Individual National Coordinator for ISDB Project Implementation (Capacity Development Component) with UNICEF Uzbekistan

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, education!

Scope of Work: Early Childhood Development and Education is one of the priority areas of the UNICEF Uzbekistan Country Programme. UNICEF has been providing technical assistance to the Government of Uzbekistan in its efforts to improve access to quality Early Childhood Education services.

UNICEF supports the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan in improving the quality of preschool education at the national level through curriculume reforms based on Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) and competency based approach, through raising capacity of preschool teachers, enhancing methodological support through development of teaching and learning materials and resoursed, teacher guidebooks, on-line resourses and materials.

1. In the framework of the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) funded project Enhancing Access to Quality Early Childhood Education Project in the Republic of Uzbekistan UNICEF is implementaing partner within the Componenet 2: Enhancing the Systems and Capacity for Improving Quality of Preschool education and in charge of the implementation Sub-Component 2.2. Reforming in-service & pre-service training for capacity building of teachers and managers. Development Objective of the Project is to enhance access to quality early childhood education facilities and improve the quality of early learning environments in Uzbekistan. Sub-component 2.2 has two priority areas of focus: (i) development / revision of in-service training for preschool teachers and managers, and (ii) reforming the pre-service training of preschool teachers with outlined series of activities to achieve the set goals and objectives.

UNICEF’s Education section requires a National Consultant to coordinate and ensure quality project implementation, monitoring and reporting on the project progress, and timely risk mitigations. The Consultant will provide technical support in the coordination of the work of reforming in-service and pre-service training for capacity building of teachers and managers, including monitoring of establishing and equipping of 16 regional cluster training centers.

Under the overall guidance of the Chief of Education Section and the direct supervision of the ECD Officer the Individual Consultant will coordinate the activities related to the reforming the teachers’ professional development system for preschool education as per the developed and agreed Project Appraisal Document (PAD), Component 2.2 Additionally, the Consultant will contribute to the provision and installation of the equipment in 16 regional cluster training centers and coordinate the work between UNICEF Operations section and Agency for Preschool Education (APSE). The Consultant will provide technical/operational support throughout all the stages of the project implementation and monitoring to facilitate the management and delivery of results and to strengthen process that ensure efficiency, quality assurance and value for money.

The Consultant will contribute to various project phases and ensure achievement of concrete and sustainable program/project results according to plans, budget allocation, result based-management approaches, methodology and UNICEF’s strategic plans, standards of performance and accountability framework. The Consultant will also contribute in providing support in evaluation of bidding/tender documents, the management of all phases of the project implementation, monitoring and reporting, including support in identification and recruitment of the required contractors for the project specific activities activities, its implementation, coordination and liason with the Government at different levels.

Duration of the Project is 2023-2026. Duration of the current assignment is August 2023– December 2024 with possible extension depending on project needs.

Work Assignments - Overview Deliverables - Timeline

1. Develop action plan (based on Gant chart) with defining activities, timeframe, and deliverables for the project based on project description and timeline - Action plan developed - 5 days

2. In collaboration with the International Consultant to support and coordinate the work on assessment of the preschool teachers' and managers' current knowledge and practices; review existing programmes in the context of international best practices and national preschool curriculum; and development of recommendations and roadmap for improving in-service training programme - Report on current knowledge and practices of preschool teachers and managers; curriculum review report; recommendations and roadmap provided - 30 days

3. Liaison with MOPSE and APSE in establishment of the National Working group(s) (NWG) on In-Service and Pre-Service Curriculum Development (ISTTI, Pedagogical University and College), supervise, and provide guidance/ instructions to NWG during the project implementation period in close collaboration with International Consultant - NWG established (with clear TORs). Bi-weekly meetings conducted with NWG (meeting minutes) and guidance provided on the curriculum revision - 80 days

4. Capacity development/training of National WG on curriculum development and implementation - NWG experts improved capacity - 10 days

5. Provide inputs to the development of the relevant TORs and support in the preparation/ evaluation of bidding documents for hiring relevant National and International Consultants and Contractors for the project implementation in accordance with the PAD/Project Work plan - ToRs drafted, approved and bidding documents prepared and published - 15 days

6. Provide technical assistance in completion and reviewing the procurement list for equipping 14 regional cluster centers in collaboration with the Agency for Preschool Education - Finalized procurement list - 10 days

7. Monitor equipping and operation of 14 cluster training centers in all regions of Uzbekistan for effective and efficient completion of work by checking the safety of the facilities and the quality of the materials provided, as well as their usage - Regular monitoring visits carried out as per Travel Plan. Trip Reports provided to the Supervisor, feedback and recommendations provided to counterparts - 30 days

8. Support training of Master trainers and creating capacity of cluster / zonal/district levels in close collaboration with international Consultant - Training program developed; Qualified Master trainers pre-selected; training report prepared - 20 days

9. Supervise development of on-line materials for ISTTI including certification and its integration with the Learning Passport platform - NWG developed good quality on-line materials; certification is included into the system; integrated into LP - 40 days

10. Participate in coordination meetings with donors and Government counterparts, prepare relevant documents on project implementation and execution as needed - Updates on the progress of work are reflected during joint meetings - 10 days

11. Provide technical information, including briefing and updates to supervisor on project related matters - Updates on the ongoing activities are provided during weekly section meetings - 10 days

12. Prepare quarterly and annual reports for the ongoing/completed activities under ISDB funded project (as per PAD) - Quarterly progress and annual reports are prepared and shared with supervisor for submitting to ISDB - 15 days

13. Report to the supervisor on the carried-out activities - Monthly report submitted to supervisor - 10 days

14. Perform other tasks as deemed necessary and requested by Supervisor - Monthly report provided - 10 days

Total 295 days

Travel:

Travel International (if applicable) - Participate in the Study Tour in one of the countries to be selected with the Supervisor and the Agency if decided.

Travel Local - At least two visits to each project site - at least 2 travels x 2 days each monthly.

Payment:

Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant

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

• University degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: education, or any other social sciences.
• More than 5 years of professional and relevant experience in education, preferably in ECD/E in curriculum development, teacher training/capacity development.
• Excellent written and spoken skills in English and Russian, with preferable working Uzbek.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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.

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. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.