Individual International Consultancy to Support Strengthening National Capacity in Education in Emergencies in Turkmenistan (for non-Turkmenistan nationals only)

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, quality and inclusive education

Turkmenistan’s population and economy are exposed to earthquakes and floods, with earthquakes posing the greater risk of a high impact, lower probability event. In all categories of emergency, education is disrupted in similar ways, plunging children and their learning opportunities into crisis. Whether the education system and services remain functional or not often depends on the scale of the emergency and the capacity of the national education system to respond effectively. Emergencies deny children the knowledge and the opportunities that an education can provide. Education, along with other emergency responses such as shelter, water and sanitation, health, and food aid, revitalise and strengthen morale of children affected by conflict, displacement, and disasters. In the short term, education plays a role in meeting children’s basic needs; in the long term, it will help them to reduce their vulnerability to disaster and will help them build new lives. Therefore, education should be seen as a priority component of emergency response. Recognizing the importance of Education in Emergencies, UNICEF Education Strategy 2019-2030 defines Improved learning and protection for children in emergencies and fragile contexts: (1) Prevention (Resilient systems), (2) Response (Education in Emergencies) as strategic goals .

UNICEF continues to provide global leadership on education in emergencies and works with national and international partners to build an architecture for education in emergencies that is fit-for purpose, adequately resourced, and maximally effective. In 2021, the Global Education Cluster (GEC) conducted the Education in Emergency (EiE) Core Coordination Training (CCT) as part of the capacity development initiatives aimed at developing the competencies of coordinators and information managers, including Ministry of Education (MoE) counterparts, and other education stakeholders to effectively coordinate and implement quality EiE responses. Along with representatives from Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, representatives of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan took part in the training. The training demonstrated that EiE is a new area of learning for the national education system, and it is necessary to strengthen emergency preparedness of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan in delivering effective education in emergencies response. The national experience of responding to the global COVID-19 pandemic also showed the importance of appointing permanent EiE focal points and establishing an expert working group that can advise the Ministry of Education in developing an effective response to increased education vulnerabilities arising from spread of infectious diseases. Such institutionalization is expected to allow for more effective coordination, capacity-development, and knowledge management.

Considering the necessity UNICEF Turkmenistan proposed to continue its support to strengthen EiE capacity. In 2021 “Joint Action Plan for 2022 under the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in coordinating emergency preparedness and response between the Government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations” was signed and under “Pillar III: Cooperation to strengthen preparedness and response, including during pandemics” a capacity building activity for Education in Emergencies preparedness for the members of relevant sectors including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Defence was envisaged.

UNICEF Turkmenistan is seeking international expertise to support the Ministry of Education and UNICEF in developing training modules and delivering a capacity-building training on Education in Emergencies, disaster preparedness, and school safety for selected personnel of the national education system.

How can you make a difference?

The international consultancy will support the Ministry of Education, the National Institute of Education in assessing the national education system from the perspective of strengthening EiE capacity, developing a Roadmap to strengthen the EiE capacity, training materials, and delivering trainings to selected personnel.

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

• Advanced university degree in Education, Education Management, Education Administration, Pedagogy, Curriculum Development, Social Sciences, or other relevant disciplines / A PhD degree in relevant fields will be an asset. (20 pts)
• At least 10 years of professional international work experience in education-in-emergencies capacity-building and institutional strengthening projects. (20 pts)
• Excellent communication skills in English is required; knowledge of Russian will be an asset. (15 pts)
• Knowledge of UNICEF priorities in Education, Education in Emergencies is required. (15 pts)
• Knowledge of and previous experience of working in the regional (Central Asia) education sector will be an advantage. (5 pts)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit 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 offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

For details of the consultancy requirements, please see the Terms of Reference attached as per the link below:

ToR_International-Consultant-Education-in-Emergencies-announcement.pdf