Individual Contractor - Quality Inclusive Education Athens, Greece

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,

Greece, as one of the primary entry points to Europe, has received over a million refugees and migrants since 2016 from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. As of September 2020, there were approximately 120,000 refugees and migrants living in Greece, of which, 33,000 are school-aged (4-17 years old), including nearly 4,000 unaccompanied children1.

Under the Greek law2, all children of compulsory school age, regardless of their legal status, have access to public school. In addition, access to school for children of the applicants of international protection must not be delayed more than three months after the completion of the full registration of their application for international protection by Greek authorities. In 2016, recognizing the additional needs of new arrivals in the country the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs (MoE) launched a refugee education programme by introducing second-shift, Reception Facilities for Refugee Education (DYEP) in Greek schools for all refugee and migrant children of compulsory school-age (4-15 years old3) living in reception and accommodation sites. Refugee students living in urban areas were enrolled in public school's regular classes in the morning, some of which were complemented with the support of reception classes.

Despite these efforts, according to the most recent assessment4, out of the 33,000 school-age children, only 42% (13,800) were enrolled in Greek public schools during the 2019-2020 school year. However, this school year has seen a significantly deteriorated situation for access to school, partially due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Moreover, most of the refugee and migrant children in schools face difficulties to be included and learn. Although there are many dedicated teachers that strive to respond to the needs of the refugee and migrant children, having foreign students who have missed several years of school and who do not understand the Greek language, especially in secondary schools, is a serious challenge for any teacher.

UNICEF aims to ensure that refugee and migrant children benefit of inclusive, equitable, quality education, through teacher trainings; educational and psychosocial programs for children and their families; development of tools addressing the needs of this population; and active cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Institute of Educational Policy, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, NGOs and other stakeholders.

How can you make a difference?

With a view of improving inclusion of refugee and migrant children to school, supporting teachers and educators to respond to the specific needs of these groups and strengthening the effectiveness and quality of UNICEF intervention, the Consultant will undertake the following key tasks:

• Assess training needs for the educators of the Non-Formal Education teams in the context of the Sites Management Support (SMS) lead by IOM and co-lead by UNICEF.

• Design and organize a series of trainings for educators of non-formal education programs and formal education teachers on different aspects of teaching methodologies and practices, such as teaching in multi-cultural classes, second languate teaching, differentiated learning, blended learning.

• Support the development and implementation of harmonized approach of non-formal educational programs aiming to support the successful integration of refugee and migrant children to school, in particular in the context of the Site Management Program lead by IOM and co-lead by UNICEF.

• Support UNICEF education team to enhance the use of the Akelius platform and other UNICEF tools for the inclusion of refugee and migrant children to schools and the strengthening of language learning.

• Liaise with the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Institute of Education Policy (IEP) to identify needs for trainings, educational material and tools to support the inclusion of refugee and migrant students in schools.

• Consolidate best practices and tools for the inclusion of refugee and migrant children in schools in cooperation with UNICEF partners, the MoE and the IEP.

Provide technical support to the Ministry of Education, Institute of Educational Policy on the development of tools and materials to strengthen inclusive education.

• Adapt Toolkits, Guides and Educational Material developed by UNICEF worldwide to be used in the Greek context.

• Contribute to the development of strategies on the inclusion of refugee and migrant children to school in cooperation with the Education team of UNICEF.

Time frame: Nine (9) months starting April. Completion date December 2021.

The following deliverables are expected:

Deliverables Description

Due date

1

Inception Report, including an assessment professional support needs for the educators of the non-formal education programs in the context of the Site Management Support program and the Akelius e-cource expanded use and the draft design of the modules for such programs.

30 April 2021

2

Interim report I, including the assessment of the trainings for the educators of the programs of Non-Formal Education in the context of the Site Management Support program and the consolidation of tools and best practices for the inclusion of refugee and migrant children in education

30 June 2021

3

Interim Report II. Adaptation of UNICEF training packages. toolkits and materials on inclusive education from global contexts to respond to the needs in Greece.

30 August 2021

4

Final Report on the state of inclusion of refugee and migrant children in schools, including recommendations on the support to students and teachers.

15 December 2021

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

• Advanced university degree (Masters as a minimum) in Education, social sciences, and/or international development with focus on education; ▪ A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in education and specifically in fields such as: a developing, designing and delivering training on education, b. research and/or providing practical, technical advice to teachers, government, and/or international development organizations in the area of education quality and/or inclusive education;

  ▪ Practical experience in working with refugee and migrant children is highly desirable;

  ▪ Excellent analytical, communication and negotiating skills;

  ▪ Excellent team working skills and respect for diversity;

  ▪ Computer skills, including internet navigation, and various office applications;

  ▪ Fluency in Greek and in English.

F****or 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.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Duty Station, Workplace and Travel

The consultant will be based in Athens and will be required to support the conduct of focus group discussions, site visits, and stakeholder meetings. S/he is expected to work full time for 9 months between April and December 2021.

Travel Clause:

o All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants/ Individual Contractors apply.

o All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.

o The eligible maximum amount for travel is specified in the contract.

o The consultant is responsible for his/her for travel arrangements, via the most economic and direct route.

o Travel costs will be reimbursed after the completion of mission. UNICEF will pay the applicable DSA rate and other travel related expenses upon submission of the invoice together with the supporting documentation.

o The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSafe certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.

Remuneration and Payment Schedule

Payment schedule: Payment will be made on a monthly basis, based on agreed deliverables and a submission of monthly progress reports to UNICEF by the consultant, upon approval by the direct supervisor. Monthly progress reports will be brief, produced in English and summarize key activities, achievements and challenges faced during the reporting period, priorities for the next reporting period, highlighting any support needs from or recommendations for UNICEF.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

How to apply

Applicants are invited to:

1. Attach the Letter of interest, including a plan describing your approach to the assignment, your availability and proposed fees (monthly). The financial offer should clearly indicate a) the amount for consultancy fees requested to carry out the aforementioned deliverables and any other expenses deemed necessary, b) the total amount of the financial offer. Please note that applications without a proposed fee will not be accepted

2. Complete their UNICEF profile

3. Attach latest P-11 History Form, CV and Motivation Letter (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.htm))

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.

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.

All regulations for Consultants and Individual Contractors, including General Terms and Conditions, do apply for this contract. 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.

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.