International Consultant for Preparing for Joint Sector Review of the Education Sector Plan, Republic of Armenia

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, a champion

The purpose of the consultancy is to work with and provide assistance to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (MoESCS) to prepare for the Joint Sector Review (JSR) process of the State Education Development Programme of the Republic of Armenia until 2030 (hereafter referred to as Education Sector Plan). This assignment is to be guided by the 2021-2026 Republic of Armenia Government Program (more specifically, the section on General Education), the Education Sector Plan and the Action Plan adjacent to it, as well as by JSR guidelines of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) https://www.globalpartnership.org/content/practical-guide-effective-joint-sector-reviews-education-sector.The assignment is within Activity 1.2 (Contribute to the development/establishment of sectoral programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning through equity focused research, collection, analysis and reporting of education and other related information for development planning and priority and goal setting) under Output 3.1 (National systems and capacities of officials and other stakeholders are strengthened to develop evidence-based policies, plans and budgets, ensuring inclusive and equitable education outcomes for all children) of the Armenia-UNICEF Multi-Year Work Plan 2022-2023 and the GPE Education Sector Plan Development Grant, where UNICEF acts as Grant Agent, supporting the Government and national stakeholders.

With an aim of strengthening, aligning, and making the sector monitoring more comprehensive as well as doing more responsive planning and resource optimization, JSR plays a pivotal and strategic role within national education systems. Through a participative review process, and inclusive sector dialogue, it is a mechanism for the joint review of results, progress, and performance in the implementation of national education sector plans.

An individual international consultant is required to support the MoESCS and its adjacent agencies in best designing and developing the processes and procedures of sectoral performance review over the previous fiscal year, including progress in implementation of the activities envisioned by the Action Plan adjacent to the Education Sector Plan for each fiscal year. The JSR outcomes shall lead to prioritization of key interventions/activities to be included in the forthcoming financial budget. Main suggestions from the review will be incorporated in the work plans and budgets of the respective line ministries for the next fiscal year as well as could inform work plans of other implementing organizations (development partners, CSOs and private sector). The JSR also therefore serves as a platform of shared accountability in terms of commitments and consensus building on priorities.

This activity will contribute to the SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) Target 4.1. which requires states to realize “that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.” At the global level, the agenda around the SDG 4 (Quality Education) to ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’ by 2030, has reinforced a focus on learning assessment to gain data that allow to establish and monitor education quality and learning progress.

How can you make a difference?

The specific objectives under this assignment include:

1. Designing a JSR process demonstrating how events will flow to achieve the expected deliverables,
2. Identifying the activities comprising the JSR and generating detailed implementation map for each activity,
3. Providing capacity building support to the Department for Project Development and Monitoring of the MoESCS for leading the JSR process.
4. Providing coaching during the JSR including support to the local consultant in the review of the progress of implementation, reviewing the draft JSR report and preparing recommendations for the revision of the report.

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

• Advanced university degree and/or academic background in Education, Sociology, Economics, Public Policy, Social Policy or a related field.
• At least 8 years of documented experience in education planning, management, monitoring and/or evaluation with solid knowledge of Armenia’s national education system.
• Experience of organizing past JSRs or evaluations/assessments of education sector programs will be considered an advantage.
• Very good communication and presentation skills with government and international organizations.
• Fluency in written and spoken English, including report writing skills.
• Previous experience in working with UN agencies will be an asset.

For more details please refer to the attached ToR TOR JSR_IC_Final.pdf

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.