Development of Communication & Training materials for the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development on their National Education Action Plan and Pre-Primary Years program in the So

Consultant Human Resources Teaching & Training Programme & Policy

Overview

Develop communication and training materials for MEHRD on NEAP and PPY.

You have:

• An advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Media, communications or other relevant social science background with relevant contextual work experience.
• At least 8 years of progressive and relevant experience in strategic communication and advocacy.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing communication strategies and action plans, and able to provide examples of such documents/previous work.
• Previous working experience in the Pacific and with international development partners and high-level officials in governments will be considered an asset.
• Good analytical, facilitating, negotiating and communication skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is a must.
• The candidate should ideally be based in the Solomon Islands as this work requires consultations with MEHRD and other stakeholders.

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, an education

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) is currently finalizing a National Education Action Plan 2022-2026 (NEAP) that reflects the Education Strategic Framework (ESF) 2016-30 and is informed by an Education Sector Analysis.

Through the ESF, the NEAP also aligns with the National Development Strategy, the Government Policy Statement, and ultimately the global Sustainable Development Goals. The intent is for the NEAP to act as a rolling plan for the Education Sector Framework and inform the development of provincial workplans as a conduit for the NEAP in the context of each province.

The purpose of this consultancy is to collaborate with appropriate MEHRD staff on the development of a communication plan for the NEAP and its programs with accompanying relevant communication materials/messages to socialize the NEAP. MEHRD has also identified specific priority areas for which focused communications planning and material development are required. It also involves providing the capacity development of MEHRD staff assigned to promote the dissemination of NEAP and its related work with education stakeholders and the broader community on communication skills.

The communication plans should cover initial dissemination and advocacy, and communication activities to be executed during the implementation of the NEAP and its programs. The plans should identify activities, purposes, responsible parties, and timelines for different NEAP stakeholders and audiences, including government, education development partners, relevant NGOs, MEHRD staff (including at provincial and school level), parents, and the wider community.

As noted above, within the NEAP, specific priority areas also require targeted communications support. One of these crucial programs, as identified by MEHRD, is the Pre-Primary Years (PPY) program, which is a relatively new national program aiming to secure a “primary preparation year” for all children aged 5 in the Solomon Islands. As PPY is a core strategy for early learning in the NEAP, communication for various stakeholders needs to be very clear in terms of the key messages, program structure, curriculum, innovative approach, and other elements to facilitate awareness-raising and engagement. There is a need to identify and develop key messages for a diverse audience and decide on the best format and modalities for dissemination.

Situated within all these, the Solomon Islands Government with MEHRD is also working towards an appropriate legislative framework, whereby a draft Education Bill and other relevant documents (collectively known as the Education Legislative Framework or ELF) will be ready for implementation once the Bill passes through Parliament. It is envisioned as the most significant systemic change for education in the Solomon Islands in over 40 years. A phased approach to implementation is planned, with some activities expected to be implemented before passing the ELF into law. MEHRD will play a critical role in administering and supporting the understanding of the new framework and its socialization. Hence, it will be essential for the NEAP Communication Consultant to work closely with the MEHRD-appointed ELF communication focal point and NEAP design team. It is to ensure coherent messaging and supplement NEAP socialization/distribution with material that explains the scope, nature, and expected benefits of the new roles and responsibilities established by the ELF.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work: The content of this work is in three main areas: 1. An overall (a) Communications Plan for NEAP as well as a specific one for (b) PPY, 2. The development and validation of communication messages for each stakeholder category and aligned communication materials for NEAP as well as specific ones for PPY, 3. Training for relevant staff on NEAP communication for different stakeholder audiences.

1(a) The overall NEAP Communications Plan The communications plan for the NEAP will outline a comprehensive approach to advocate for and build partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders to implement the NEAP at all levels of society, from the government to communities and families. It should provide overall guidance to ensure that all NEAP-related communication activities, products, and materials work harmoniously and create a clear message about the NEAP. The communications plan should identify various platforms and opportunities to enable MEHRD to expand networks, create more significant political and community engagement with education.

The communication plan will be developed in close collaboration with MEHRD and the Senior Management Team (SMT) assigned focal point(s). It should include high-level strategies to achieve the communication objectives of MEHRD for the NEAP and outline practical and concrete activities (detailed with budgets for the next three years) that MEHRD will prioritize over the period of the NEAP, including a monitoring & evaluation component intrinsic to the plan.

