Individual National Consultancy: Individual Contract to support MoES in Continuity of Learning, Continuous Professional Development and Remedial Education Support

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,

Advertisement Text:

UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an Individual National Consultant to Support MoES in Continuity of Learning, Continuous Professional Development and Remedial Education Support. The duration of this assignment is 11.5 months, starting from mid-August 2022 with possible extension based on performance. The consultant will be working from the UNICEF Lao PDR Office in Vientiane Capital (COVID regulations allowing) but is expected to undertake regular visits to subnational levels (provincial, district levels) and schools. The consultant will be provided with workspace in the UNICEF Lao PDR Office.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The consultant will work together with the UNICEF Lao PDR Education Team to support MoES in the implementation of the following activities:

1. Expansion of MoES Teaching and Learning Platform, Khang Panya Lao

Key tasks include:

• Serving as a key focal point to MoES in the implementation of Khang Panya Lao. This includes coordinating with the concerned MoES line departments to identify, develop, finalize and approve contents to be uploaded to the platform as well as support MoES in the implementation of trainings.
• Scaling the roll out of Khang Panya Lao and digital learning trainings across the country in coordination with MoES. Many of these trainings can be led by MoES with the support of trained Master Trainers with a focus on ensuring a maximum number of schools in
• all provinces have received trainings, as well as MoES staff from PESS, DESB and TTC trainers. Trainings may also take place in non-formal settings.
• Curating key curriculum materials and complementary learning resources (i.e. paper-based materials, videos, online games, etc.) to support the digital learning of students, teachers, principals and pedagogical advisors and parents. This may include contextualising and supporting the translation of resources developed in other countries and other Lao PDR-based development partners as well as the uploading of resources to the platform. Key focus should be placed on helping to ensure Khang Panya Lao contains learning materials for children with disabilities and children of non-Lao Tai speaking communities. The consultant is to support the quality assurance of all uploads from a user perspective.
• Engaging and coordinating with various development partners to support the rollout and scale-up of Khang Panya Lao, including identification of available learning materials, joint trainings, joint advocacy events, etc.
• Supporting development and implementation of Khang Panya Lao communications content, events and activities, by liaising regularly with key MoES counterparts (and where needed, development partners and the private sector), the UNICEF communications team and communications firms in the development and translation of communications materials.
• Working together with ICT specialists, support the Ministry to strengthen their capacity to oversee and manage the Khang Panya Lao platform, including in the roll out of trainings and the development and upload of quality learning materials. This includes supporting MoES to ensure quality interactive learning content is available on the platform, including games and quizzes.
• Supporting the monitoring and evaluation of Khang Panya Lao at trainings (including at schools and at MoES central and sub-national levels) and via the piloting of different technologies in schools. Support will also be needed as part of formal monitoring and evaluation of the platform by an external third party.

2. Expanding Access to Digital Learning in Lao PDR

Key tasks include:

• Support the distribution and monitoring of digital devices in schools, district and provincial and central MoES offices working closely with the UNICEF ICT focal points. This includes working with MoES to ensure the maintaining of a database on devices distributed across the county as part of Khang Panya Lao trainings and other ICT initiatives and field monitoring on the usefulness and effectiveness of digital devices in schools.
• Support implementation of digital literacy trainings including trainings in remote teaching and learning conducted by the MoES Department of Teacher Education (DTE). This includes helping ensure alignment in the support of development partners to DTE and other line departments in this area.
• Support the implementation of digital literacy trainings and events including in non-formal settings, such as digital literacy camps for adolescents and trainings/orientations in Khang Panya Lao in boarding schools, monastic schools and other non-formal settings. This also includes engagement of parents providing them information on safe and responsible use of digital learning to support their children’s education.
• Support the implementation of teacher trainings using content available in Khang Panya Lao. This includes coordination support in the implementation of Inclusive Education teacher training for primary teachers with link to content in Khang Panya Lao.

3. Remedial Catch-up Education Support for Children

Key tasks include:

• Support UNICEF and MoES in the design and implementation of a remedial catch-up education support to be implemented in 2022 and scaled in 2023. This is to support children lagging behind due to school closures making them at risk of dropping out. This includes working with local development partners to ensure a strategic approach to remedial support is provided in terms of content delivered, the structure of the programme and the students, parents and teachers engaged. It also includes providing coordination support to MoES and translation support where needed.
• Following initial implementation of the remedial catch-up education programme, support the scaling of the programme to additional districts. This includes monitoring of the remedial catch-up education support programme by conducting field visits to communities and schools where is support is provided.

4. Strengthening the Primary Education Pedagogical Advisory System

Key tasks include:

• Support the development and implementation of a select number of short, blended learning (i.e. faceto-face and online learning) professional development courses for teachers and district and provincial education officials that will be conducted by the Teacher Training Colleges in the country. This includes collaboration with development partners in the development and rollout of such trainings.
• Support to updating, implementing and monitoring of the Pedagogical Advisory System Upgrading Programme, including via the teaching and learning platform, Khang Panya Lao. This includes ensuring learning resources for provincial and district officials providing pedagogical advisory support to teachers and school principals, and for teachers are made available via the Khang Panya Lao platform. It also includes processing of financial requests and liquidations by MoES, participating in selected training activities and drafting of monitoring reports.

• Provide technical translation and interpretation between English and Lao as needed.

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

Qualifications and expertise:

• A university degree in education or any related field.
• At least three years of experience working in the education sector and solid understanding of the education development context in Lao PDR.
• At least three years of experience in the area of curriculum development and implementation and/or supporting the professional development of teachers and other education staff.
• Demonstrated understanding of how MoES and education development partners work together, and working with provincial and district authorities, an advantage.
• Excellent knowledge of Lao culture and language and the ability to adapt learning activities to suit the educational levels and knowledge/capacities of Lao families and children, including those in rural or remote areas.
• Excellent planning and facilitation skills.
• Ability to research, analyze and present complex information.
• Strong interpersonal, teamwork and communication skills.
• Good command of English and Lao language.
• Adaptable and flexible in their working approach.

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to submit applications electronically and include 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 as per the 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 assessment of:

a) Technical Qualification (max. 100 points) weight 70 %

• Relevant education/degree (30 points)
• Experience working in the education sector in Lao PDR (40 points)
• Fluency in both English and Lao languages (30 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 the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview, if required.

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 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:

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.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).