Individual Contractor - Digital Learning Consultant in Sao Tome and Principe - for 10 months

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, a champion

UNICEF and other partners, as part of the COVID-19 response plan, have been supporting the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe to find more innovative alternative approaches to ensure equitable access to quality education for all children. To ensure continuity of learning, both during the confinement phase and when schools reopened, the country has adopted mixed approaches (traditional face-to-face teaching and reinforcement of digital learning through TV and radio lessons, and the use of a digital platform). Meanwhile, the pandemic situation has created a challenge for the educational system seeking to provide more consistent and more resilient responses.

São Tomé and Príncipe will develop a digital learning programme, which will be piloted in the Autonomous Region of Príncipe (thanks to a large laptop donation) and in a region of São Tomé Island (using mobile devices). To ensure a successful implementation, São Tomé e Príncipe will develop a 5-year ICT Strategic Plan.

In terms of connectivity, São Tomé and Principe has access to optical fiber, so the connectivity conditions are favorable for the development of a digital learning programme. To improve school connectivity, the country plans to join the GIGA initiative (https://gigaconnect.org/), in coordination with the private and public sector and other partners. In addition, the Learning-Passport platform (https://www.learningpassport.org/ will be offered as an innovative solution to ensure students access quality digital learning materials in both formal and non-formal settings.

How can you make a difference?

The UNICEF office in São Tomé and Príncipe is seeking to recruit an individual digital learning consultant to support the education sector in defining and implementing the digital learning program.

The purpose of the activity is to provide technical assistance to the government of São Tomé and Príncipe in defining the ICT strategic plan and coordinating the activities related to the implementation of the digital learning program through the pilot initiative

Under the supervision of Education Specialist, the consultant will support UNICEF and the government in providing technical guidance on strategies and operational issues related to the implementation of the digital learning pilot (as part of the "Reimagine Education" Initiative), ensuring the strategies are tailored to the national context and the needs and capacities of the beneficiaries. The following tasks are defined:

1. Support (advise and provide technical guidance) the Government in the development and execution of the ICT strategic plan.

2. Coordinate all activities related to the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the pilot experiment in São Tomé and Príncipe, in consultation with the coordination and management structures and UNICEF Innocenti.

3. Coordinate contributions of all programmes stakeholders at central, regional, district and local (schools) levels through the coordination and management structures.

4. Support the Government in the adoption and adaptation of the digital learning platform and knowledge management, paying particular attention to children with special educational needs and children in remote areas.

5. Provide technical support to the Ministry of Education (MEES) to prepare the content for the platform and train the technical team for content selection/adaptation/creation.

6. Provide technical support to the MEES to join the GIGA and Learning Passport initiatives.

7. Supervise and support the training process ensuring the basic conditions for the adequate use of computers and use of the platforms are in place.

8. Oversee and support monitoring and evaluation activities, in consultation with UNICEF Innocenti.

9. Provide technical support in writing collaboration or funding proposals related to digital learning with the aim of upscaling the initiative.

10. Prepare monthly work plans, adjusting where necessary any changes to ensure the smooth implementation of the overall digital learning programme plan.

11. Prepare reports with suggestions, recommendations and lessons learned from the pilot experience in the RAP and São Tomé. Develop a final report with a summary of activities carried out, objectives achieved, opportunities, challenges, risks and recommendations.

Technical and Financial Proposal

The consultancy will be full-time, for a period of 10 months from the date of signing the contract, which is expected to be in September 2021.

The consultant will be based in São Tomé and Príncipe, staying in São Tomé and Príncipe for periods to be agreed upon according to his/her work plan.

The consultant must submit his/her technical and financial proposal at the time of application. The technical proposal must include the work plan with the respective schedule and work methodology.

The financial proposal should include all expenses: monthly fees, one international round trip, meals, Internet and telephone communications, and local transportation, etc.

UNICEF will provide an accommodation subsidy of up to 1500 USD/month and cover the necessary domestic flights, as agreed with the supervisor.

Work Assignment, Tasks/Milestone, Deliverables/Outputs:

• Advise and provide technical guidance to the government in the development of the strategy for the pilot. Coordinate all activities related to the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the pilot in consultation with the coordination and management structures and UNICEF Innocenti. Report November 2021
• Support the government in the adoption and adaptation of the digital learning platform and knowledge management, paying particular attention to children with special educational needs and children in remote areas. Provide technical support to the Ministry of Education (MEES) to prepare the content for the platform and train the technical team for content selection/adaptation/ creation. Provide technical support to the MEES to join the GIGA and Learning Passport initiatives. Progress report including: Platform deployment, Content created/adapted, Capacity-building activities, Activities related to the GIGA initiative.OBS: some reports to donors or Head Quarter will be in English, January 2022; April 2022; June 2022
• Supervise and support the training process ensuring the basic conditions for the adequate use of computers and use of the platforms are in place. Oversee and support monitoring and evaluation activities, in consultation with UNICEF Innocenti. Provide technical support in writing collaboration or funding proposals related to digital learning to upscale the initiative. Progress report, including : Training in the proper use of computers and use of the platforms), M&E activities, Fundraising. OBS: some reports to donors or Head Quarter will be in English. April 2022; June 2022
• Prepare quarterly reports with suggestions, recommendations and lessons learned from the pilot experience in the RAP and São Tomé. Draft a final report with a summary of activities carried out, objectives achieved, opportunities, challenges, risks, and recommendations. Final report on the pilot experience in RAP and São Tomé. OBS: some reports to donors or Head Quarter will be in English, July 2022

Work conditions

• The consultant must have his own work equipment (computer, mobile phone, etc.).
• UNICEF will provide transport for field trips and working meetings with partners.
• A UNICEF Office workspace will be made available to facilitate exchanges and internet connection.
• UNICEF does not provide or organize health insurance coverage for the consultant.

Note: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their technical and financial evaluation offers (proposals must be submitted separately.

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

Advanced degree in education, information technology, statistics, communication, engineering, or other related fields. In place of a specific post-graduate academic degree.

At least 5 years of professional experience in digital learning.

• Minimum 3 years of experience in the field of Education.
• Proven training and capacity-building skills for a range of stakeholders.
• Experience working as an educator is a plus.
• Experience managing user-driven design processes in software development and support is a plus.
• Experience in digital learning design is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral. The consultant should be comfortable in presentations and meetings with D-level (UN) or C-level (private sector) executives.
• Proven coordination skills and experience and ability to work under pressure are required.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English is mandatory
• Other competencies: Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners;

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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Application Submission

Interested applicants are requested to apply online and attach:

• A Technical proposal (minimum of 2 pages)
• A financial offer must be a standalone document, which must include full details of the financial offer: daily rates and the other components of the financial offer.
• Resume
• Highest university degree

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.

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.