Inclusive Education Consultant (policy & capacity building)

Contract

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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF’s office is accessible to a certain extent, and employees are entitled to reasonable accommodations that are needed for ensuring equitable working conditions.

UNICEF in Serbia is supporting the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development (MoESTD) in the implementation of the EU project IPA 2020/Serbia “Enhanced Equal Access to and Completion of Pre-University Education for Children in Need of Additional Support in Education”.

The project aims to (a) strengthen the capacities of professionals to implement inclusive practices and provide well-designed and appropriate additional support, (b) improve the national policies and institutional capacities to implement, coordinate and monitor inclusive education, (c) develop the resource centres for support to the education of children with disabilities and increase the availability of assistive technology. In addition, the project will promote inclusive education as a generally accepted standard in the Serbian education system.

Work Assignment Overview:

The project will directly impact further development and strengthening of the institutional, legal and policy framework for the implementation, monitoring and coordination of inclusive education in Serbia, which will bring benefits for all education institutions and children in pre-university education.

The consultant will work in the team of three consultants tasked to support the MoESTD in the implementation of the system reform programme “Enhanced Equal Access to and Completion of Pre-University Education for Children in Need of Additional Support in Education”. More specifically, the consultant will support the MoESTD in the coordination and monitoring of Inclusive Education and strengthening of the legal, policy and institutional frameworks, capacity building, as well as financing for Inclusive Education.

Duration of the assignment****:

August 2021 – July 2022 (full-time, office-based), with the possibility of extension until May 2024

Detailed task description:

The consultant will provide support to the MoESTD in the following areas:

1. Development, implementation and monitoring of inclusive education, and activities related to evidence-based policy making; this includes support of data collection through different instruments envisaged with the Monitoring Framework for IE and support to the process of review and consultation on 3 annual national reports on IE.
2. Improvement of legal and policy framework, and its further alignment with the international standards in IE.
3. Reform of financing of IE through coordination and support to the working group in the MoESTD on financing of IE.
4. Capacity-building of education professionals for inclusive teaching and learning, including providing support and coordination of delivery of capacity building programme for teachers and education professionals on inclusive pedagogy (approximately 4,000 participants), as well as ensuring the support of mentoring programme and horizontal learning.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• University degree in human sciences, preferably education, pedagogy, psychology, sociology, or other humanities. Advanced degree will be an asset.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in education policy in Serbia in the area of inclusive education.
• At least 1 large-scale capacity building programme successfully organized.
• Excellent knowledge of Serbian education system and education policies, and experience in working with different public institutions in the area of inclusive education.
• Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
• Excellent networking and negotiation skills.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines through excellent time management and organizing skills.
• Experience in education research and surveys will be an asset.
• Excellent knowledge of Serbian; knowledge of English would be an asset.
• Knowledge of the UN/UNICEF mandate and UN rules/procedures is an asset.
• B driving license is an asset.

How to apply:

The application must include a financial proposal in RSD as a separate document, providing the following information:

1. Daily rate (all costs included, e.g. health insurance, pension, usage of mobile phone),
2. Daily travel allowance for overnight stay in Serbia (including accommodation),
3. Transportation costs per km (for travel within Serbia).

Important notes:

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

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

For every child, you must demonstrate UNICEF's core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.