Education Consultant (Bucharest, Romania)

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, opportunities.

How can you make a difference?

Rationale

During 2020-2021, the Programme intends to enhance capacities of governmental institutions and civil society organizations to develop and implement policies ensuring access to quality inclusive education for all children, with a special focus on the most vulnerable (Roma children, children with disabilities, children from vulnerable families, children from rural areas), and enhancing the protective environment for children, as well as change attitudes and practices among parents and local service providers to ensure the full realization of child rights.

The European Commission places the school desegregation priorities higher on the political agenda and lobbies the MoE in an attempt to accelerate implementation of activities and progress on school desegregation at system level in Romania. MoE also places a high priority on school desegregation and decided in December 2019 not to test the methodology in three counties (as earlier planned) and, instead, to launch it at national level. In May 2020, the MoE decided to include the indicators of the school segregation monitoring methodology in its EMIS (SIIIR) and thus to be able annually to calculate them and provide an overall picture on school segregation phenomena in the Romanian system of education.

Considering all of the above, specific consultancy and additional support is needed for UNICEF CO in the next 11.5 months (from August 2021 until July 2022), to effectively and efficiently support the efforts of the Education Specialist for the specific technical assistance requested by MoE on school desegregation. The consultancy implies technical assistance that will have the school desegregation focus and will consist of implementing 3 key strategic actions included in the MoE-UNICEF Cooperation Protocol on School Desegregation.

The focus on school desegregation will consist of implementing the remaining key strategic actions included in the MoE-UNICEF Cooperation Protocol on School Desegregation:

• Monitoring the implementation of school segregation monitoring methodology and if need be provide the necessary adjustments to the current methodology;
• Development of the methodology for the prevention and intervention in cases of school segregation;
• Testing both methodologies prior to their launch at national level;
• Developing the training packages for the professionals (school principals, teachers, county school inspectors, and staff of MoE) in the education system on the new legal and policy framework on school desegregation. Training packages are ready for the school segregation monitoring methodology. As such within this activity the training packages to be developed within this consultancy concern the methodology for the prevention of school segregation or interventions in such cases;
• Training delivery to selected target groups identified by MoE;
• Provide technical support to MoE for the revision and further development of the TSI proposal on school desegregation and, if approved for funding by the EC, provide support for its implementation;
• Additional to the desegregation component, within the current consultancy there are included a number of priority activities planned for 2021/2022 by UNICEF Education Department. The specific activities will be established by the Education Specialist within the monthly planning.

Methodology

Working under the supervision of the Education Specialist the consultant will be expected to produce the below mentioned deliverables, in English or Romanian (it will be specified for each task). The consultancy will imply providing draft policy documents, providing technical inputs within the consultation process, aggregating feedback and development of final version of the policy documents to be adopted by MoE, participation in meetings at MoE and UNICEF.

Expected deliverables for the consultancy period August 2021 - July 2022

The expected deliverables will be monthly planned and agreed with the supervisor on each of the key sets of activities, according to the calendars of implementation of the various priorities of the education section of UNICEF Romania:

• Methodology for school segregation monitoring field tested;
• Final adjustments the Methodology for school segregation monitoring;
• Methodology for the prevention and intervention in cases of school segregation;
• Methodology for the prevention and intervention in cases of school segregation field tested;
• Training programme materials on the new legal and policy framework for school desegregation developed (for the methodology for the prevention and intervention in cases of school segregation);
• Training programmes delievered to the selected target groups identified by MoE;
• TSI proposal revised and developed;
• Other deliverables assigned by the supervisor;

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

• Expected Background and Experience

  • University degree in Law, Education, Sociology or social related field;
  • Minimum of 10 years of experience in Education;
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in working with vulnerable groups;
  • Relevant professional work experience in school desegregation initiatives;
  • Experience in drafting methodological and legal documents in the area of education
  • Experience with government and/or non-governmental organization;
  • Previous work experience with UNICEF or another international organization is an asset.
  • Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Romanian;

  Competencies

  • Analytical and conceptual ability;
  • Communication skills;
  • Planning and monitoring skills;
  • Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications;
  • Project management skills
  • Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and establish harmonious and effective working relationships.

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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

General conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Education Specialist. Decision-making is limited to methods of work and prioritizing project activities in accordance with established monthly work-plan;
• The estimated number of days envisaged for the consultancy is 20 days per month
• All communication will be done with UNICEF office;
• This contract does not include per diem and transportation when travelling with UNICEF.
• Payments will be made monthly, based on the activity report approved by supervisor.
• Note: consultant will sign health statement prior to taking the assignment and the designation form will be completed.

Application procedure:

The application will be made in the dedicated UNICEF platform and it must include:

1. an updated CV focused on the skills and experience requested by the current consultancy;

2. a cover letter underlining the motivation for applying for the position and how the candidate’s experience, skills and experience match the requirements of the position;

3. a financial offer, Financial bid_educ.docx specifying the requested net monthly fee in RON.

Selection procedure:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications which do not include the financial offer will not be considered.

The contract will be awarded based on the best combination of expertise and fee.

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.

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.