Individual consultancy for capacity building on Inclusive Education and Universal Design for Learning for textbook developers and the Ministry of Education

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, education

The Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan puts selected textbooks for public review every year in order to improve the quality by adapting the content according to the recommendations of specialists and wider public audience before it’s printed for use at the general education institutions/schools. Since 2019 UNICEF has been providing technical support to the Ministry of Education in regular review of the draft textbooks for different grades on conformity to inclusiveness and principles of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Providing accessible and flexible learning materials is one of the basic principles of the Universal Design for Learning – the framework which helps to create learning environments to accommodate the diverse learning needs of children at all levels/grades.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of the activity is to strengthen capacities of textbook authors, relevant staff of the selected leading publishing houses and the relevant staff of the Ministry of Education on design of school textbooks in line with requirements and principles of Inclusive Education and specifically to reflect the requirements of the Universal Design for Learning.

Scope of Work:

• Review international guidelines and best practices in inclusive textbooks, curriculum and teaching materials meeting requirements of the UDL;
• Review the selected textbook content according to the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Universal Design for Learning in general to identify a scope of the training programme for textbooks authors, editors of the publishing houses and other relevant education experts;
• Review context and carry out consultations with relevant staff of the Ministry of Education, selected textbook developers, UNICEF staff, schoolteachers and other relevant stakeholder to identify needs and level of knowledge and understanding of the key principles and requirements of quality inclusive education and Universal Design for Learning;
• Develop a training programme on Inclusive Education and Universal Design for Learning for textbook developers based on the identified needs, gaps and relevant national policy requirements;

• Conduct a training on Inclusive Education/Universal Design for Learning for a selected group of textbook authors, relevant staff of the publishing houses and the relevant staff of the Ministry of Education.

  Tasks/Milestone:

  Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline:

Desk review of textbooks, relevant national policy requirements on textbooks to identify a scope of conformity to UDL and UNCRPD

An inception report with an identified scope, training needs and a suggested structure of the training programme

3 days – 27.08.2021

Consultations and interviews with MoE, textbook developers and UNICEF for needs assessment

3 days – 31.08.2021

Develop a training programme

A training programme along with a ppt

5 days

08.09.2021

Deliver a training to textbook developers and MOE

A training report outlining the results, lessons learned and recommendations

5 days

30.09.2021

Travel International (if applicable)

In case an international consultant identified and COVID restrictions allow

DSA (if applicable)

In case an international consultant identified and COVID restrictions allow

5 days

Payment condition

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment or terminate the contract 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

The consultancy will be supervised by Education Specialist. Start date of the consultancy is 23 August and end date is 30 September 2021.

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

• An advanced university degree in Inclusive Education, Education, Social Sciences, International Development;
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in Inclusive Education or SEND;
• Strong technical expertise on UDL, education equity issues and interactive pedagogy;
• Experience in developing of training materials and delivering training;
• Strong communications skills, verbal and written, networking and negotiation skills;
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality results in a timely manner
• Proven familiarity and experience working with UNICEF, particularly in the education sector, is desirable. Languages:
• Azerbaijani- Advanced (for national)
• English- Advanced (both international and national candidates)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

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.

Remarks:

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

All consultants & individual contractors regardless of contract duration must complete the applicable mandatory online courses prior to signature of contract. The link to these courses will be provided during the selection process for the successful candidates.

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.