Deadline extended: International Indiv Consultancy 'Technical support to the NBS and the MER in revision of education statistics indicators and population data'

Consultant Teaching & Training Programme & Policy Monitoring & Evaluation

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, education

UNICEF has a mandate to safeguard the rights of all children, which is rooted in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), applicable to every child, and since 2015 also in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNICEF works to ensure all children are in school and are receiving a quality education. The quality of education is ultimately determined by the learning outcomes that students take from school and the competencies they will carry into their future life and labour market.

To ensure monitoring of the quality and access to education, the NBS regularly collect and calculate relevant indicators, e.g. number of students, pedagogical staff, facilities etc. Currently, the following data sources are available: (i) administrative statistics collected from educational institutions by the NBS and (ii) Education Management Information System (EMIS) maintained by the MER. UNICEF provides continuous support to both institutions to improve education statistics in line with international standards.

As outlined in the current 2023-2027 Country programme of cooperation, one of UNICEF’s priority is gathering good-quality evidence to inform policies. UNICEF and the MER will continue to generate high-quality disaggregated data to inform implementation of the Education Strategy 2030. The programme will continue to support the NBS, and other stakeholders to collect equity-sensitive, sex-disaggregated data

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of consultancy

Purpose: the assignment is aimed to (i) conduct detailed assessment of the number of school-age population with usual residence in relation to the number of children/pupils included in the education system (pre-school, primary and general secondary education) and (ii) recalculate enrolment and graduation rates (gross, net and age-specific, with disaggregation by sex and area) and, document it through elaboration of the Guide/guidelines for the normalization of the indicators calculated on the basis of population with usual residence.

As the result of the assignment, the answers on the following questions to be provided to better understand the extent to which:

• the number of the population with usual residence influences the enrolment and graduation rates;
• the external migration of school age population influences the number of population with usual residence, including by sex and area;
• the student's residence (locality) and the locality of the educational institution could influence the number of school age population;
• overestimation and/or underestimation caused by duplications, outdated lists of students at the beginning of the school year (at the reference date).

Accountabilities, related duties/tasks and expected results

Definitions and calculation methods used for education indicators will be in line with UNESCO guidance and methodology http://uis.unesco.org/en/glossary

A comparative analysis will be done of the following:

1. the number of the school-age population with usual residence (NBS data), including its component parts as vital events like birth, death, internal and external migration;
2. the number of enrolled children/pupils (taking into account their area where the institution is located) by education levels collected via statistical surveys from the education institutions (aggregated data by institutions);
3. the number of enrolled children/pupils (taking into account there area of residence), from the database of the Education Management Information System (EMIS) of the MER (in the EMIS database the student is identified by IDNP/other identification documents (GD no.601/2020)), https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc_id=122778&lang=ro.

All activities will be implemented in close collaboration with the NBS and the MER with the final outcomes to be submitted as follows:

• Analytical report, outlining the analysis of revision of number of school age population with usual residence, detailed methodology to be applied to improve relevant estimation of the population by age, sex and area, as well as final recommendations and proposal to improve calculation of relevant indicators, as outlined above;
• Guide / guidelines for the normalization of the indicators calculated on the basis of population with usual residence, which will contain definitions, methods and formulas for calculation, and the interpretation of the indicators recalculated by the normalization method;
• Documentation of the assignment.

Key deliverables and delivery dates/timeline

Tasks

Deliverables and payment schedule

Timeline, working days

Conduct initial desk review of guidelines, data sources, reports etc and develop overall assessment schedule and implementation plan (including on-line kick off meeting with the NBS and the MER to agree on the process)

Assessment schedule and implementation plan , List of bibliography/sources (to be further complemented by other sources), kick off meeting documentation (PPT, Q/A etc.)

5 days

Conduct the analysis of the number of school-age population with usual residence and present preliminary findings to stakeholders (on-line)

Draft analysis, list of participants, visual presentation of key findings, meeting documentation

5 days

First payment – 30% (10 billable days)

Sub-total 10 days

Tasks

Deliverables and payment schedule

Timeline, working days

Development of Guidelines for normalizing the indicators calculated based on population with usual residence

Draft Guidelines, including detailed information with reference to definitions, methods and calculation formulas, and the interpretation of indicators

10 days

Consult and finalize draft methodology and guidelines based on NBS and MER comments and suggestions, collected during validation meeting, to be reflected in Synthesis report (3-day in-country mission)

Final Methodology and Guidelines

5 days (including travelling – to be confirmed)

Second payment – 50% (15 billable days)

Sub-total 15 days

Prepare Synthesis report (Methodology and Guidelines to be attached) and document the assessment by compiling and arranging all deliverables to closure the contract

Synthesis report and Documentation of the assessment

5 days

Final payment – 20% (5 billable days)

Sub-total 5 days

TOTAL 30 billable days

Reporting

The Consultant will work under direct supervision of the Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist and in close collaboration with the Education Specialist. UNICEF will regularly communicate with the Consultant and provide feedback on deliverables performance and all other necessary support to achieve objectives of the assignment, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to the Consultant performance and the quality of work. All the activities and deliverables undertaken by the Consultant shall be discussed and planned in consultation with UNICEF. Throughout the assignment, necessary guidance will be provided by UNICEF and the NBS, as a key stakeholder, will provide all necessary data and clarifications, facilitate liaison with the MER etc.

Work location and official travel involved

Considering the time period for implementation of the assignment, all the planned tasks will be mainly done remotely (with on-line meetings and consultations). In-country travel is envisaged (3-day in-country mission, tentative schedule end-October - beg-November 2023) and will be confirmed upon the needs.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in statistics/demographics, social and economic development, or related areas;

Knowledge / Experience:

• Minimum five years of progressively responsible professional experience in demographics and social statistics and demonstrated track record of having undertaken similar assignments;
• Analytical capacity and proven experience in quantitative analysis of statistical data in the area of demographic and/or education statistics (references to relevant documents/analytics need to be provided);
• Knowledge of international standards in calculation of demographic and education statistics indicators (UNESCO);
• Experience in working with international organizations (working with UNICEF/other UN Agencies highly preferred);
• Experience in working in Europe and Central Asia region is desirable;

Skills:

• Strong writing and communication skills especially in team environments, highly preferred;
• Ability to work independently with confidence and self-motivation, necessary;
• Highly organized and proactive with timely production of materials, necessary.

Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in English (knowledge of Romanian will be an asset).

For every Child, you demonstrate

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

For more details on deliverables and minimum requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR)

2023_ToR Statistical Data Education_VA.docx

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain the Technical Offer and Financial Offer (templates below). Please secure the Financial Proposal *.pdf document with a password on document view; the password will be requested only from technically qualified candidates.

Technical Offer.docx

Financial Offer.xlsx

Applications for this assignment must be received no later than: 12 November 2023

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 (if 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.

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Added 7 months ago - Updated 5 months ago - Source: unicef.org