Individual Consultancy for External Study on Tole Shikshyas (both International and National)

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, education.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, extended lockdowns and school closures have posed challenges in the continuation of learning for children. With schools remaining closed for over eight months in the last academic year, Nepal witnessed severe disruptions in the education of children across the country, especially for those who had little or no access to alternative learning modalities and resources to continue their learning. This was worse for children in their early years with data from UNICEF (December 2021) showing that one out of five children between the ages of 2 to 4 years is not developing on track with the pandemic affecting their health, learning and psychosocial well-being

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) responded by promoting six alternative modalities to enable children to continue studying at home. Data from UNICEF’s Child and Family Trackers which were collected at regular intervals, showed that engagement with these modalities varied widely - Self-study using textbooks was the most dominant (63%) for children, and this was much higher (70.5%) for students from public schools compared to those from private schools (61.5%). The access to online classes was significantly higher for children from private schools (43.5 %) compared to children going to community schools (18%). Few in-person modalities such as mobile teachers and Tole Shiksha was used but engagement was low (0.6%).

As part of a joint up effort to respond to this crisis, UNICEF worked closely with the education cluster to develop self-learning exercise books covering 45 days of the formal curriculum for children from ECD to Grade 3 and self-learning exercise books for grades 4 to 8. WFP continued to support Tole Shikshya in program areas with the provision of home visits and mobilisation of local youth volunteers, establishment of library and e-– libraries at the palika level to increase access to educational resources. Many cluster partners also supported alterative learning modalities such as tele-teaching and home based learning supported by teachers, and volunteers to provide alternative education in the most disadvantaged areas. A learning continuity campaign was also launched in January 2021 to help children continue to learn safely in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, through guidance on safe reopening of schools and the use of alternative education modalities.

About Tole Shikshyas

‘Tole Shikshya’ is a community-based learning programme where children come together in small groups to do homework, read, participate in constructive work, play different games, and learn together with peers. These sessions are facilitated by specially trained teachers and reading motivators . Originally developed to support children to continue learning during long school closures and long holidays, Tole Shikshya was easily adapted as a way of engaging with students and continuing learning during the midst of the Covid19 pandemic. In the initial months of the pandemic many government schools were used as quarantine centres forcing children to stay at home. While students in more urban areas could access alternate means of education like the internet, radio and television children from rural and remote communities were deprived from any of any alternate educational support. Any form of home-based support was also limited as parents from these communities have had little or no education themselves. To support students from these areas, Tole Shikshya were held in the communities by teachers and reading motivators to continue student engagement

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF and WFP have been supporting Tole Shikshyas as an alternative modality for ensuring learning continuity for children in grades ECD to three for many years now. These learning sessions were initially held during school vacations and long holidays to support students to continue learning but was later adapted as an alternative tool for teachers to engage with students during extended school closures due to the Covid19 pandemic. As schools re-opened this modality was further adapted as a way of continuing engagement with children and provide catch-up classes to mitigate learning losses.

As Tole Shikshas will possibly be considered as an important learning continuity tool during any crisis that could lead to disruptions in education in the future, UNICEF and WFP is conducting a joint external study to understand the relevance, effectiveness, coherence, impact and sustainability of the Tole Shikshyas conducted in our working areas. With the help of this study, we would want to understand whether the intervention is meeting its objectives, fits well with the local contexts and needs of students, whether resources are being used well and identify pre-requisites or guidelines for recommending this modality as an effective alternative education tool for ensuring learning continuity during crisis situations. This study will also identify lessons learned and make recommendations for any future adaptations.

Tasks/Milestone:****Deliverable****Target Delivery Date****Proposed FeeDiscussion and review of deliverables and submission of an activity plan with timelines

Finalize qualitative tools methods of analysis

Submission of timeline and milestones

Finalized tools

31st May 2022 20%Desk review of different alternative learning modalities funded by UNICEF and existing evaluation reports

Data collection, interaction with different stakeholders, possible field visits

Review report

Progress Report

15th July 2022

31st July 2022

50%Analysis of existing quantitative baseline and end line data

Analysis of qualitative data collected from the field using agreed tools

Draft report submission for feedback

Finalize report

Draft Report

Final report

15th September 2022

30th September 2022

30%

Duration: The consultancy will be for the period of 5 months.

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

Minimum Qualifications required (Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required)

• Masters’ degree in education and experience in a related area.
• A minimum of five years of demonstrated capacity and experience in developing and evaluating education programmes, preferably those funded by UN agencies
• Good written and oral communication skills and openness and willingness to interact with different stakeholders
• Extensive knowledge of the national education and training system is an added advantage
• Experience working with government ministries including the Ministry of Education in developing countries

For international lead consultant

• Good understanding of community learning initiatives
• Understanding of the education system and local context in Nepal will be an added advantage

For National Consultant

• Good understanding of the education system in Nepal
• Experience of working with local governments and community schools
• Willing to travel to UNICEF’s working areas if needed

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, 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:

Request to submit financial proposal as per deliverable in USD for International Consultant and in NPR for National Consultant.

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For national consultant, candidates from under-represented ethnic groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

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.