Education Research Consultant

Job Description

Organizational Background:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure.

Consultancy Purpose:

The purpose of this consultancy is to support IRC in setting an Education Strategy for the Jordan country program; one that is informed by the contextual needs and gaps (in children/youth learning and the education system), as well as IRC’s strengths and added value in light of the operational space and funding priorities. This will support the IRC to effectively position for upcoming opportunities that advance IRC’s education and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) outcomes, capitalizing on the organization’s humanitarian expertise and concretely identifying our added value in the development field.

Related IRC Education Outcomes (oef.irc.org):

- Young girls and boys (0 to 5) have cognitive and social-emotional skills. - School aged girls and boys (6 to 14) have literacy, numeracy and social-emotional skills. - Young women and men (15 to 24) have market relevant livelihood skills, literacy and numeracy skills, and social-emotional skills.

Terms of Reference:

1. Initial consultation with IRC staff to refine and reaffirm scope of work

2. Desk research (to include, but not limited to a comprehensive overview of):

o Access barriers to education

o Quality barriers to education

o System Strengthening: SWOT analysis (education and social-emotional learning)

o MoE national strategies and frameworks for education

o Major donors and funding landscape for education in Jordan

§ Current active programming, as well as programs in the funding pipeline

o Most recent education assessments nationally (including SEL)

o Major education programming nationally in Jordan (including SEL), including formal and non-formal programs; remedial programs; and early childhood education and development programs, and who is implementing them

o Reviewing the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) system adopted by the Ministry of Education, who are the service providers for the trainings, what are the challenges in providing the planned trainings to teachers and school principals.

o IRC education programs globally and in the region

3. Stakeholder analysis and consultations specific to education sector

o Ministry and government officials (mainly MoE, MoL (vocational), and MoSD)

o Civil society organizations and their strategic placement to respond to education. This includes potential IRC partners, as well as analysis of potential competitors.

o Coordination groups.

o Private Sector as related to education and SEL

o Higher Education and Vocational Education & Trainings (at the VTC level)

o Learn more about the challenges facing the teachers at school level in the male schools by meeting some of the stakeholders such as RTI.

4. Technical recommendations report for IRC education strategy & interventions (this will be based on IRC outcomes and builds on the desk research and stakeholder analysis), which will support the IRC conduct a design workshop to shape our education programs.

The desk research should leverage IRC current programming, data and evidence generated, technical expertise and outcomes for education, with the objective of making recommendations to IRC program design for education programming, focusing on IRC’s value add in Jordan.

Deliverables:

1) Final approved scope of work after technical meeting with IRC team

a. Revised Terms of Reference

2) Desk Review and Summary

a. Outline and methodology of the Desk Review

b. Desk Review report

c. PPT of the desk review that includes the key findings.

3) Stakeholder engagement analysis report

a. List of specific government bodies, institutions, and individuals

b. Outline and methodology of stakeholder engagement

c. Proposed list of questions to targeted stakeholders

d. Donor education landscape – including funding cycles and trends, and usual awarded organizations

e. Stakeholder engagement analysis report

f. PPT of the stakeholder engagement report that includes the key findings.

4) Technical Recommendations report

a. Proposed intervention design (include options, which leverage IRC program models) with analysis as to why and how this design will meet IRC objectives.

b. Presentation to the country team and technical unit.

Duration: The duration of the consultancy is an estimated 2 months, expecting to start on March 1st, 2022, and to submit and hand over the tasks respectively and final deliverables by May 1st, 2022.

Payment Schedule: Payment will be based on the deliverables:

Payment 1: 10% (initial consultation with IRC team to finalize scope of work) Payment 2: 20% (approval of Desk Research)

Payment 3: 20% (approval of Stakeholder Analysis)

Payment 4: 50% (final submission and approval of all deliverables)

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in education, education psychology, social work, human development or relevant field or equivalent is required. Master’s degree is preferred.

Work Experience: A minimum of 10 years in implementing and/or managing large education and research programs is required. Education work experience in Jordan is required.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

· Expertise in the Jordan education landscape, stakeholders, and programming nationally.

· Proven ability to conduct desk research, stakeholder interviews, and analysis.

· Demonstrated expertise in technical tools & education materials development in Arabic.

· Expertise in program assessment, design, content development, monitoring and evaluation, and implementation with the ability to turn concepts and strategy into measurable action. Expertise in social and emotional learning is required.

· Knowledge of the Jordan donor landscape for education and SEL programming.

Language Skills: Fluency in Arabic and English required.

How to Apply: The consultant shall submit:

1) CV (not more than 4 pages in length)

2) Technical proposal (not more than 4 pages in length)

3) Financial proposal (not more than 4 pages in length)

4) 2 samples of developed materials related to this detailed consultancy purpose (i.e. a comprehensive desk research or needs assessment that is similar in scope of work).

IRC strives to be an equal opportunities employer. IRC is committed to equality of opportunity and to non-discrimination for all job applicants and employees. WE seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.