Consultancy to conduct a regional systematization of the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) back-to-school national strategies after COVID-19 Pandemic, LACRO Panama (3 months-remote)

Contract

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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 countries and 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. As of June 30, 101 million children and adolescents in the LAC region have been affected by the schools’ closures, including an average of 154 school days without face-to-face classes between March 2020 and June 30, 2021. Even though 70% of countries and territories in the region have already decided on a date for school reopening, in half of them (18) schools are still partially closed, in 4 of them are totally closed, in other 4 schools are on academic recess and in 11 of them schools are fully open. For more information about the Education Response to COVID-19 in the LAC region please check UNICEF´s online repository: https://www.unicef.org/lac/en/covid-19-education-preparedness-and-response

For more information about UNICEF and its work check www.unicef.org/lac.

For every child, opportunity

Purpose of the Assignment

Countries have developed different back-to-school strategies during their schools’ reopening process. As part of UNICEF regional office’s support to country offices, it is important to document country implementation, track progress, identify drivers of change, challenges, and potential ways to move forward to scale up the safe back-to-school process across a variety of services that support young children and their families and ensure continuous and quality learning. Under the overall guidance of the Education in Emergencies Specialist, the purpose of this consultancy is to document and systematize the LAC back-to-school strategies after the COVID-19 pandemic to be able to share the lessons learned and the different experiences identified in the process with the Latin America and the Caribbean Country Offices. The systematization will also support the exchange of information and promote South-south cooperation between countries and territories of the region. More precisely, this systematization of experiences will aim at (please see below).

How can you make a difference?

Specific tasks

Identify, document, and systematize the following:

• Existing countries and territories with back-to-school strategies, including the number of schools open and the number of children and adolescents receiving face-to-face and/or distance learning classes.
• Existing learning modalities in each country and territory (face-to-face, distance learning through internet web based, distance learning through TV, distance learning through radio, distance learning through printed materials, and/or combined learning hybrid modes (combination of face-to-face & distance learning).
• Existing location maps that showcase the reopening status, learning modalities and/or schools open in each country and territory.
• Existing mechanisms to monitor the safe schools’ reopening process in each country and territory.
• Existing mechanisms to deal and manage COVID-19 cases in schools.
• Existing systematizations of good practices on the schools' reopening process during COVID-19.
• Existing children & adolescents' perception surveys on the current situation of schools.
• Existing teachers' perception surveys on the current situation of schools.
• Data on the prioritization of the teachers’ vaccination process.
• Existing strategies to improve schools' infrastructure (installation of hand-washing stations, repairs, implementation of biosafety protocols, etc.) to support the schools' reopening process.
• Existing learning assessment and/or remedial education programs.

Expected Results (measurable)

• Draft of the current back-to-school strategies in the LAC region (36 countries and territories) that are being implemented in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
• Identification of ten best practices in the region.
• Final regional report (approximately 50 pages) including table of contents, graphs, infographics, introduction, executive summary, description of the methodology that was used to conduct the categorization/systematization, findings, conclusions, and recommendations on the way forward.
• PPT presentation with key findings (approximately 15 slides).

Deliverables

Description****Duration (in days) Expected DeadlineWork plan and chronogram approved (20% of payment). 5 Sep 2021 Document of analysis of the current back-to-school strategies in LAC (36 countries & territories implemented in response to the COVID-19 crisis) based on the information from UNICEF LAC COVID-19 Online Repository and other sources of information identified by the consultant. 30 Sep 2021 10 best practices of school reopening strategies of the region systematized. 15 Oct 2021Draft report of the regional systematization. 30 Oct 2021Final report (approximately 50 pages) of the reopening of school strategies and lessons learned in the region. The report must include table of contents, executive summary, introduction, description of the methodology that was used to conduct the categorization/systematization, findings, conclusions, and recommendations on the way forward. 30 Nov 2021PPT presentation of approximately 15 slides with key findings. 30 Nov 2021To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

Advanced university degree in education, international affairs, international development or any other relevant social science degree.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in research, reporting and data analysis and data visualization.
• Experience working in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of education sector and policies.
• Experience working remotely, very responsive over email or throughout virtual applications.
• Understanding of UNICEF programmatic work in the region (desirable).

Languages:

• Fluency in Spanish and English is required.
• Knowledge of French or Portuguese will be considered an asset.

Technical knowledge:

Experience with research, reporting and data visualization.

Other skills and attributes:

• 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 in Emergencies Specialist and in close coordination with the Education Specialist for Migration.

Workplace:

This consultancy is remote, home-based.

Duration:

This contract is expected to start on 1 September with an estimated duration of 3 months.

How to Apply:

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

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 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.