and increase investment for children.

UNICEF in LACRO, co-leads with Save the Children the Regional Education Working Group (REWG) at the regional level since 2011, within the framework of REDLAC and R4V to support the Ministries of Education and coordination mechanisms for responding to emergencies in the education sector (including risk management and migration), and supports its actions on the basis of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction (SFDRR), the World Safe Schools Initiative (WISS) and the Global Education Cluster (GEC), in order to guarantee the right to education for all children, adolescents and young people in the region.

As part of the support provided to the REWG as co leads, UNICEF aims to support the implementation of its bi-annual working plan with four thematic axes, which include advocacy and governance, technical support and capacity building, information management and resource mobilization. Key coordination and information management support needs to be provided as an ongoing basis for a smoothly coordination of the group.

For more information about UNICEF and its work. (www.unicef.org/lac)..) For more information about the REWG and its work: (https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/latin-america-and-caribbean/education).)

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.

Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide support to the REWG on key coordination and information/knowledge management products for its 2021 workplan.

Specific Tasks

• Assistance to organize four (4) best practices and lessons learned meetings with national coordination mechanisms in the LAC region.
• Mapping of education coordination mechanisms in the LAC region.
• Organization of eight (8) REWG monthly meetings, including the invitation and the draft of the agenda and the meeting minutes in coordination with REWG members.
• Information compilation and systematization to maintain and update the REWG site in the OCHA Humanitarian Response website with most up-to-date member products and activities.
• Information compilation and systematization of REWG member activities for quarterly GADRRRES newsletters (including the translation of inputs from Spanish to English and vice versa when needed).
• Dissemination and sharing of information and knowledge (minutes, member initiatives, knowledge products and any relevant information) to all Group members and other relevant partners.
• Information compilation and systematization of REWG member activities for the Group online repository on UNESCO webpage focused on COVID-19 Education Response in LAC –including both the thematic resources and the national responses sections.
• Development and maintenance of content for the REWG social media platforms for timely dissemination and information-sharing with partners.

Expected Results

The consultant must:

• Support the development of four (4) best practices and lessons learned meetings between national coordination mechanisms in the LAC region.
• Organize the mapping of education coordination mechanisms in the LAC region.
• Lead the organization of eight (8) REWG monthly meetings, including invitation, agenda, and meeting minutes in coordination with REWG members.
• Undertake regular information compilation and systematization to keep the REWG site in the humanitarian response website updated and maintained.
• Carry out regular information compilation and systematization of REWG member activities for four (4) GADRRRES newsletters -including the translation of inputs from Spanish to English and vice versa when needed.
• Undertake regular information and knowledge dissemination and sharing with all Group members and other relevant partners.
• Manage regular information compilation and systematization to update and maintain the Group online repository on UNESCO webpage focused on COVID-19 Education Response in LAC –including the thematic resources and the national responses sections.
• Maintain and create content for the REWG social media platforms that reflect the activities and key products of the Group.

Deliverables

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

• University degree (Bachelor or preferably master’s degree) in information management, communications, international relations, education, or any related field.
• *At least two years professional experience in:
  • Information and knowledge management and research in related areas is required.
  • Education in emergencies (EiE) in the LAC region is an asset.
  • Both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.
  • Programme development in UNICEF or any other UN system agency or similar organization is required.* - Demonstrated experience working in partnership with a broad range of stakeholders, including donors, UN agencies and INGOs, national authorities, national/local partner agencies are required.
• Fluency in Spanish and English is required (French and Portuguese is an added asset).
• Technical knowledge in research & compilation and/or systematization of experiences or case studies in fields related to Education.
• Technical knowledge in information and knowledge management skills.
• Sound understanding of UNICEF and REWG programme work in the region.
• Flexibility and adaptability to shifting conditions and work demands.
• Capacity to communicate effectively and work collaboratively.
• High level of Integrity and commitment to UNICEF's mission and professional values.
• Good judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.

Supervision

The consultant will work under the general supervision of the Education Specialist [Emergencies] in close coordination with the Education Specialist [Emergency/Migration].

Workplace

This is a home-based consultancy.

Duration

This contract is expected to start on 1 May 2021 with an estimated duration of 9 months.

How to Apply

Application should be submitted online and should include: Resume, Cover Letter and Financial proposal. Qualified candidates are requested to submit daily and monthly fees in their financial proposal.

Travel

No travel is foreseen.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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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.

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.

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.