Home-based with travels: Education Consultant, Bratislava, Slovakia (106 days: February-August 2024)

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, hope

As of 1 November 2023, more than 109,000 refugees from Ukraine are recorded in Slovakia. Approximately 36,648 are children aged 0-17. As of 31 October 2023, 11,990 Ukrainian children are enrolled in schools and kindergartens across Slovakia (1,887 in kindergartens; 7,779 in primary schools; 2,324 in secondary schools, including special schools). This means that about two-thirds of children are not in school.

Based on initial data from the November 2023 Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) conducted by UNHCR, in the academic year 2022/2023, 68% of school-age children reported having been enrolled and attending school in Slovakia. 75% of children reported accessing distance learning in Ukraine, while overall 48% of children reported attending both in-person schooling and online education. Furthermore, the State School Inspectorate’s report of 2023 highlights a few challenges to the integration of Ukrainian children: language learning is still priority, schools need professional (psychological, special-educational and socio-pedagogical) support in the Ukrainian language, teaching assistants in Ukrainian language are needed, learning support for Ukrainian pupils needs to be strengthened, schools needs to provide students with appropriate learning materials, provide teachers with quality professional development and support in working with foreign pupils.

As the uncertainties of the war in Ukraine persist and given that sustained periods of online education may lead to social isolation, mental health issues and learning difficulties, it is important to continue efforts to enrol children in schools while at the same time strengthening the quality of education offered to enrolled children. In addition, adolescents and young people need opportunities for quality, inclusive non-formal learning and skills development.

UNICEF is working with national systems and institutions in the Slovak Republic to welcome and integrate Ukrainian children in education, through (1) ensuring supportive school environments in pre-primary, primary and secondary education (including provision of learning supplies; capacity building of teachers around inclusive, safe and intercultural learning environments; capacity building aimed at psychosocial support to students and teachers; acquisition of Slovak language; learning support, etc.); (2) improvement of social inclusion and peer relations through organisation of summer camps, buddy programmes and non-formal learning, etc.; (3) increasing institutional capacities to plan, implement and monitor the integration of Ukrainian learners in education systems; and (4) supporting the expansion of preschool capacities and introduction of diversified early learning provisions in affected/selected municipalities.

UNICEF Slovakia Ukraine Refugee Response is seeking an Education Consultant with experience in Education and Early Childhood Development (ECD)/Early Childhood Education (ECE) to provide coordination, advisory and technical support on the education and ECD refugee responses in the Slovak Republic. The consultant will report to the Chief of Education of UNICEF Slovakia Ukraine Refugee Response. The consultant will work in close coordination with the Education team as well as with other country colleagues in child protection, health, youth and social policy.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief of Education, and in close collaboration with Education and ECD colleagues of the Slovakia team, as well as with other colleagues in child protection, health, youth and social policy, the consultant will provide coordination, advisory and technical support on the Education and ECD refugee responses in Slovakia. More specifically, the consultant will:

1. Support the coordination structures in Education and ECD responses – more specifically support the coordination and managing the progress on achievements of the interagency Education Working Group co-led by UNICEF and MoES.

2. Strengthen capacities of the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the National Institute for Education and Youth (NIVAM) to operationalize the joint work plans with UNICEF for the inclusion of Ukrainian children in Slovak education system. This includes providing technical support to MoE and NIVAM on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices on Education and ECD/ECE-related issues to support implementation delivery, and reporting of results under the joint work plans.

3. Monitor the trends and emerging data and evidence of refugee education and concerns and the response by the Government and partners, including conducting data analyses and mappings (including international practices related to education response) and developing policy briefs to inform the education and ECD/ECE responses across the country.

4. Support Education team in organising meetings, training, translating related materials, developing communication materials, etc. (as needed).

Work assignment overviewDeliverablesNumber of days/deadlinesSupport the coordination structures in Education and ECD responses – more specifically support the coordination of the interagency Education Working Group co-led by UNICEF- Development of the annual programme for 2024 of the WG

• For each monthly meeting ( 7 meetings total):

o Development of meeting agenda;

o Communicate with and contact WG members;

o Attend meeting and take notes;

o Share minutes/synthesis of meeting.

- 2 days for the annual programme (due: 15 February 2024)

- 2 days/ monthly coordination meeting (i.e. 14 days total)

Strengthen capacities of the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the National Institute for Education and Youth (NIVAM) to operationalize the joint work plans with UNICEF for the integration of Ukrainian children in Slovak education system.- Monthly updates on progress of implementation of work plan activities (10 days)

-Monthly operational plans outlining key priorities for the implementation of the work plan activities and implementation of priorities (40 days)

• 5 Programme Monitoring Visits and Field Visits Reports (1 day/visit and 1 day/report)- 10 days

- 40 days

- 10 days ( 5 for the trips and 5 for the preparation and reporting)

Monitor the trends and emerging data and evidence of refugee education and concerns and the response by the Government and partners, including conducting data analyses and mappings to inform the education and ECD/ECE responses across the country.- 3 technical briefs presenting emerging data and evidence, analyses of trends and recommendations for policy measures in the area of education and ECD/ECE

- PPTs on data and evidence related to education and ECD refugee responses

• Comprehensive mapping of education-related data (enhancing existing PowerBI database and mapping- 2 days per brief due in March, May and July 2024 (6 days total)

- 3 days for 3 powerpoints due in march, May and July 2024

- 5 days to update the mapping

Support Education team in organising technical meetings, training, translating related materials, developing communication materials, etc. (as needed)- # of meeting minutes;

- # of translated materials;

• # of communication materials (as needed)16 daysTOTAL 106 days

Estimated Duration of the Contract

106 working days from 1 February 2024 to 31 August 2024

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a remote consultancy, with frequent travels to Slovakia for field monitoring and programmatic visits related to deliverables and/or the Education team’s programmatic work.

The consultant will arrange her/his travel as and when they take place. The consultant will be reimbursed based on actuals, upon agreement with the supervisor.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment of professional fees 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. Please propose a Professional Fee for 106 working days between 1 February 2024 to 31 August 2024 to undertake this assignment.

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

• Required:

  • An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Education, Early Childhood Development, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Social Sciences, Pedagogy or other related field.
  • Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience in programme planning, management, research in Education, ECD/ECE, or a similar field, at the international level with experience in the Slovak Republic or similar context.
  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Fluency in Slovak is required.
  • Experience working with or in UN organization.
• Desired:
  • Experience working within refugee setting is an asset.
  • Understanding of policies and strategies to address issues related to resilience and conflict situations
  • Experience working with state and NGO partners is strongly desired
  • Fluency in Ukrainian and/or Russian is 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.

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:

Please include a full CV, and a Financial Proposal in your application by indicating your availability and a lumpsum based on 106 working days to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. 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 (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.