Individual Contractor – Technical Assistance for South-East Asia Primary Learning Metrics Programme, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), Bangkok, Thailand

Consultant Teaching & Training Programme & Policy

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 fulfilling 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 better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region. This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

The Education Section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant with technical expertise in international large-scale assessments (ILSAs) to support the implementation of the new strategic plan 2021-2025. The main purpose of the consultant is to provide technical assistance to UNICEF EAPRO, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) and participating country office in the region. The technical assistance will focus on the technical design, planning, testing and implementation of the SEA-PLM next round, coordination and collaboration and support to technical actors, implementers and partners.

Work Assignment:

The consultant will be responsible for guiding the development of SEA-PLM programme Pillar 1, as explained (Appendix 1) in the framework of SEA-PLM 2023: Generate comparative data, indicators and analysis on learning outcomes and context in basic education through SEA-PLM surveys and other studies, while contributing technically and strategically to other programme pillars and governance.

S/he will work with UNICEF, SEAMEO, participating countries and other partners to develop and quality assure technical standards, tools and methodology in relation accordingly to expertise areas expected to prepare, design and implement SEA-PLM next round. S/he will provide inputs to ensure that pillar interventions build on existing evidence, time trend comparisons and lessons learned from the first round of SEA-PLM 2019 and SEA-PLM 2023. S/he will provide guidance and quality assurance to UNICEF, SEAMEO, participating countries and other partners on SEA-PLM 2019 reporting and results dissemination. S/he will provide technical advisement on the overall SEA-PLM programme strategy and structure, and on UNICEF learning, data and assessment Programming and Strategy. The consultant will also provide some support to networking, dissemination activities, knowledge management and exchange between countries. Based on agreed workplan and resources, all tasks must be implemented in consultation and coordination with programme structures, participating countries, experts, existing resources and other activities of the programme. The following describe the key tasks of the position.

1) Technical inputs and quality assurance to ongoing analysis and reporting for SEA-PLM 2019

• Review and quality assure the development and publication of UNICEF and SEAMES ongoing secondary analyses
• Regular liaison and support with/of SEA-PLM national teams
• Contribute to thematic policy discussions through policy mapping and analyze
• Regular liaison and supporting with/of SEA-PLM national teams
• Supply communication contents for website, social media, network, partners

2) Technical assistance and quality assurance for design, development and implementation of SEA-PLM next round

These tasks will entail developing methodology procedures and standard reporting, management, quality assurance, capacity building and content updates with committed experts/institutions and Technical Advisory Group related to the necessary areas of expertise listed below for supporting the SEA-PLM next round to aim the following final products:

• Design of large-scale assessments, framework, test and questionnaire

• Trial testing and main survey final source version of cognitive tests, contextual questionnaires and attached frameworks

• Linguistic quality control

• Trial testing and main survey final linguistic versions of cognitive tests, contextual questionnaires and attached frameworks

• Sampling and weighting

• Trial testing and main survey sampling frame, procedure and guidelines, including schools and students selection

• Large-scale learning assessment survey operations and implementation

• Trial testing and main survey operation for national team and test administrators manuals and materials

• Scaling, data processing

• Trial testing psychometric analysis scheme and report preparation

• Main survey data process guidelines for data cleaning and data management

• Analysis and reporting

• Review and publication of frameworks and reports of results and capacity building

• Methodology and outputs reporting

• Management, communication and pillar coordination

  • Regular liaison and support with/of SEA-PLM national teams and experts
  • Contribute technically to review and participate in other main activities under the other SEA-PLM programme pillars to support system and school policy level and practice framework, mapping and good practice
  • Supply communication contents for website, social media, network, partners

3) Technical inputs for planning, implementing and reporting SEA-PLM pillars

• Support the development of two year technical regional and national workplan with SEAMES and participating countries to support the development of SEA-PLM programme Pillar 1, in the framework of SEA-PLM next round survey and capacity building activities
• Contribute to conceptualize, prepare, facilitate and support meetings with partners and experts; lead on technical meetings including the Technical Advisory Group
• Support technical exchange between participating countries and experts
• Contribute to the SEA-PLM programme documentation and knowledge management
• Report on methodology development and technical components in regular SEA-PLM technical and administrative reporting processes of pillar 1
• Assist the development of workplan and reporting of other pillars
• Liaise with other international initiatives on areas related to SEA-PLM standards, methods, data and findings.
• Contribute to resource mobilization efforts, including funding proposals to support additional activities

All financial, implementation and operational processes will be managed by the UNICEF Education Specialist. However, the consultant may be asked to:

• • Contribute to monitoring of programme implementation in accordance with UNICEF regulations, procedures and accountability framework, as well as in line with agreed indicators, budgets, service delivery and work plans.
  • Contribute to monitoring, reporting and operational processes as requested.
  • Advise on monitoring and implementation of Programme Corporation Agreement (PCA) with SEAMES, and Long-Term Agreement (LTA) and other contracts with designated technical institutions and individuals.

