International consultancy for strengthening Education Programme Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) in Myanmar (Open to International Applicants Only)

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International consultancy for strengthening Education Programme Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) in Myanmar

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, HOPE

Background:

Robust programme monitoring and evaluation is crucial in ensuring UNICEF accountability to children and also programme delivery and reporting. It enables systematic data and information collection and analysis to inform partnership management and resource mobilization for the programme. With the coronavirus causing a huge socio-economic impact on children and people’s lives in Myanmar and globally, there is an increasing need for the education programme to uphold rigorous programme monitoring and evaluation not only for the programme management but also for the partnership, donor relations and fundraising, as donor partners are expected to prioritize more on domestic needs due to COVID-19 constraints in 2021 and beyond.

First of all, UNICEF’s important role as a grant agent of the Global Partnership Education (GPE) COVID19 Response and Recovery project has brought about the urgent need to support the MoE and the partners in reaching the most marginalized children, monitoring the impact and making evidence-based programming decisions during this unprecedented learning crisis. UNICEF is expected to implement quality programme and produce quality M&E outputs to demonstrate the project’s impact during the COVID-19, in consultation with the government, education development partner coordination group (EDPCG) and the GPE secretariat, etc.

At the same time, while the Learning Together initiative - one of Myanmar UNICEF office’s flagship initiatives in Rakhine state – is entering the next phase of the implementation after the initial 2-year project duration, there is growing need and expectations, especially from the donor partners, to demonstrate the progress and achievements of the initiative in terms of social cohesion. For this, strong M&EL expertise is needed for the education programme to continue implementing while sharpening the focus on Monitoring and Evaluation for Accountability and Learning (MEAL) and exploring the uncharted pathways of assessing the social cohesion in a highly complex and conflict-sensitive context.

There are also other multi-year donor-funded projects are being adjusted to reach teachers, children and parents during COVID19, which needs significant shifts in approaches and strategies of monitoring, assessing and reporting of the results. These include the KOICA Better Life for Girls project which is the first partnership with the Korean government with a potential to expand which will depend on quality implementation of the project and demonstration of the result through robust M&E in the last years of the project. Also ongoing is the Japan National Committee for UNICEF (JCU) project for Adolescents and upcoming Government of Japan (GoJ) grant to support Myanmar during COVID-19. These projects also need a renewed focus on generating evidence and M&E during the programme implementation.

Objectives of the Consultancy:

The purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen M&EL (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning) and reporting (incl. donor reporting) of UNICEF education programme for the remaining time of the 2018-2022 Country Programme of Cooperation between the Government of Myanmar and UNICEF.

The consultant is expected to contribute to the following objectives:

• To improve the process and quality of the GPE COVID-19 project monitoring, evaluation, and donor reporting, including facilitation of the project implementation to reach children with disabilities
• To establish and improve the Learning Together initiative’s Monitoring and Evaluation for Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
• To improve the multi-year donor funded project (KOICA, JCU and GoJ) project monitoring, evaluation, and donor reporting, including facilitation of the project implementation to increase community engagement
• To initiate and improve the monitoring the impact of Communication for Development (C4D) initiatives during COVID-19 (including school opening RCCE and home-based learning public awareness raising, etc.)
• To improve the linkage between the education programme’s strategic/work planning to performance monitoring system in UNICEF

• To support quality process and outputs to fundraising efforts of the education programme, including proposal making

  Geographic Area:

The geographical coverage expected for this consultancy will be nationwide with focus on most disadvantaged townships which are targeted with different funding sources that support the delivery of the education programme. The consultant is expected to be based in Yangon, Myanmar, with some travels for monitoring missions within the country as the situation allows. Depending on necessity and evolving situation in 2021, the consultant might be asked to perform certain percentage of assignments in Naypyitaw

Duration (including potential extension):

11.5 months (full-time with regular officer hours). Subject to extension, depending on the performance, funds, and work requirements

Description of Assignment:

The consultancy will contribute to five (5) categories of tasks as below. The consultant is expected to perform and produce expected deliverables, monthly. The deliverables will be specified and planned according to each task category’s progress and donor requirements, etc.

1. GPE COVID19 Project M&E and reporting
   1. Lead GPE COVID19 project M&E and Support knowledge management; Support donor reporting and other reporting, as required
   2. Establish disability inclusion and impact monitoring in Home-Based Learning
   3. Support routine and regular progress tracking and facilitate project decision-making
2. Learning Together initiative, Monitoring and Evaluation for Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
   1. Support establishing the Learning Together initiative MEAL
   2. Support the MEAL framework implementation
3. Multi-year donor projects (KOICA, JCU and Government of Japan (GoJ) grant) M&E
   1. Support routine and regular progress tracking and facilitate project decision-making
   2. Lead regular donor reporting and donor relations
   3. Lead and support evidence generation esp. in research management and dissemination
4. COVID C4D Impact Monitoring
   1. Facilitate the C4D initiatives during COVID19 (e.g. school opening, home-based learning and disability inclusion, etc.).
   2. Implement C4D impact monitoring, with close coordination with cross-sectoral C4D team.
5. Programme M&E and reporting
   1. Support education programme’s quality performance monitoring and reporting inputs.
   2. Provide technical support to make donor proposals, data and information gathering/ analysis
   3. Support external and internal communication materials for UNICEF and donor visibility

Deliverables:

• GPE regular, internal M&E and external reports and documents prepared, coordinated and available
• Learning together MEAL framework finalized and implemented
• KOICA, JCU and GoJ grant regular, internal M&E and external reports prepared, coordinated and available
• Study/ research (funded by KOICA) implemented
• C4D in education products disseminated and their impact monitored/ analysed
• External and internal communication materials for UNICEF prepared and available
• Project concept notes and proposals supported, as required

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

Qualifications and experience:

• Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, Political sciences, Education, Statistical Analysis, Communications, or related fields.
• At least 5 years of proven experience working with programme management, programme M&E and reporting.
• At least 2 years of experience in education programme M&E.
• Familiarity and experience working with the UN (ideally with UNICEF) is preferred.
• Familiarity and experience working in Myanmar is considered as an advantage.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Communications and technical writing using both graphic and narrative presentations and reports.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Microsoft Office 365.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality results in a timely manner.

Detail Terms of Reference can be accessed here: Terms of Reference_ Education MEL final.docx

The Expression of Interest form to complete and include in the application can be accessed here: Expression of Interest Education MEL final.doc

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are...

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.