Individual International Consultancy: Education Technology for Development (T4D) Consultancy

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Lao PDR, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Government to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

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, support

Advertisement Text:

UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an Individual International Consultancy: Education Technology for Development (T4D) Consultancy. The duration of this assignment is 11.5 months, starting as soon as possible. The Consultant will be working from home but is expected to participate in regular meetings at UNICEF Lao PDR Office and/or MoES in Vientiane, Lao PDR. It is foreseen that this assignment will involve some travel to the provinces.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Technical support for the expansion of LESMIS and online PMIS, including additional functionalities and connectivity with other government management information systems

Main tasks:

• Support the finalisation of the MoES GIS-enabled monitoring platform for Education in Emergency response that will be integrated into LESMIS, including training of MoES technical teams (particularly ICT Center) in coordination with an international service provider responsible for setting up the platform (Beyond Essential Systems).
• Add additional questionnaires to the monitoring App that is linked to the COVID-19 GIS-enabled platform for use in monitoring of the Education in Emergencies response.
• Support MoES in the remote/distance support from BES to set-up LESMIS by providing technical support in remote access to the EMIS and other management information systems and facilitating data transfers as needed.
• Facilitate and where needed technically support the development of an integrated online GIS enabled LESMIS system that connects the various MoES databases and allows for importing and exporting of data in Unicode format.
• Supporting MoES, UNICEF and BES in “translating” identified data needs of key stakeholders into automatically generated, user-friendly reporting templates (e.g. School Report Card).
• Support the identification of training needs and the development and delivery of training for MoES technical teams on using the LESMIS platform and online PMIS as part of capacity development

• Provide quality assurance support short term and long-term capacity development plane for MoES MIS Core Team2. Technical support to MoES for strengthening data collection and validation processes by developing and trailing online data collection and reporting tools that are to be integrated in the LESMIS

  Main tasks:

• Support MoES with the development and trialling of online data collection and reporting tools and corresponding validation processes, including tools for monitoring and reporting on education in emergencies, school self-evaluations, school development planning and budgeting, and classroom observations, and integrating these into LESMIS.

• Provide technical support to the UNICEF Education Programme and Operations Unit for the procurement of ICT hardware and software as needed.
• Support the training of MoES technical teams on using of these tools as part of capacity development.
• Provide quality assurance support.

3. Technical support for the scale-up of the MoES Khang Panya Lao Teaching and Learning Platform

   Main tasks:

• Post launch, support MoES Research Institute for Educational Sciences (RIES) team, MoES Khang Panya Lao team and UNICEF in the scaling of the Teaching and Learning Platform, Khang Panya Lao, providing technical assistance in localising the technology, incorporating new features and functionalities of the Learning Passport, curating content for compatibility to the platform, coordinating various actors, and providing regular reports to UNICEF Lao PDR and the HQ and EAPRO Learning Passport team. This includes key support to the roll out of the updated application with new features.
• In line with new platform features, support the training of MoES technical team on using Khang Panya Lao, particularly MoES RIES and other key departments including in building interactive content on the platform.
• Provide support to the functionality testing of ICT equipment including piloting of solar powered media systems in schools and offline device hubs.
• Provide quality assurance support, including in monitoring of the implementation of the platform and its effective use in classrooms as well as the utilization of digital equipment provided to schools. This includes coordination with third parties in the collation of user feedback.
• Support the identification and development of new partnerships for scaling the platform, particularly from the private sector, among development partners and civil society organisations. This includes supporting technical discussions with internet service providers and other potential partners.
• Provide ongoing technical support to UNICEF Lao PDR in procuring new digital equipment (e.g. identification and specification of suitable smart tablets/notebooks and related devices procured for the MoES and schools, solar powered devices etc) and quality assuring their deliverables from a technical perspective.
• Linked to this, scope complementary ICT for learning and Edtech tools that could be integrated to support the Teaching and Learning Platform as part of related technology efforts.
• Provide ongoing coordination with the HQ Learning Passport team as well as the MoES team leading the development of the MoES Teaching and Learning Platform
• Provide ongoing advisory support to UNICEF and MoES staff in troubleshooting any technical issues that arise in the expanded roll out of the teaching and learning platform, in coordination with the HQ Learning Passport team as part of capacity development.

4. Development of the MoES ICT in Education Strategy in coordination with the Ministry of Technology and Communication (MTC)

• Provide technical guidance to the MoES ICT Centre and ICT Strategy Steering Committee and MTC in the review and development of an ICT in Education Strategy
• Support coordination with MoES, partners and UNICEF technical assistance provided to support development of the strategy. This includes development of the inception report, situation analysis, workshops and draft development, providing technical inputs throughout.
• Support coordination of a final draft version of the strategy for finalization and approval by MoES

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

• Advanced university degree in engineering, information technology or other related field, ideally complemented with a degree in the field of education.
• At least 8 years of professional work experience in Technology for Development (T4D) and/or information system development, IT system integration development, including web-based applications. Specific experience on GIS enabled platforms and/or ICT for learning is an advantage.
• ICT equipment and procurement planning, monitoring and evaluation experience.
• ICT systems training planning and implementation experience is considered an advantage.
• Experience in the design and implementation of ICT enabled data collection and reporting systems. Solid technical understanding of ICT systems in the education sector is a clear advantage.
• Demonstrated ability and experience in coordination, and ability to work under pressure is required.
• Previous working experience in ASEAN countries is desirable. Experience on ICT projects in Lao PDR is a clear advantage.
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills in English language.

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents:

• Letter of Interest (cover letter)
• CV or Resume
• Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available)
• Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including breakdown by consultancy fee, medical insurance covering medical evacuation for the whole duration of the assignment excluding travel for this assignment as per work assignment.

Assessment Criteria:

As part of the evaluation and selection, a Cumulative Analysis Method (weight combined score method) shall be used for this recruitment. This involves a technical evaluation and an assessment of the financial proposal:

a) Technical evaluation of the candidates’ qualifications, experience and expertise (max. 100 points) weight 70%:

Qualifications (20 points)

• Advanced degree (Master preferred) engineering, information technology or other related field (20 points).

Experience and expertise (80 points)

• At least 8 years of professional work experience in Technology for Development (T4D) and/or information system development, IT system integration development, including web-based applications. Specific experience on GIS enabled platforms and/or ICT for learning is an advantage. (20 points).
• ICT equipment and procurement planning, monitoring and evaluation experience (10 points).
• ICT systems training planning and implementation experience is considered an advantage (20 points).
• Experience in the design and implementation of ICT enabled data collection and reporting systems. Solid technical understanding of ICT systems in the education sector is a clear advantage (10 points).
• Previous working experience in ASEAN countries is desirable. Experience on ICT projects in Lao PDR is a clear advantage (10 points).
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills in English language (10 points).

b) Financial Proposal (max. 100 points) weight 30%

The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened /evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 70 points score in the technical evaluation. Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price. The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview.

For the technical assessment, candidates will have to be awarded at least 60 points out 100 to be considered for the assignment.

The applicants should provide medical insurance covering medical evacuation for the whole duration of the assignment -as part of the financial proposal submission.

The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview.

Please find the ToR here: ToR Education Technology for Development Consultant for VA.pdf

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.

View our competency framework at here

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.