4) Technical inputs on the SEA-PLM programme strategy and structure, and on UNICEF learning, data and assessment Programming and Strategy

• Provide advice on SEA-PLM long-term strategy documentation, structure, funding model, partnership and agreements at regional and national levels.
• Contribute to alignment of technical activities with annual regional events and high-level meetings
• Contribute to needs and identify problems/gaps and propose/prioritize timely practical actions to respond to issues arising as part of the SEA-PLM next round strategic and institutional settings.
• Contribute to conceptualizing, prepare, facilitate and support the conducting of governance structure meetings in collaboration with other pillars.

Work Schedule:

A comprehensive workplan is already available and developed by the previous team. The overarching deliverables are based on tentative timeframe for preparing SEA-PLM next round in the option of implementing the main survey in 2024. The deliverables below represent the key milestones within each of the activity areas described above and will represent the main deliverables in the workplan. The overarching workplan and deliverables will be adjusted monthly, and agreed with the consultant in monthly workplans, which will include clear specifications for the content and quality of the deliverables.

Deliverables:

Month #

Expected outputs and deliverables

1

D1.1 Annual personal workplan for each activity area

D1.2 Progress report on activity areas according to the agreed monthly workplan and agreed quality standards

2

D2.1 Revised SEA-PLM Technical Standards

D2.2 Progress report on activity areas according to the agreed monthly workplan and agreed quality standards

3

D3.1 Procedures and standards for linguistic translation

D3.2 Progress report on activity areas according to the agreed monthly workplan and agreed quality standards

4

D4.1 Updated test framework draft

D4.2 Progress report on activity areas according to the agreed monthly workplan and agreed quality standards

5

D5.1 Contextual questionnaires matrix of comments

D5.2 Progress report on activity areas according to the agreed monthly workplan and agreed quality standards

6

D6.1 Review of pillar 2 effectivity and activities – policy exchange and innovation

D6.2 Progress report on activity areas according to the agreed monthly workplan and agreed quality standards

7

D7.1 SEA-PLM Mid-year Technical Report

D7.2 Progress report on activity areas according to the agreed monthly workplan and agreed quality standards

8

D8.1 Trial testing scheme and procedures

D8.2 Progress report on activity areas according to the agreed monthly workplan and agreed quality standards

9

D9.1 Trial testing and main survey operation for national team and test administrators manuals and materials

D9.2 Progress report on activity areas according to the agreed monthly workplan and agreed quality standards

10

D10.1 Regional Steering Committee concept note and materials

D10.2 Progress report on activity areas according to the agreed monthly workplan and agreed quality standards

11

D11.1 Trial testing of final source version of cognitive tests, contextual questionnaires and attached frameworks

D11.2 Progress report on activity areas according to the agreed monthly workplan and agreed quality standards

Duration of Contract: 1 January 2022 to 15 December 2022 (11.5 months)

Official Travel: Travel to support SEA-PLM implementation and participate in regional and internal meetings as required.

Working Location:

The consultant will work remotely. All office supplies and materials will be provided by the Consultant. The consultant will work with all members of the SEA-PLM Secretariat as needed, including SEA-PLM Coordinator, SEAMEO technical staff and the UNICEF team.

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

• An advanced University Degree in Education, Human Development, Public Policy, Sociology or other social science field;
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in international large-scale assesssments programme planning, management and research, some of which preferably in a developing country context;
• Specialization or experience in areas such as basic education, learning, large-scale assessment and skills development;
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in management and implementation of international large-scale learning assessments/cross-national learning assessments;
• Proven analytical skills and ability to work with others to develop strategy into action and communicating and influencing this to a wider audience;
• A proven record of effective and complex management including managing budgets, staff and funding of the programme;
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving and negotiation skills. The ability to remain calm whilst deal with conflicting priorities/work under pressure is essential;
• High-level interpersonal and communications skills; with the ability to write clear, concise reports and to facilitate/lead a group of individuals and impart knowledge;
• Ability to influence and liaise effectively with key stakeholders with successful track record in initiating, cultivating, and securing support from donors and partners;
• Excellent English writing ability and verbal skills for project proposals, reports, and communications;
• S/he must be able to plan and manage her/his own time effectively. The holder must exercise a strong work ethic and take responsibility for his/her own actions;
• Familiarity with UNICEF/UN operating procedures and structures;
• Experience of working in the East Asia Pacific region is highly desirable.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed monthly professional fee in USD by 3 November 2021****.

FORM P11.doc

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, 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

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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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

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Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org