Consultancy title: Program Standardization for Syria ECW Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP), 3.5 months, Remote - MENA Regional Office

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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 Education.

Consultancy title: Program Standardization for Syria ECW Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP)

Duration: 26-day consultancy

Estimated Start Date: 1 June 2021 – 15 September 2021 (31 days)

Duty Station: Home based/Remote support

Reporting and Administration: the consultant will be supervised by MOEHE with technical support from UNICEF Senior Education Advisor and Program Officer.

How can you make a difference?

Under the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) funded Syria Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP), UNICEF is leading programme jointly with Save the Children to support expanded educational opportunities for all children in Syria. Currently, there are three hubs (Gaziantep hub and Damascus hub which are managed by UNICEF and Northeast working group which is managed by Save the Children). Across the three hubs, eight implementing partners are providing a package of interventions to facilitate access to quality non-formal education across Syria.

There is a need for a standardization exercise to ensure a harmonized and coordinated programmatic Education in Emergencies approach and guidance for partners across three hubs and eight implementing partners under ECW funding. The standardization of the areas includes guidelines for: teaching and learning materials; training topics; and high-level training procedures include learning circles for teachers and home-based learning; teacher recruitment and remuneration; learning assessment; safe and protective learning spaces (i.e. physical infrastructure); addressing gender-based violence; COVID-19 protocols; psychosocial support (PSS) for children and teachers; school management/leadership, community involvement and governance of learning sites (Parent Teachers Associations, community outreach, youth volunteers). The standardization guidelines will include criteria to be considered to ensure the interventions meet donor red lines, particularly with regards to contents of teaching and learning materials.

The purpose of the assignment is to provide programming minimum standards and benchmarks, aligned with relevant Whole of Syria hub and Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) guidelines as well as parameters set out in the MYRP in terms of operational details, for UNICEF and Save the Children implementing partners under the ECW programme.

While materials and current partner practices are in place and available on the majority of the above components, the topic of PSS for teachers, use of youth volunteers, school management/leadership and teacher preparedness for home-based instruction will require additional research.

An additional piece of work is also needed in regard to assessment, namely to conduct a mapping of assessment tools (placement, continuous/formative, summative and evaluative) currently being used in the non-formal education context across the country by the various education sector partners.

The consultancy requires an Education in Emergencies (EiE) expert to develop a set of standardized guidelines on the above, that will inform harmonized implementing partners’ planning of programme activities in the second year of Syria MYRP.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

Completion of the below deliverables will involve desk review on existing guidelines and practices in the referred areas, surveys and consultations with relevant stakeholders, including implementing partners, Whole of Syria (WoS) coordinators, hub coordinators, and MYRP grant agents (UNICEF and Save the Children).

• Standardization of programme implementation: Development of guidelines that provide minimum standards for all implementing partners for a harmonized set of program activities for Year 2 and 3 of Syria MYRP through the following tasks: (20 days)

a. Conduct a desk review of the ECW MYPR donor redlines, INEE Minimum Standards and relevant Guidance Notes and UNICEF MENA Regional Office Teacher Preparedness Training Package

b. Survey with hub coordinators in each of three hubs/Whole of Syria coordinators on existing guidelines developed according to hub context.

c. Survey current implementing partners to understand current practices and specific needs on guidance for each program activity in the first year till June 2021.

d. Develop standards for each programme activity for the second year based on the conducted surveys as well as relevant resources from the Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) or any other resources.

• Mapping of learning assessment tools and practices in NFE setting: Produce a mapping of assessment practices and tools for non-formal education programming among sector members. (6 days)

a. Survey sector member partners/Assessment Working Group/hub coordinators on current practices (placement, formative, summative, evaluative assessments) for measuring cognitive learning as well as social and emotional learning (SEL).

b. Map out assessment tools, indicating use (placement, formative, summative assessments), frequency and method of administration and type of NFE programme (Curriculum B, Self Learning

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS AND CONTRACTORS

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

Standardization of programme implementation

Standard Program Implementation Guideline

25 days

Mapping of assessment practices

Mapping of assessment practices

6 days

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

Consultancy Requirements:

• Master’s degree in international affairs/studies, development, education, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience with Education in Emergencies (EiE) programming and/or implementation
• Demonstrated experience in education programming or measuring learning outcomes for UN agencies and/or other international development organizations.
• Experience in Syria is an asset.
• Strong programme design skills, including capacity to prepare logical, coherent, and consistent documents.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively with project members in various locations and from multiple organisations, including remotely writing and revising documents.
• Prior demonstrated experience in designing and leading multi-stakeholder consultations, and the ability to integrate different experiences, methodologies, and approaches from a diverse range of stakeholders, organisations, and technical experts from multiple sectors.
• Demonstrated experience working in humanitarian and development sectors.
• Ability to produce concise, instructional documents, pulling from multiple sources
• Deep understanding of INEE Minimum Standards and guidance notes.

Applicants are also required to indicate availability and financial quotation in USD to undertake the terms of reference above.

TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS: Home-based consultancy

Payment Schedule:

PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Monthly

UNICEF will pay a lump sum payment monthly, based on submitted progress reports. Workplan will be discussed and agreed upon with supervisor at the beginning of each month.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter
2. CV or P-11
3. Financial quote as a lump sum, inclusive of professional fees, travel/administrative/subsistence costs, if applicable
4. Names of three referees

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

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.

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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

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