Education Project Manager, Individual Contractor, Brazil

Contract

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Background & Rationale

Brazil has made steady progress in all education-related indicators regarding access, permanence and quality of learning. In terms of access, from 1990 to 2013 the percentage of children of compulsory school agexvi who were out of school was reduced by 64%, from 19.6% to 6.4%. Despite the fact that this percentage seems small, it was equivalent to 2.8 million children and adolescents in 2015 according to the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD 2015). In general, they are poor, Afro-descendants, indigenous and/or live in traditional communities: most of them live on the outskirts of large urban centers, in the Semi-Arid, in the Amazon and in rural areas. Children and adolescents with disabilities face very severe exclusions: in 2015, almost 30% of all children with disabilities were out of school.

Quality is one of the remaining challenges to universal access to and permanence in school and it is a national priority as stated in the SDG 4 (SDG). In 2014, close to 8 million children and adolescents in primary and secondary education were 2 or more years behind their grades, one of the main causes for drop out. Other elements include discrimination, child labour, and pregnancy, inadequate curricula, including in relation to racial and inclusive relations, and undervalued teachers. Poor infrastructure also limits opportunities: for example, only 32% of all schools in Brazil have sports facilities, and only 24% have adequate facilities for people with disabilities. The access to primary education is well balance among boys and girls, but for secondary education, especially in rural areas, the girls are more likely to do not access and drop out more than boys. The access to basic WASH at school level remain a challenge in the intervention areas.

In 2013, just the 56.9% of municipal schools achieved or surpassed the established learning goal (based on IDEB). The Amazon region presents a more challenging situation. Only 42.4% of municipal schools in the Amazon, reached their learning goals. In addition, 57.1% and 52% in the Semi-Arid region and in large urban centres respectively. The analysis reflects a historical series, in which, numbers remain negative, and there has been an involution. There is a need to re-think the educational system, as well as the educational paradigms for the different regions of the country.

Through the Selo UNICEF Município Aprovado (Seal of Approved Municipality), UNICEF promotes commitments to guarantee the rights of children and adolescents in the Semiarid and Brazilian Legal Amazon, with the aim of reducing the inequalities of these regions in relation to the rest of the country. In urban centres, UNICEF works with a focus on reducing intra-municipal inequalities through the Plataforma dos Centros Urbanos - PCU (Urban Centres Platform).

As of September, there have been over 4.33 million COVID-19 cases and 131,625 deaths. The second country in terms of COVID-19 deaths worldwide, Brazil presents high pre-existing disparities and vulnerabilities, exacerbated by the pandemic. While Brazil’s richest and most populous Southeast regions have the highest number of cases, the pandemic quickly spread into vulnerable territories, with 1.8 million cases and 51,154 deaths reported in North and Northeast regions. Since March 2020, most of the schools are closed leaving more then 44 million children and adolescent and the public system in a vulnerable situation. In August, 16.6% of students attending school did not have any activities available (nor were they on vacation). This is equivalent to 7.5 million students: 4 million in elementary school, 1.8 million in high school and 1.7 million in higher education. Students from the most vulnerable groups are the most affected to school closure and suffer from multiple deprivations as such as stunt, risk of sexual abuse and exploitation and mental health issues.

As part of the new Country Programme 2017 – 2021, this consultancy will support the implementation of activities that help the most excluded boys and girls benefit from enhanced and inclusive public policies and services as well as activities that help the most vulnerable boys and girls benefit from quality social policies for vulnerable children and adolescents.The consultant will actively participate in decision making processes, contributing to the achievements of the Education Area in the programme, including in the activities of Selo UNICEF and PCU as well as COVID-19 impact on Education sector response.

Purpose

The individual contractor seeks to address our current needs to help the development and implementation of Education Area activities to both Outcome 1: enhanced policies for excluded children and adolescents in education area and Outcome 2: quality social policies for vulnerable children and adolescents, in line with Components 1 and 2 of the Brazil Country Programme 2017-2021, including COVID-19 impact on Education sector response and support both Education national management team and zonal offices on project management.