A general outline of the communication plan’s development is below, although proposals outlining a different methodology would be accepted for consideration by MEHRD in collaboration with UNICEF Pacific: • Preparation, consultations, and scoping • Drafting the overall NEAP Communications Plan (inclusive of high-level communication strategies, detailed three-year costed implementation plan, and M&E component) • Incorporating revisions and feedback and approval for finalizing documentation.

1(b) PPY Communication Plan: The consultant will need to work with the relevant MEHRD staff to review and revise the current communication strategy for PPY to reflect the changes in the PPY environment and align with the NEAP. Similar to the NEAP communication work, they will need to consult stakeholders to identify the information needs for PPY for different groups and lead the development of specific messages to meet these needs. The consultant will then develop a range of communication products, including infographics and other modalities of dissemination, and planned activities to promote the messages generated, which are aligned with the communication strategy and relevant to each stakeholder group.

2. The development of communication messages and materials (2a for NEAP, 2b for PPY)

Communication materials are to be developed to meet the approaches and modalities identified in the Communication Plans for both NEAP and PPY. The specific audience and messaging for materials will be created and validated before the material development. The materials may include but are not limited to: a 3-4 pager engaging summary document, FAQ and other fact sheets, posters, radio advertisements, press releases, potential guest blogs for partner websites, etc., aimed at multiple audiences and using different platforms. As appropriate, the consultant is encouraged to facilitate co-construction workshops that engage vital local stakeholders in conceptualizing and developing the messages, approaches, and communication products that best suit the context.

The communication packages are expected to be ultimately owned and advanced by MEHRD. The consultant is likely to commit until the design and field validation level with final production is taken ahead by MEHRD. The consultancy proposal should indicate if the applicant will also undertake any graphic design work required or if additional contracting will be needed for this work.

3. Training for relevant MEHRD staff, including education authority officers, on communication on the NEAP and PPY to different stakeholder audiences.

Several MEHRD staff, including senior management and education authority officers, advocate for the NEAP, the PPY program, and legislative reform. Understanding different forms of communication for diverse audience groups, managing media, and questions, and having skills and tools for streamlined communication will be necessary for this critical communication work to succeed. The training will provide these tools and examples and allow opportunities for practice to be more targeted and strategic in messaging and communication.

Supervision: Ideally, the consultant will be based at MEHRD. Everyday guidance and joint supervision will be from the NEAP Design Team, specifically under the leadership of the Deputy Secretary and the Manager of Planning (Strategic Support Unit), along with overall guidance from the UNICEF Education Officer and Education Specialist. All deliverables will be approved by the Chief of Education, UNICEF Pacific and the Chair of the NEAP Design Team.

Tasks/Milestones:

Preparation, Consultations and Scoping, inclusive of but not limited to:

• Discussions with MEHRD and other stakeholders, UNICEF Pacific, and other partners to determine work scope, feasibility and most viable and meaningful way to achieve the goals of this consultancy
• Desk review and assessment to synthesize relevant resources relating to communications on Education development, possible audiences and information type.
• Recommendations on the types of communication materials to be drafted
• Mapping of potential communication partners and platforms

Drafting the overall NEAP Communications Plan, inclusive of but not limited to:

• Rapid gap, needs and assets assessment
• Mapping of stakeholders and segmentation of prioritized groups
• High-level communication objectives and strategies
• Detailed and costed 3-year implementation plan (including M&E)

Drafting the overall PPY Communications Plan, through consultation and revision of the current communication strategy for PPY to reflect the changes in the PPY environment and align with the NEAP

Collate feedback and finalise the overall NEAP Communication Plan

Develop, test and finalise a set of agreed upon communications materials (including material relating to co-construction workshops)

Collate feedback and finalise the overall PPY Communication Plan

Develop, test and finalise a set of communications materials (including material relating to co-construction workshops) such as 3-4 pager engaging summary document, FAQ and other fact sheets, posters, radio advertisements, press release, potential guest blogs for partner websites

Development, delivery and reporting of a 3-day communications training program for MEHRD staff.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Media, communications or other relevant social science background with relevant contextual work experience as outlined in the next section. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• · At least 8 years of progressive and relevant experience in strategic communication and advocacy · Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing communication strategies and action plans, and able to provide examples of such documents/previous work · Previous working experience in the Pacific and with international development partners and high-level officials in governments will be considered an asset · Good analytical, facilitating, negotiating and communication skills · Fluency in written and spoken English is a must · The candidate should ideally be based in the Solomon Islands as this work requires consultations with MEHRD and other stakeholders (Being in Solomon Islands at the time of recruitment is preferred although not required due to the current COVID-19 related travel restrictions)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

Consultancy is open to both national and international applicants

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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org