Consultancy to support the Ministry of Education in the preparation of the annual Joint Sectoral Review (JSR) of the Education Policy Charter (EPC) and Multiannual Sector Action Plan (MSAP)

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, a Champion

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences has been implementing the Education Sector Multiannual Sector Action Plan (for 2019-2023. However, with the Pandemic that struck the world, it was not possible for the Ministry of Education to conduct the usual joint sector reviews to review progress on the MSAP on an annual basis.

As these annual reviews have not been carried out, considering the lack of information, there is no tool to follow up and monitor the indicators for the following years. There is a need to conduct information and data collection for the preparation of the JSR that will culminate with the Aide memoirs to be presented at the meeting of the Education Coordination Group.

How can you make a difference?

1. Scope of Work:

MECS, with the support of partners, developed the Education Policy Charter (EPC) 2019-2023 after the expiration of the EPC 2016-2020. Thus, an Education Sector Review, which was severely delayed in its completion due to the challenges brought about by Covid 19, is urgently required.

MECS, is seeking support to create a technical team according to the areas defined in the EPC-2019-2023 to work on the whole preparation of the JSR.

The purpose of this group is to create local technical capacity to develop similar actions, as well as to ensure that this is a country led process.

2. Participatory Methodology

Participatory approaches that include group and collaborative work will be used as the key methodology for the annual sector review sessions. Presentations will be made by MECS at both central and decentralized levels and by Local Education Group (LEG) members. Facilitators will play key roles in ensuring that participants and presenters achieve the desired outcomes of each session. The consultant should also propose and prepare the facilitators who will lead the working sessions (at least two).

During the assessment of the Joint Sectoral Review 2023, 2024 and 2025 (JSR) and the final report, gender analysis will be integrated in accordance with the programmes of the different education levels, integrated in the Education Policy Charter (EPC) and the Multiannual Action Plan (MSP) 2019-2023. During the consultation with partners, as well as in the report, the gendered aspects and barriers of the education sector will be analysed, based on available evidence and disaggregated data (girls/boys, rural/urban, poverty levels, age group, disability, etc) in order to improve equity, efficiency and effectiveness of the education system.

The consultant will be responsible for:

1. The revision of the Education Policy Charter (EPC) and Multiannual Sector Action Plan (MSAP) 2019-2023
2. The production of Evaluation Report that will subsequently be approved by partners, including the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
3. Conduct the consultation process and workshops.

Key Deliverables

• Presentation of the initial report and preliminary findings to the Local Education Group.
• Draft evaluation report shared with UNICEF São Tomé and Principe CO, GPE Secretariat and Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences.
• Final evaluation report that includes all partners' recommendations.

The Consultant’s work should include:

• Joint action with the technical working group.

• Collection of data and information from a desk review of key documents, including the following:

• he previous and current draft Education Sector Plan and its Action Plan.

• The previous and current Education Sector Analysis.
• The current Financial Simulation Model.
• Learning Assessment Reports.
• Education Management Information System (EMIS) data.

Meetings and consultations with key LEG partners and members, including technical teams, central, district, and regional education authorities, parents' and students' associations, among others to be considered during the course of the work.

3. Description of the Assignment

The consultant must submit a financial proposal (global and by work phases). It should also include the technical proposal, with the proposed methodology for conducting the analysis of the Joint Sector Review (JSR). The final methodology will be discussed and agreed during the initial contracting phase, but should include an analysis of the results, based on a proposed report structure to be agreed between the MECC, UNICEF and the consultant.

3.1 Evaluation process and methods

In this regard, technical and financial proposals will be evaluated. The technical proposal will be given a total possible score of 70 points (pt). Technical proposals scoring 49 points or more will be considered technically adequate, and the financial proposal will be opened. Proposals that are deemed technically non-compliant and do not respond to the requests will not be further considered.

4. Work Assignments Overview - Deliverables/Outputs- Delivery deadline- Estimated Budget

• Produce an inception report and preliminary findings detailing how the consultant will carry out the JSR Assessment and preparation task, including methodology and working with the technical team (work-action-capacity building) - Inception Report- 5 days - 20%
• Prepare all supporting documents for conducting JSR and assist in facilitating the workshop, and Produce the preliminary evaluation report - Draft Appraisal Report- 20 days- 40%

• Produce the final evaluation report, which includes the considerations of key partners and MECS, as addition, the executive summary - Final Appraisal Report-10 days-40%

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

• Master's degree in a field relevant to strategic planning, education, management ; social sciences

• At least 5 years of experience in performing similar work
• Extensive knowledge of the Education sector and social innovation areas in the world, in the Sub-Saharan Africa region and in São Tomé and Príncipe.
• Development of diagnostics and education related strategies/plans/studies, planning and analyzing indicators
• Experience in development/design of education policies and strategies, reporting, evaluation, action plan.
• Experience in coordinating work in multidisciplinary groups and participatory processes.

Language Proficiency

• Excellent knowledge of Portuguese and some command of English and French (spoken and written).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

Core Competencies

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Innovates and embraces change
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with other

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.