Expected results: (measurable results)

SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time Bound

Result 1: Support the area with quality material and knowledge products for internal and external audiences produced in a timely fashion

1.1 Deliverables

1. Contribute to the development and monitoring of the advocacy strategy on behalf of children’s rights on education as a means of consolidation of the UNICEF agenda among the municipalities enrolled in Selo UNICEF and PCU as well as in states where the area maintains partnership projects;
2. Support the Education and Communications teams in disseminating information about UNICEF’s Education Programme; including drafting of marketing and communications material;
3. Support the development of donor proposals for increased financial support for Education Area initiatives and corresponding donor reports;
4. Assist in the logistic of events organised by the UNICEF Education Area (lectures, workshops,

meetings, etc.).

1.2. Duration: 11 ½ months;

1.3. Deadline: at the end of every 1-month cycle;

1.4. Payment (% of the contract): 30%

Result 2: Support the area with improved data and information management

1.1 Deliverables

1. Participate in meetings between UNICEF staff and the Programme implementing partners as a mean of monitoring of the work plan of the agreed activities;
2. Manage and support the management of specific projects in close collaboration with the Chief of Education and both Education Officers and focal points at zonal offices;
3. Assist with logistics related to Education Area events and capacity building trainings associated with the Programme, including Selo UNICEF and PCU;
4. Contribute to the development and monitoring of the cycles of capacity building trainings in educational public policy development for the municipalities enrolled in Selo UNICEF and PCU;
5. Contribute to the elaboration of a strategic planning for the monitoring and assessment of the Programme in its current edition;
6. Participate in meetings with other programmatic areas and resource mobilization as a mean to strengthen information and knowledge exchange;
7. Monitor levels of activity and achievements of the Education Area with respect to annual workplans for management purposes;
8. Maintain systematic and routine updated information on progress related to Education Area for the Chief, the team, technical partners, and the other teams of UNICEF (Communication, other thematic areas, Resource Mobilization and Partnerships).

1.2. Duration: 11 ½ months;

1.3. Deadline: at the end of every 1-month cycle;

1.4. Payment (% of the contract): 70%

Services of this contract will be delivered continuously, with the same frequency throughout the months.

Delivery deadlines of reports:

1. 30 November 2020;
2. 31 December 2020;
3. 31 January 2021;
4. 28 February 2021;
5. 31 March 2021;
6. 30 April 2021;
7. 31 May 2021;
8. 30 June 2021;
9. 31 July 2021;
10. 30 August 2021;
11. 20 September 2021;
12. 15 October 2021.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Punctuality in meeting deadlines;
• Quality of the contents;
• Timely provision of the deliverables;
• Full adherence to the monthly workplans and diligences as agreed with Supervisor;
• Satisfactory quality level of reports and actions (quality of inputs, analysis, register of activities, recommendations, etc).

Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline

• Advanced degree in Communication, Management, Education, Psychology, Sociology or other social science field is required;
• A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience at national or international levels in relevant Education programmes. Experience in UN system agency or organization is an asset;
• Fluency in Portuguese and English is required. Knowledge of Spanish is an asset;
• Knowledge on children’s rights issues, including the Convention of Rights of the Child and the Statute of the Child and the Adolescent;
• Experience in content production and project management;
• Teamwork skills and capacity to work with tight deadlines;
• Knowledge in the use of digital media tools and social networks;
• Experience in the production of materials for learning programs or content for social mobilization initiatives.

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• UNICEF will provide the individual contractor all required core equipment and material for fulfilling his duty, not including personal computer;
• Expenses related to these travels will be covered by UNICEF and paid to the Individual contractor as per UNICEF travel rules and regulations. For Consultant’s, travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee;
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or individual Contractor;
• No consultant may travel without a signed travel authorization prior to the commencement of the journey to the duty station for international consultant;
• Consultants / ICs will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.

Financial Proposal

Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.

A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants and individual contractors are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

The payment will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Restrictions

In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious and ethnic backgrounds, representing the diversity of Brazil, such as black and indigenous people, to apply to become a part of our organization. Candidates will be equally considered regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, social and HIV/aids status.