International Consultancy: Developing the Partnership Compact for the transformation of the Malawi Education Sector using the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) guidelines (Open to Non-M

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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, Safety...

The Ministry of Education, with support from United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), is recruiting a consultant to provide technical assistance to the development of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Partnership Compact. In December 2020, the GPE Board rolled out the GPE 2025 Strategic Plan, including allocations to support GPE members and eligible countries to achieve systemwide reform through focused and evidence-based investments within the broader national educational sector investment plan. In November 2022, the Ministry of Education (MoE), in consultation with the Local Education Group (LEG) in Malawi, agreed to move forward with the rolling-out of the GPE 2025 to support the education sector, focusing on specific country system transformation priorities.

In order to operationalize this next phase, a Partnership Compact will be developed by the MoE in consultation with the LEG. The Partnership Compact will identify how different stakeholders align interests, resources, and capabilities to support priority reforms in the education sector with potential for system transformation, including addressing specific bottlenecks and finding solutions to tackle the current learning crisis, gender inequalities, and access to early childhood education.

The purpose of the consultancy is to support the MoE in developing the Partnership Compact through comprehensive partner and stakeholder consultations. In doing so, the consultant will work with the MoE and closely collaborate with UNICEF as the Grant Agency (GA), in developing and completing the Partnership Compact process, including reviewing proposed priorities in the Enabling Factors Analysis (EFA), Priority setting and, development of the Partnership Compact in accordance with GPE guidelines. As part of the process, the consultant is expected to work closely with the core technical team in the Directorate of Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Education.

How can you make a difference?

1. Undertake a desk review of key education strategic documents and policy frameworks not limited to the National Education Policy, National Education Sector Investment Plan-(NESIP 2020-2030), Malawi 2063, Malawi Implementation Plan 1 (MIP 1), drawing on the information resource mapping already conducted amongst LEG members and as part of the Transforming Education Summit (TES) action plan, annual Joint Sector Review reports; GPE guidelines on the Partnership compact preparation and examples of other countries’ Partnership compacts. (Lead: International and national consultant with coordination from the MoE core technical team).
2. Organize two (2) consultations/ workshops with key education stakeholders (government, non-governmental, and private-sector counterparts) at the national level and three (3) at the regional levels with the involvement of decentralized levels, as well as teachers and NGOs at the sub-national level, to inform and collate their input to the preparation of Partnership compact (Lead: International and national consultant, with coordination from MoE core technical team).
3. Prepare for a series of at least three (3) consultations with key sector partners – both LEG members and private sector entities, including presentations to clearly communicate the objectives and expected results of these consultations, key questions to guide consultations, a method to capture and confirm partner ideas and financing commitments; and to ensure that key issues raised during these consultations inform the preparation of the Partnership compact.
4. Prepare two (2) rounds of drafts of the Partnership compact for the review of the LEG, and incorporate feedback received. Ensure these drafts meet GPE quality requirements in terms of structure and content.
5. Prepare and present a final compact document for the endorsement of the LEG.

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

Academic qualification****:

• Advanced University in Education, Social Sciences, or relevant disciplines.

Work experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in education sector planning and policy formulation in the Sub-Saharan Africa context.
• Experience in preparing GPE-financed plans and programmes.
• Sufficient consultancy experience in undertaking education sector-related research and development of compacts, preferably in developing countries.
• Experience in the development of policy-level documents, including those related to financial analysis and costing.

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong technical knowledge of education, with a specific focus on policy work, financial analysis, costing, and awareness of the Malawi Education system context. Strong analytical and conceptual thinking and knowledge in the development of strategic frameworks.
• Ability to develop new and nurture existing internal and external networks, partnerships, and relationships which deliver results.
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse and multi-cultural team to achieve goals.
• Excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills with stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze information, solve problems and make decisions in various contexts
• Good analytic and report-writing skills.
• Good reputation in capacity development of government counterparts, including facilitation of structured group work and activities.
• Ability to work under pressure and commitment to work within a tight timeframe.
• The highest levels of personal integrity and commitment to adhering to required standards of conduct.

Language Proficiency:

Excellent written and spoken skills in English required.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference ToRs for the technical assistance to support the Ministry of Education in the development the GPE partnership compact.pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

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.

HOW TO APPLY...

Interested Individual Consultants should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Academic certificates
3. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the Individual Consultant's understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment
4. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, stationery, communication, and other miscellaneous costs). Financial Proposal for Consultancy.xlsx Complete the attached form.
5. References details of at least 3 previous supervisors.

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.