Individual consultancy: International consultant to develop National Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) for preschool education (3-5 years old)

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

How can you make a difference?

1. PURPOSE:

To support the Government of Mozambique, Ministry of Education and Human Development to establish minimum standards and indicators for early childhood education (preschool) and for improving quality learning and school readiness for children between 3 – 5 years in Mozambique.

The main goal of development of early learning and development standards (ELDS) is to confer a common reference framework for all early childhood and preschool services and to approach the child from a holistic perspective.

The outputs of this consultancy will be extensively shared with and used by the government and non-government organizations and agencies in improving the quality and standards of early childhood and preschool education services making it efficient, meaningful and enriching for children.

2. OBJECTIVES****:

To develop Early Learning Development Standards (ELDS) framework document for children from age 3 to 5 that are culturally and developmentally appropriate to the Mozambican context. The ELDS document should be able to assist teachers, parents and caregivers to organize and plan activities at schools, learning centres and in the homes.

3. METHODOLOGY:

Involvement of various Early Childhood Education and preschool stakeholders from among the government and non-government organizations including universities and academia is deemed necessary to make the method more participatory and the outcome of the task more relevant to the end users’ context. To accomplish the following task, the consultant will draw up a timeline and methodology that promises the involvement of all relevant stakeholders. A draft work plan to undertake the development process should be submitted along with the technical proposal.

4. ACTIVITIES:

Working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and intersectoral partners, and under the guidance and supervision of UNICEF Mozambique, the Consultant will carry out the following process/actions and develop the National ELDS for children ages 3 – 5 years old in Mozambique.

4.1. Develop a work plan for ELDS development process in Mozambique;

4.2. Desk review of existing preschool/ECE/ECD frameworks including policy guidelines, strategies, curriculum and relevant tools;

4.3. Develop a Terms of Reference (ToR) and Modes of Operations for the Writing/Working Groups in developing the ELDS

4.4. Conduct a training workshop for the Writing Group/Core Group in determining a framework including values, guiding principles and developmental domains to be covered by ELDS;

4.5. Facilitate at least 2 writing workshops;

4.6. Putting together all the group works into ELDS Document in the form of a book with the incorporation of necessary illustrations or diagrams.

4.7. Conduct a stakeholders’ meeting to share the draft to receive feedback for incorporation in the final ELDS document; and to make recommendations for next steps in finalizing and implementing ELDS

4.8. Submit the final ELDS Document in the form of a book, properly organized ready to be used for validation (both content and age validation)

4.9. Develop a draft ToR for carrying out the task of validating the ELDS including methodology and tools.

4.10. Train the agency/institute that will undertake the age validation of the ELDS.

4.11. Submit a detailed report of the task including the findings, lessons learned, recommendations and the list of interviews & interviewees, meetings, field visits, documents reviewed, workshop agenda/outcomes, work plan, etc.

5. DURATION:

· 70 working days (5 working days in a week/3.5 months) in the country

1. DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT TERMS:

Payments will be processed upon acceptance of the corresponding deliverable and against an invoice that will make reference to the contract reference and deliverable number.

Deliverable 1:

Delivery timeframe: 20 working days (4weeks)

Deliverable/product(s):

• Develop a work plan for ELDS development process in Mozambique
• Desk review of existing preschool/ECE/ECD frameworks including policy guidelines, strategies, curriculum and relevant tools;
• Develop a Terms of Reference (ToR) and Modes of Operations for the Writing/Working Groups in developing the ELDS
• Conduct a training workshop for the Writing Group/Core Group in determining a framework including values, guiding principles and developmental domains to be covered by ELDS;

Payment (%): 30%

Deliverable 2:

Delivery timeframe: 30 working days (6 weeks)

Deliverable/product(s):

• Facilitate at least 2 writing workshops;
• Putting together all the group works into ELDS Document in the form of a book with the incorporation of necessary illustrations or diagrams.
• Conduct a stakeholders’ meeting to share the draft to receive feedback for incorporation in the final ELDS document; and to make recommendations for next steps in finalizing and implementing ELDS
• Submit the final ELDS Document in the form of a book, properly organized ready to be used for validation (both content and age validation)

Payment (%): 50%

Deliverable 3:

Delivery timeframe: 20 working days (4 weeks)

Deliverable/product(s):

• Develop a draft ToR for carrying out the task of validating the ELDS including methodology and tools.
• Train the agency/institute that will undertake the age validation of the ELDS.
• Submit a detailed report of the task including the findings, lessons learned, recommendations and the list of interviews & interviewees, meetings, field visits, documents reviewed, workshop agenda/outcomes, work plan, etc.

Payment (%): 20%

2. MANAGEMENT & SUPERVISION:

The consultant will be managed by UNICEF and supervised by Education Specialist for Early Learning.

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

The consultant must have following qualifications and experience to be eligible to apply for the assignment:

• Advanced university degree in Education (preferably in Early Childhood Education), Early Childhood development or in Social Sciences
• At least 5 years of experience in the field of Early Childhood Education or Early Childhood Development at national and international levels in managing research in education/ECD related areas.
• Sound knowledge and experience in developing Early Childhood Education/Preschool Education/ECD standards and curriculum frameworks
• Proven ability to facilitate workshops/trainings
• Proven ability to write high quality documents or reports
• Ability to establish rapport with all stakeholders at different levels
• Experience in working with UNICEF or other UN agencies in the relevant field in Africa would be an asset
• Excellent communication skills; interpersonal, networking, analytical and computer skills;
• Fluency in English and a good working knowledge of Portuguese;

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.