Individual national consultancy to support gender-responsive education in Turkmenistan (for 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

Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in 2015. Turkmenistan pursues a gender-responsive national policy based on constitutional principles and the Sustainable Development Goals. Legislative and policy measures are adopted to realize the principles of equal rights and opportunities for men and women. In 2020 National Action Plan on Gender Equality in Turkmenistan for 2021-2025 was adopted. The 3rd Strategic Direction of the National Action Plan aims to promote equal access to education for women and girls and advance the capacity of educational system. One of the activities in this strategic direction is “3.2. Improve the professional level of teachers and psychologists in schools to put into practice improved teaching methods for the promotion of gender equality and the prevention of gender-based violence (2021 - 2025)” which aims at strengthening gender-responsive education at schools. The activities of the National Action Plan for Gender Equality in Turkmenistan for 2021-2025 are carried out by state and local authorities with the participation of research organizations, as well as executive and representative authorities, civil society organizations, UN agencies and other international organizations. UNICEF supports the state authorities in implementing the plan based on its education mandate. The activity will contribute to the implementation of measures of state programs related to the improvement of the status of women and men in all spheres of public life, Turkmenistan's international obligations in the field of gender equality, the "Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework between Turkmenistan and the United Nations for 2021-2025", country programs of UN agencies for 2021-2025.

Supporting gender-responsive education systems and equitable access to education for all is Goal Area 2 in UNICEF Gender Action Plan, 2022-2025. Specifically, advancing girls’ education, learning and skills, including science, technology, engineering, mathematics and digital skills is defined as a targeted action priority. For adolescent girls, UNICEF promotes access to education and skills development, including for safe transitions to satisfying work. UNICEF makes dedicated efforts to target and include girls in skills and learning opportunities that prepare them for twenty-first century socioeconomic pathways by ensuring that they participate in and benefit from opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. UNICEF Education Strategy 2019–2030 adopt three core strategies with respect to gender: (1) girls’ education; (2) gender parity: focussing on girls or boys, according to context; and (3) gender transformation. UNICEF advocates for and support the implementation of gender-responsive budgeting and education sector planning, and interventions for the transformation of gender norms in education systems (policies, curricula, teacher education, teacher deployment, monitoring and evaluation).

Quality and inclusive education component of UNICEF Turkmenistan Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2021-2025 envisions that all boys and girls in Turkmenistan, including those with disabilities, enjoy quality inclusive education and learning opportunities that develop their competencies and foster their well-being, resilience and integration, enabling them to fully participate in and contribute to a modern economy. In the framework of the CPD UNICEF provides technical assistance to national education authorities for integration of child-friendly standards (including child-centred teaching, gender sensitivity, healthy and protective environment) across primary and secondary education and supports the modernization and enhancement of primary and secondary education curricula with a strong focus on building competencies and skills, including aspects of girls’ empowerment and addressing social stereotypes on women’s limited social role.

In line with above programmatic commitments, the Ministry of Education (MoE) jointly with UNICEF is planning to strengthen skills of teachers and pedagogical workers in schools to put into practice improved teaching methods for the promotion of gender equality and the prevention of gender-based violence for selected representatives of the national education system. With this ToR UNICEF is seeking a national consultant to provide support to the Ministry of Education in strengthening national capacity for gender-responsive education.

How can you make a difference?

The consultancy will support the Ministry of Education in strengthening gender-responsive education at schools by assessing the gender-responsive education, developing gender-responsive pedagogy toolkit, and conducting trainings to strengthen the national capacity in gender-responsive education.

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

• Master’s degree in education, pedagogy, gender studies, psychology or other relevant fields / PhD. degree in these areas will be an advantage
• Knowledge of the education system of Turkmenistan and previous experience of working in educational institutions and conducting trainings are required
• Experience in developing gender-related education materials in Turkmenistan and experience of working with UN agencies, knowledge of UNICEF priorities in gender-responsive education will be an advantage
• Excellent knowledge of English and Turkmen or Russian languages, knowledge of both Turkmen and Russian will be an advantage

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_National_Consultant-Gender-responsive-education-announcement.pdf