Individual Contractor, Mesoamerica Education Initiative, LAC Regional Office

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

UNICEF and IDB are partnering with national governments on a new innovative initiative, Educación Mesoamérica (MEI), to transform education during the COVID-19 era and to empower a generation of young people to actively contribute to the economic and social development of Mesoamerican countries. The new initiative builds on the successful results-based financing model of Salud Mesoamérica, where 90% of participating countries achieved 80% of their maternal and child health targets.

To address the root causes of forced migration and promote economic prosperity in Mesoamerica, UNICEF and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are developing an innovative regional partnership, Educación Mesoamérica, with the 10 governments of Mesoamerica. Educación Mesoamérica will implement proven interventions and digital innovations with the aim of increasing: (1) the percentage of vulnerable young people with critical life and job skills; (2) the number of secondary school graduates; and (3) the number of students in safe and engaging learning environments. Country operations will be financed through a mix of donor funding (40%) and domestic government resources financed through IDB loans (60%). Upon achieving key results, countries will be eligible to recover a portion of their upfront investment (50%). MEI builds on the success of the Mesoamerican Health Initiative, through which 90% of countries achieved 80% of their maternal and child health targets.

The initiative is a 10-country partnership (Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama) that seeks to reach over 5 million vulnerable young people. It builds on existing regional alliances, including the Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project and the Central American Integration System (SICA). It will bring together public and private partners at national, regional and international levels.

UNICEF promotes the rights and welfare of all children and adolescents in everything we do. Together with our allies, we work in 190 countries and territories to transform this commitment into practical actions that benefit all children, especially focusing our efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded, worldwide.

The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices.

UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization and with our partners in government, civil society and the private sector to support shifts in public policy, fuel social engagement, and increase investment for children.

For more information about UNICEF and its work. (www.unicef.org/lac)..)

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the Assignment

Under the direct supervision of the Education Specialist (Secondary Education and Learning), and in close collaboration with Senior Adviser Public Partnerships (Public Partnerships Unit (PP) and Chief of Partnerships Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP), the individual contractor will support the coordination, implementation and monitoring of the Mesoamerican Education Initiative processes at this planning stage.

SPECIFIC TASKS

PROJECT COORDINATION

• Serve as the day-to-day point of contact with the IDB, including participating in recurring UNICEF/IDB meetings to coordinate and assign tasks for upcoming activities and deliverables across all workstreams (Technical Design, Government Engagement, Fundraising).

• Provide weekly coordination updates across all workstreams to the UNICEF technical working group (LACRO Education, PP and PFP Teams, HQ PPD, IF Team) and on an as needed basis.

• Prepare regular updates to LACRO Education, PP and PFP Advisor Teams, as well as COs (through LACRO), at least monthly and on an as needed basis.

TECHNICAL DESIGN

• Coordinate and manage inputs from across UNICEF (LACRO, HQ and COs) on the overall results framework, menu of interventions, and other technical aspects.

• Plan and organize technical meetings, including development of meeting agendas, briefing notes, talking points, presentations, meeting summaries, outreach to and instructions for presenters and participants, and logistical preparations (if needed).

• Lead the design of reginal education analyses to support programmatic efforts beyond the Mesoamerica Region

GOVERNMENT DIALOGUE

• Support country- and regional-level government dialogues on MEI, including developing meeting agendas, briefing notes, and talking points; this includes bilateral discussions with education ministries and consultations through regional mechanisms such as Proyecto Mesoamerica and SICA.

• Provide technical support to COs on the development and implementation of the initiative at country level, as needed.

FUNDRAISING

• Develop and customize materials for donor and fundraising purposes (e.g. concept note, presentations, etc).

• Support donor consultations, including donor conferences (i.e. development of meeting agendas, briefing notes, talking points, presentations, meeting summaries, outreach to and instructions for presenters and participants, and logistical preparations (if needed)).

• Coordinate the donor outreach plan that tracks the status of all donor consultations.

Expected Results

1. Participation in meetings with UNICEF and IDB on an as needed basis.

2. Submission of written coordination updates across all workstreams to the UNICEF technical working group on an as needed basis.

3. Development of necessary inputs for technical meetings, regional and/or country- level government consultations; inputs may include meeting agendas, briefing notes, talking points, presentations, meeting summaries, outreach to and instructions for presenters and participants, and logistical preparations.

4. Provision of technical support to countries for country government dialogues and other aspects of the initiative’s technical design, development and implementation.

5. Development of necessary inputs and materials for donor and fundraising purposes, including concept notes, presentations, donor conferences, meeting agendas, briefing notes.

6. Updates on the donor outreach plan with the status of donor consultations.

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

Education

Master's degree in education, social sciences, international development or other related field.

Work Experience

A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience on programme planning, management, and/or research in education and learning is required.

Work experience in research and analysis in education systems, including life and job skills, in particular with Ministries of Education and Ministries of Labour.

Experience working with Mesoamerican countries is considered as an asset.

Languages

Fluency in Spanish and English is required. Knowledge of French or Portuguese will be considered an asset.

Technical knowledge

Professional technical knowledge and expertise in education goals and outcomes in the Mesoamerican context.

Extensive knowledge of UNICEF programme work in the LAC Region in the areas of education, learning and skills development.

Other skills and attributes

Excellent skills in Spanish and English.

Demonstrated ability to be flexible and adapt to shifting conditions and work demands.

Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines.

Ability to research, analyze and present complex information.

Must be detail oriented and creative and possess strong communication skills

Able to work effectively in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious working relations.

High level of integrity and commitment to UNICEF's mission and professional values.

Sets high levels of quality and productivity.

Demonstrated experience with UNICEF will be an asset.

Supervision: the individual contractor will work under the direct supervision of the Education Specialist (Secondary Education and Learning), and in close collaboration with the PP and PFP.

Workplace: this is a home based consultancy.

Duration: this contract has an estimated duration of 3.5 months, and an estimated start date of 1 November 2021

How to Apply: Application should be submitted online and should include: Resume, Cover Letter and Financial proposal. Qualified candidates are requested to submit daily and monthly fees in their financial proposal.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and the following core competencies: Nurtures, Leads and Manages People, Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness, Works Collaboratively with others, Builds and Maintains Partnerships, Innovates and Embraces Change, Thinks and Acts Strategically, Drive to achieve impactful results, and Manages ambiguity and complexity.

To view our values and competency framework please visit the following links: Our Values and Our Competencies.

Remarks

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

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.